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.
Note Every Driver's Preferences Early
Before settling on a car group, note down the preferences of everyone who will drive it. Some drivers prefer an automatic, while others are happy with a manual; some want a higher seating position, and others plan long motorway stretches where an estate or executive saloon might appeal. Record how many people and how much luggage each journey involves, whether child seats are needed, and whether anyone prefers a particular fuel type. If the car is being collected by one person and returned by another, note both sets of driver details. These notes give the team a clear picture when confirming a vehicle group from the compact city cars, automatics, estates, SUVs, executive saloons and people carriers. Anything you are flexible about is worth mentioning too.
Line Up Questions Before Requesting a Quote
It often pays to prepare a short list of questions before asking for a price. You might confirm the exact dates and whether an extra day would change the vehicle group quoted, along with delivery and collection arrangements at your chosen address. If plans could shift, ask how changes to the booking are handled. Note who the main contact should be, with a phone number that will be answered on the day, and mention any second driver at this stage rather than later. Where the car needs to reach a specific location, such as a station car park or a family driveway, give that address when you enquire so it can be included in the confirmation. Keeping questions and answers together makes comparing quotes straightforward.
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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.















