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 a family trip is on the cards, it helps to write down exactly who is travelling and what each person will bring. Note the number of children, their ages and whether pushchairs, booster cushions or travel cots are coming along, since these items take up room that might otherwise go to suitcases. A quick list of bag types, from small rucksacks to large holdalls, gives you a realistic picture of the boot space you may need. It is also worth recording the rough dimensions of any folded pushchair so you can raise it when discussing vehicle groups. Once the list is drafted, the open questions to settle are the travel dates, the collection or delivery arrangement and whether any extra items, such as a child seat, need noting on the booking.
Keeping a flexible day plan
A day plan that leaves room for change often proves more useful than a rigid timetable. Before requesting a quote, sketch the route you have in mind, including any stops, and mark which parts are fixed, such as a booked appointment, and which parts could shift if needed. Decide in advance who will be the contact for each stop, noting names and telephone numbers, so that any change of timing can be passed on quickly. If several drivers share the trip, agree how the itinerary will be communicated, whether by a group message or a printed copy kept in the car. Questions worth settling early include the start time, the order of stops, and how late the plan can run before someone needs to be informed.
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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.