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.
Travelling with Children and Bags
If children are coming along, a little preparation goes a long way. Start by listing each child's age, whether they need a child seat or booster and how many bags belong to them. Count the adults too, then tally the total luggage, noting which cases are large and which are soft bags that could be squeezed into footwells. Larger families with several suitcases may find a different vehicle group worth discussing than smaller groups with light bags, and the team can advise once they see your numbers. Record whether pushchairs or travel cots are travelling as well. Questions to raise when booking include whether child seats can be fitted and how many, and whether the vehicle group you have in mind matches the space you expect to need.
Questions to Settle Before Requesting a Quote
Before asking for a price, it pays to write down the details that will shape it. Note the exact dates and roughly what times you would collect and return, the names of anyone who may drive, and whether an automatic is essential or simply preferred. Think about the destination address and whether the car needs to be delivered there or picked up from a set point. If the trip involves picking up other people midway, record their addresses and contact numbers. It is also worth listing any preferences between body styles, such as an executive saloon for a business trip or an SUV for a longer run. Open questions for the team include which vehicle groups are open on your dates, what delivery or collection choices exist and what the quoted price covers, so nothing is left vague.
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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.