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.
Finding a car to suit the trip
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.
Planning a Car for a Longer Stay
If you are staying in one area for several weeks, the details you record before requesting a quote can shape the whole arrangement. Start by fixing your start and end dates, including any chance you might extend, and note who will be listed as a driver. Write down the number of passengers expected across the stay and the bags, prams or equipment accompanying them, with rough dimensions for anything bulky. If you expect visitors partway through, note their travel plans too. A list covering arrival day, mid-stay changes and departure day gives the team a clear picture when confirming a vehicle group. You could also ask whether collection and delivery can be arranged at different points, and what notice is needed to adjust dates. Keeping these notes in one message makes the quote easier to prepare.
Getting Ready for a Work Trip
For a work trip, it often helps to prepare a short brief before contacting the hire team. Note the exact dates, the driver's details, and whether the car must be collected or delivered to a particular address. List the passengers who will travel, the meetings or sites on the itinerary, and any luggage, samples or presentation equipment being carried, with approximate sizes. If clients or colleagues will ride along on some days, record how many seats that requires. Questions worth asking include which vehicle groups suit executive travel, whether an automatic is preferred by the driver, and how changes to the schedule are handled. It may also be useful to confirm the contact details of anyone receiving the car at the delivery point. Setting this out early leaves fewer matters to resolve later.
Explore other car hire areas
What to confirm on the phone
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.