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.
Comparing Everyday Car Sizes
If two people are travelling with a couple of weekend bags, a compact city car or an automatic may be all the group has in mind. If the trip involves four passengers, a pushchair and a set of golf clubs, the picture changes, and an estate, SUV or people carrier becomes worth comparing. It can help to jot down the number of travellers, the cases or holdalls each person expects to bring, and any bulky extras such as prams, boots or folded bicycles. Noting approximate dimensions for the largest item is useful too, since that often narrows the choice more than passenger count alone. Once those details are written down, the open questions for a quote are simply which vehicle groups are available on the chosen dates and whether collection or delivery suits the plans better.
Organising a Longer Stay
A fortnight away raises different points from a weekend trip. Anyone planning an extended stay might list the dates as a single block rather than separate short hires, note whether the itinerary includes a return leg on a fixed day, and record who the main driver will be along with any second driver details. If the car needs to be handed to a family member partway through, having that person's details ready before requesting a quote avoids follow-up questions. It is also worth deciding whether the delivery point stays the same throughout or changes midway. Where the destination is a private address or a hotel, noting a contact name and phone number for that end of the trip keeps the arrangement clear. The remaining question to settle is simply which vehicle group fits both the passenger list and the luggage tally.
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.