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.
Coordinating Several Passengers
Who else will be travelling with you? If more than one passenger is joining the trip, it helps to write down each person's name, contact number and pickup point before you request a quote. Note whether they are definite travellers or possible additions, since a change in numbers may affect which vehicle group suits the booking. Record any preferences worth mentioning, such as a passenger who needs extra legroom or someone bringing a large case. Ask the team whether a particular group can be reserved on your dates and how a change of passenger numbers would be handled. Keeping this list on your phone gives you a single place to update if plans shift, and it means the details are ready whenever you make contact.
Planning Ahead for Children and Luggage
Travelling with children adds a few extra items to think through. List the number of youngsters coming along, their ages and any child seats or boosters you intend to bring yourself, then note the bags, pushchairs and other belongings that will accompany them. Measuring the folded pushchair or the largest suitcase gives you a figure to pass on when discussing estates, SUVs or people carriers. It is also worth recording where each child is being collected from and who will meet them at the other end, including a phone number for that contact. When you ask for a quote, confirm the dates, the number of travellers and the delivery or collection point, and raise any remaining questions about space so they can be answered before you confirm anything.
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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.