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.
Factoring Driver Preferences into Your Notes
Before requesting a car, write down what matters to the people who will drive it. Note whether anyone in your party can only manage an automatic, whether a particular driver prefers a higher seating position, and how many named drivers will share the booking. Record the hire dates, the pick-up or delivery location and the rough itinerary, including whether the car stays in one place or moves between addresses. If passengers are involved, list how many there will be and their bags or equipment, adding measurements for anything bulky. Where the car is being delivered to a workplace, hotel or relative's home, note the recipient's name and contact number. End your notes with the questions you want the quote to cover, such as which vehicle groups suit your preferences and what options exist on your dates.
Planning the Return Leg of a Journey
Return journeys deserve their own set of notes rather than being treated as a mirror of the outbound trip. Write down the date and approximate time you expect the car to go back, and whether that could slip if plans change. Note who will be driving on the return, in case the driver differs from the person who collected the car, and record where the vehicle must be handed over. Count the passengers and luggage for the homeward leg separately, since shopping, gifts or equipment can change the numbers. If someone will receive the car at the end, perhaps a family member or a site contact, list their name and telephone number. Keep a note of open questions for the quote too, such as collection arrangements, vehicle groups available across both dates and anything else the team can clarify.
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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.