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.
Setting Up a Return Trip
Before you request a quote, decide whether the car needs to be back at the same point on the same day or whether the return leg falls on a later date, since that choice shapes the hire period you ask about. Note the collection time you want and the latest time the car could be returned, then check whether those hours sit comfortably within your planned schedule. If the outbound and return journeys differ, write down both destinations so the team can confirm delivery and collection arrangements for each end. It is also worth recording whether anyone else will be driving on either leg, as additional driver details may affect the booking. Where your return time might slip, ask the team how a late return would be handled and whether an extension can be arranged in advance.
Sharing the Trip Details
If friends, family or colleagues are travelling with you, gather their plans early rather than leaving loose ends until the day. Confirm who is definitely coming, who might join later, and where each person needs to be picked up or dropped off, including any addresses and preferred times. Ask passengers to note how much luggage they will bring and roughly how large each bag is, so you can weigh this against the vehicle group you are considering. Record a contact number for each traveller in case plans change on the day. Once the details are collected, you can pass the final list to the team with your dates and driver information, and ask any remaining questions about delivery points, collection options or vehicle groups before confirming the booking.
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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.