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.
Travelling with children and luggage
If children are part of your trip, there are a few details worth writing down before you enquire. List how many youngsters are travelling and their ages, since that tells you what seating arrangements they need. Note how many child seats or boosters you will bring yourself, along with their approximate dimensions when folded or installed. Count the bags for the whole party, separating suitcases from smaller day items, and mention any pushchairs or travel cots. Decide whether the boot alone needs to swallow everything or whether some items can sit between passengers. If you are unsure whether your luggage list suits a particular vehicle group, ask the team directly rather than guessing. Recording all of this alongside your dates gives them a clearer picture to work from.
Coordinating several passengers on one trip
When several people share the car, a short planning note keeps everyone aligned. Write down the full passenger list, including who joins at the start and who might be picked up or dropped off along the way. Record a contact number for each person, so schedule changes reach everyone quickly. Ask passengers to declare their luggage in advance, including any long or awkward items, and measure anything unusually shaped. Agree the rough itinerary, such as departure time, stops and final drop-off, and note whether the plan might extend past your original return date. Any of these points can be raised as questions when you request a quote, and the team can then confirm which vehicle groups would suit the numbers involved.
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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.