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.
Details worth writing down first
Before requesting a quote, it helps to note a few specifics about who will be driving. Record each driver's name, age and licence information, plus whether anyone prefers an automatic over a manual gearbox. If several people plan to share the driving, list them all at the outset so the team can confirm which vehicle groups suit everyone. Think, too, about practical preferences: a driver who wants a higher seating position may ask about SUVs, while someone carrying golf clubs or a pushchair might lean towards an estate. Where you would like the car delivered, or whether you intend to collect it yourself, is also worth settling early. Any of these points can change the vehicle group quoted, so raising them at the start keeps the conversation straightforward.
Thinking through the return leg
If your booking involves coming back at the end of the trip, sketch out the return before you commit to dates. Note the expected finish time, whether it might slip if you stop off along the way, and who will be behind the wheel on the homeward leg. If the car needs to be returned to a different point from where it was collected, say so when you ask for a price, because arrangements of that kind usually need confirming in advance. It is also sensible to record the address and phone number of whoever should be contacted if the return timing shifts. Where a late return is possible, flag it early rather than on the day. These notes give the team a fuller picture when they confirm dates and options, and they leave fewer questions open at the point of booking.
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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.