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.
Listing luggage for a short break
Before choosing a car for a short break, it helps to draft a packing list with rough sizes. Note how many cases you expect, whether any are large hold luggage, and which extras will travel with you, such as a cool bag, walking boots or a folded pushchair. If you are travelling with others, ask each person to name their bags rather than guessing, and record anything fragile or awkwardly shaped. Decide in advance whether roof bars or extra cabin storage matter to you, since that preference may guide the vehicle group you request. When you contact the team, give the dates, the number of travellers and this luggage summary, and ask whether the group you have in mind matches the bags you plan to bring. Any open questions can be raised at that stage.
Planning your first day of driving
The opening hours of a trip deserve a short plan of their own. Decide what happens immediately after you collect the car: will you drive straight to your accommodation, stop for shopping, or take a detour to stretch your legs? Note the address and phone number of your first contact, along with any booking reference you may need to quote on arrival. If someone is expecting you at a set time, message them your estimated arrival and agree what happens if the collection runs late. It can also be worth writing down one or two optional stops you could skip if the day tightens up. When you request a quote, mention your intended start time and ask how the handover process fits around it.
Explore other car hire areas
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.















