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.
Mapping out your first day on the road
What does the first day of your hire actually look like? Writing that down before you enquire tends to surface details worth including. Suppose you are arriving by train and collecting a car the same afternoon: note the arrival time, the address you need to reach that evening, and a phone number for whoever is expecting you. List the bags you will have — how many cases, whether any are oversized — and consider whether you want to discuss vehicle groups with the team. If day one involves several stops, put them in order with rough timings. Ask whether collection and delivery times can be matched to that outline, and what would need to be confirmed in advance before the arrangements are settled.
Thinking ahead to the journey home
Returns deserve the same attention as departures. Once you know the date you hand the car back, note the time you would prefer, where the vehicle needs to be left, and whether anyone else is travelling with you on the way home. If your plans involve a ferry, an appointment or a flight, record the fixed deadline and work backwards from it. Keep a note of how many passengers and bags will be in the car at that point, in case the load differs from the outward leg. Where a friend or relative is collecting you afterwards, having their contact details written down avoids last-minute searching. When you ask for a quote, mention the return arrangements alongside the start date, and ask what the team needs to know about both ends of the booking.
Explore other car hire areas
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.