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.
Travelling with children and bags
If children are coming along, the practical details tend to multiply quickly. Start by listing how many youngsters are travelling, their ages and whether any need child seats or boosters, since these take up space as well as seats. Next, note the bags each child will have, from small rucksacks to full suitcases, plus pushchairs or travel cots if they apply. Recording approximate dimensions for bulkier items helps when you ask about vehicle groups, because an estate or people carrier may suit different lists. Decide who will be the named drivers and where the car is needed from, then share the whole list when requesting a quote. Should any question remain open, such as whether a pushchair fits a particular boot, raise it with the team directly rather than assuming.
Packing for a short break
What does a weekend away actually require in the boot? Working through the list before booking can shape which car you request. Count the passengers first, then set out each person's luggage: one medium case, a holdall, a coat, perhaps a pair of walking boots. Note anything long or flat, such as skis, a folded buggy or a set of golf clubs, with rough measurements if you can. Think about the return journey too, since bags sometimes come home fuller than they left, and decide whether the dates allow any flexibility. Once the list is drafted, pass the dates, driver details and where you need the car to the team, who will confirm a vehicle group, delivery or collection options and price. Keep the list handy in case you need to adjust it before booking.
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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.