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.
Packing for a short break
Your first decision is usually how much each person intends to bring, so start there. Ask everyone in your party to list their bags, noting whether each is a soft holdall, a rigid suitcase or a rucksack, and record approximate sizes for anything unusually shaped such as golf clubs or a folded pushchair. Compare that list against the number of travellers: two people with one shared bag make a very different request from four people with a case each. Decide whether anything could be left behind or condensed if space is tight, and mark those items on your list. Once you have a clear picture, note your travel dates and where the car should be delivered or collected. Sharing the full luggage list with the team when you enquire helps keep the conversation about vehicle groups straightforward.
Arrival-day itinerary considerations
Think about what the first few hours after collection will involve before you finalise anything. Note your expected start time, the address where the car is needed, and who will be driving first. If you are heading to a hotel, family home or venue, record the name and phone number of a contact there, in case arrival times slip and someone needs updating. Sketch the day loosely: which stops are fixed, which are optional, and whether any timing depends on other people. If passengers or luggage will join partway through, note where and roughly when. Keep the arrival date distinct from the rest of the hire in your notes, and when you ask for a quote, raise any questions about delivery windows, vehicle groups or collection arrangements while your plan still has room to adjust.
Explore other car hire areas
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.