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 you are weighing up a compact against an estate or a people carrier, it helps to write down what a typical day of driving involves. Note how many people usually travel with you, whether the boot regularly holds a pushchair, shopping or sports kit, and how often you carry longer items that might need folded seats. A shortlist of your three most common journeys gives the team something concrete to match against each vehicle group. You can also record whether an automatic matters to you and whether rear headroom is a consideration for taller passengers. When you request a quote, include your preferred dates, the collection or delivery point and any questions about vehicle groups, so the team can confirm what is available.
Keeping a Flexible Day Plan
Should your schedule be loose rather than fixed, it is worth noting the range of dates that could work before you enquire, since a window of two or three days gives the team more to work with than a single afternoon. Think about where the car would be collected from and whether anyone else named as a driver needs their details ready. If your plans might change, ask at the outset how amendments are handled and what the team needs from you to adjust a booking. It also helps to note your expected daily mileage pattern in general terms, plus any parking arrangements at either end of the trip. Any questions about access at a destination are best directed to the contact there rather than assumed.
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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.