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.
Choosing between everyday car sizes
If your trip could involve anything from a supermarket run to a weekend away, it helps to think about what you will actually carry before choosing a car group. Write down the number of passengers, the bags each person expects to bring and any awkward items such as pushchairs, golf clubs or boxes. Measure anything that will not fold, noting length, width and height, and keep those figures with your dates when you ask for a quote. If your plans change between a short weekday errand and a longer trip, say so when you contact the team, since the vehicle group you prefer may differ for each. Questions worth asking include whether a boot in your preferred group is likely to suit your list, and what the alternatives would be if it does not.
Travelling with children and luggage together
Where children are part of the group, a written passenger and luggage list becomes even more useful before you confirm a hire. Note how many child seats or boosters you will bring yourself, how many bags each child adds and whether any item such as a buggy or travel cot needs its own space. Record the folded dimensions of those items so the team can talk through the vehicle groups that could work for your dates. If your itinerary includes several stops, note the order and rough timings, plus a contact number for anyone meeting you at the far end. When you request a quote, ask about fitting child seats yourself, what happens if your passenger numbers change, and whether an automatic or an estate would change the picture for your list.
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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.