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 luggage
If children are joining the trip, it helps to list their ages before requesting a quote, since seat requirements vary by age and you may want to confirm what the car already includes. Note how many child seats or boosters you plan to bring yourself, along with the number of suitcases, holdalls and pushchairs. Rough dimensions for the largest bags, such as a height and width in centimetres, give the team something concrete to work with when discussing a boot arrangement. You might also jot down whether prams fold flat and whether anyone needs extra room for a travel cot or buggy board. Questions worth asking include whether a particular group suits your party and what the collection timing options are.
Comparing everyday car sizes
When weighing up a compact city car against an estate or people carrier, start by counting everyone on the trip and tallying one bag each, then add anything unusual such as golf clubs, a bike rack or shopping for a weekend away. Write down the items with their approximate sizes so the list can be shared when you enquire. An itinerary also matters: a car used mainly for short local errands may suit a smaller group, whereas a longer journey with several passengers and full luggage could point towards a larger option. Ask the team to talk through the vehicle groups available on your dates, the delivery or collection arrangements, and whether an automatic is preferable for any named driver on the booking.
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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.















