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.
Matching a Car to Your Everyday Needs
If your week involves a supermarket run, a visit to relatives and a boot full of shopping, the shape of the car matters as much as anything else. Before requesting a quote, it helps to sketch out the typical journeys you expect to make and note roughly how many people will travel in each one. A couple with two weekend guests has different requirements from a family of five with pushchairs and sports kit. Write down the passenger count, the number of bags or cases you usually carry, and whether any item is unusually long or tall. You can then pass these notes to the team, who will suggest a vehicle group from the options available and confirm delivery or collection arrangements that suit your dates.
Planning Your Return Journey
Thinking about the return leg early can spare you a scramble at the end of the hire. Decide whether the car comes back to the same point you collected it from, or whether your plans finish elsewhere, and note any change of driver along the way. Jot down the expected return date and time, plus a buffer if your schedule might slip, so you can ask the team whether that window works with their arrangements. It is also worth listing who will be travelling home with you, how many bags they will have, and any items such as bicycles that might affect which vehicle group you settle on. Having these details ready means your quote request can be answered with fewer back-and-forth questions.
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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.