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.
Sharing Your Trip Details With Others
Who needs to know the plan before you set off? Anyone sharing the journey, from relatives splitting the driving to a friend collecting you at the far end, will find the trip simpler to coordinate when the key details are written down in one message. Note the dates the car is required, who holds a licence among your group, and the delivery or collection arrangement you prefer. If companions are meeting you partway, record their names and a mobile number so last-minute changes reach the right person. You might also list the address where the car should be delivered and any parking arrangements at that end. Questions worth settling early include whether extra drivers should be added and whether the group prefers a specific vehicle group, such as an estate rather than a compact.
Travelling With Children and Bags
Families often underestimate how much luggage accompanies children, so a written list helps before requesting a quote. Count the passengers first, then the bags separately: one child may bring a small rucksack, another a suitcase and a pushchair. Record the approximate size of each item, including folded dimensions for prams or travel cots, since a people carrier may suit a larger family with several cases. If you need child seats, note how many and the ages of the children, then ask the team whether these can be accommodated. Decide whether the boot needs to hold shopping on the return leg as well as outbound bags. Keeping this list to hand when you contact the team means the quote can reflect the whole journey rather than the first part alone.
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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.