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.
Sorting Out Your Return Journey
Before you request a quote, decide whether the car comes back on the same day it went out or several days later, and note the exact dates you have in mind. If your return plans could shift, it is worth recording the earliest and latest dates that would still work so you can ask about flexibility when you contact the team. Think also about who will be in the car on the way back, since extra passengers or different luggage on the homeward leg can change which vehicle group makes sense. Writing down the collection point and the return location, if these differ, gives you a clear question to put to the team. Keeping these notes together makes the enquiry easier to prepare.
Packing Notes for a Short Break
If a short break is on the cards, start by listing the bags each person will bring, including holdalls, suitcases and any pushchairs or sports equipment. Rough dimensions help: a note such as two large cases at a set height tells the team more than a simple headcount. Consider whether you plan to shop while away, since a return load can be larger than the outward one. If anyone travelling needs a child seat or has a pram, add those items to your list with their folded sizes. Once your list is complete, the open questions are which vehicle groups would suit the dates you have chosen and what delivery or collection arrangements are possible, which you can raise when asking for a price.
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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.