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.
Travelling With Children and Bags
If children are travelling with you, the packing list tends to grow quickly. Before requesting a quote, count every passenger, including infants, and list the child seats or boosters you will bring, noting whether each is fitted by you or supplied separately. Record the number of suitcases, pushchairs and carry bags, and measure any awkward item such as a folded buggy or a travel cot so the dimensions are on hand. Write down the dates you need the car and any school-run or nursery timings that frame the day. It is also sensible to note one adult's phone number as the main contact. Passing all of this to the team when you enquire means your questions about vehicle groups can be answered with the full picture in front of them.
Keeping a Flexible Day Plan
How firm is your itinerary, really? Building some slack into a day plan leaves room for adjustment, so when you hire a car it is worth noting which parts of your schedule are fixed and which could move. List the appointments or visits in order, with addresses and the name and number of a contact at each, and mark anything that depends on another person, such as a collection from a relative. Record your preferred start and finish times for the hire and any gap days between commitments. When you ask for a quote, mention that your timings may shift and ask how changes to dates are handled, then keep the reply with your booking notes.
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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.