Matching a hire car to your passengers and luggage
Tell the team how many people will travel and how many cases, buggies or bulky bags you expect. Seating and boot space are separate questions. Say whether you need an automatic or are happy with a manual, and mention any child seat request early so it can be checked before you are quoted. Include details for every driver who may take the wheel.
Picking a suitable car
Start with the journey and pick the car to match it. Smaller cars are suited to city driving and short stays, automatics make local driving easier, estates and SUVs give more room for luggage, and people carriers are a better choice for families or small groups. The range available includes the Fiat 500, VW Golf, Ford Focus Estate, Ford Focus Automatic and Hyundai i10 Automatic, subject to dates, driver details and availability. The precise make, model, transmission, seating, payload and licence position are confirmed when you are quoted, so treat the vehicles listed as a guide to the kind of hire on offer rather than a guaranteed reservation of a particular model.
Listing What You Need for a Short Break
The first decision worth settling is who is travelling and how much luggage each person expects to bring, because that shapes which vehicle group you ask about. Before requesting a quote, count the passengers, note the number of suitcases, holdalls and smaller bags, and record roughly how long each item is, particularly anything awkward such as skis, a pushchair or a folded bicycle. If your plans include golf clubs or a boot full of shopping on the return leg, mention that too, since the balance of space between people and bags changes with the direction of travel. Writing all of this down before you enquire gives the team a clear picture and reduces the back-and-forth needed to confirm a suitable group.
Planning the Return Journey in Advance
If the trip ends at a different point from where it begins, or you plan to drop the car off later than you collected it, set those details out when you first make contact. Decide the dates and times for both legs, list any intermediate stops you already know about, and note the address where the vehicle should be returned, along with a contact number for whoever receives it. Where a friend or relative might meet you at the end, confirm with them directly rather than assuming their availability. Questions worth asking at the quote stage include whether delivery and collection can be arranged at separate addresses and what details the team needs from each driver, since answers may vary by vehicle group and booking.
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Last checks before booking
Before you confirm the hire, check the key details: vehicle availability, driver requirements, mileage, insurance, delivery or collection arrangements and any extras you have asked for, along with driver age, licence history, the deposit, the insurance excess and any travel abroad. A clear request gives the date, the length of hire, the rough route, the delivery or pickup address, the expected passengers or load, and any particular requirements that might affect which vehicle is suitable.