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.
Sketching an Arrival-Day Itinerary
What does your first day actually look like? Writing a rough itinerary before you request a quote helps you decide when the car needs to be ready. Note your arrival time, where you are heading first and roughly how long each stop might take. If the day involves a hotel check-in, a meal or a scheduled appointment, put estimated times beside each entry so you can see whether the plan is realistic. Think about what happens if a flight or train runs late, and note the latest time the car could realistically be collected or delivered. Keeping this itinerary with your booking notes gives you something to refer to if plans change and you need to discuss alternative dates or timings with the team.
Coordinating Several Passengers in One Car
When more than one person shares the hire, a little coordination goes a long way. List every passenger who will travel, including anyone joining partway through the hire period, and note their bags so you can judge whether a larger vehicle group is worth requesting. Confirm each person's contact number and decide who is the main point of contact for the booking. If passengers have different plans on some days, such as separate appointments or early departures, write these down and check the car's availability covers all of them. You might also agree in advance who holds the keys and where the car will be parked overnight, so nothing is left to sort out on the morning of departure.
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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.