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.
Planning Your Return Journey Before You Book
One of the first decisions worth settling is whether the car comes back on the same day it goes out. If your plans involve an overnight stay, note the collection date and the return date separately, along with the times you expect to need the vehicle on each. Write down where the car should be collected from and where it should be handed back, especially if those differ, and add the name and phone number of anyone who will receive it at either end. It also helps to record who the named drivers are and whether any of them might change before the hire begins. When you ask for a quote, these details can all go in one message, and any questions about delivery or collection arrangements can be raised with the team at the same time.
Drawing Up a Packing List for a Short Break
A short break is easier to plan once you know exactly what is travelling with you. Start with a simple list: how many passengers, how many bags each person expects to bring, and whether anything unusually shaped, such as a set of golf clubs, a pushchair or a folding bike, is coming too. Note the approximate dimensions of the largest items and whether any bag needs to stay reachable during the drive rather than going in the boot. If you are undecided between an estate and a people carrier, mention the full luggage list when you enquire and ask which vehicle group the team would suggest for it. Keeping this list to hand also means that if your plans shift, perhaps an extra case or an extra passenger, you can update your enquiry without starting from scratch.
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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.