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.
Note Driver Preferences Before Enquiring
Begin with a short note of what the driver expects from the car. Some drivers will only travel in an automatic; others want a particular style of vehicle, whether that is a compact city car, an estate or an executive saloon. Write these preferences beside the hire dates, the driver details and the location where the car is needed, since all of it can go into the same enquiry. Where two named drivers share the booking, record both sets of details and any preferences each has expressed. Questions still open might include whether a people carrier suits the group or whether an SUV fits the planned routes. The more specific the note, the more the team has to work with when confirming a vehicle group.
Share Trip Details With Your Companions
Once the car arrangements are taking shape, it helps to circulate the plan among everyone travelling. Share the dates, the pick-up arrangements and any collection or delivery options being considered, then invite corrections while there is time to act on them. A passenger may point out an extra stop, a different meeting time or a piece of luggage nobody had counted. Keep a running note of these replies and pass on anything that changes the brief, such as an additional traveller or a request for more boot space. It is also sensible to record who needs to arrive by a particular time, since that constraint belongs in the enquiry. Open questions can then be put to the team together rather than piecemeal.
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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.