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.
Travelling With Children and Luggage
If a family trip is on the cards, a written list of what travels with you makes the booking conversation far simpler. Count the children by age group and note what each one needs for the journey, from pushchairs to travel cots, then record folded dimensions for the bulkiest items. Note whether prams will need an especially large boot opening, since this is worth raising if you are weighing up an estate against an SUV. List the adults' suitcases as well, including any cabin bag that must stay accessible. Note who will be driving and whether any additional drivers should be named. If grandparents are joining for part of the trip, add their pickup details. When you contact the team, share the dates, the passenger and bag lists and the delivery point, and ask what vehicle groups might suit that load.
Organising a Longer Hire Period
A car booked for a week or more deserves a little planning ahead. Write out the full span of dates, marking any day when the schedule changes, such as an early start for a booked excursion or a late return after an evening event. Note the total number of people travelling at the busiest point, since numbers sometimes grow when friends or relatives arrive partway through. Record where you are staying and whether the car needs to be returned to a different point from where it was collected. Keep a running list of questions, perhaps about automatics versus manual options or delivery versus collection, so nothing is forgotten when you ask for a quote. Sharing these details with the team allows them to confirm the right vehicle group, the collection or delivery arrangement and the price in one reply.
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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.