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.
Sketching an itinerary for arrival day
What does the first day of your trip actually look like? Writing an answer to that question before you request a car helps you describe what you need. List the arrival time of your flight or train, where you are heading first, and how many stops sit between the start and the end of the day. Note any time-sensitive elements, such as a check-in window or a meeting that cannot move. If several people are travelling, record who lands when, in case the itinerary needs to flex. Think about whether you want the car waiting from the morning or whether a later collection would suit the schedule better. An itinerary does not need to be minute-perfect; a simple ordered list of stops with rough timings is enough to discuss with the hire team.
Sharing trip details with your companions
Once the outline is settled, make sure everyone travelling with you has the same information. Send the itinerary, the vehicle collection or delivery arrangement and any booking reference to each person, so nobody is guessing where to be. Include the driver's contact number and, if someone else might take the wheel, note whose details the hire team holds. Agree how luggage will be divided between cars if the group is splitting up, and confirm who is responsible for keeping keys or documents during the trip. If plans change while you are away, a group message keeps everyone aligned rather than relaying updates person by person. Having the details shared widely also means a companion can answer questions on your behalf if you are unavailable when the hire team calls to confirm arrangements.
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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.