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.
Mapping out an arrival-day plan
What should the first few hours after landing look like? Start by writing down your arrival time, the address where the car will be delivered or collected, and the tasks you want completed that day, such as shopping, checking in at accommodation or picking up a relative. Put rough times beside each entry and mark anything that depends on opening hours. If the day involves several stops, list them in the order you expect to make them and note the contact number for each. Keep one page with all of this so it can be shared quickly. When you ask for a quote, include the arrival timing and ask which vehicle group and delivery or collection option would work with it, leaving finer points open until confirmed.
Sharing trip details with companions
Who else needs a copy of the plan? If friends or family are joining, send them the dates, the pick-up location and a note of which car group you have requested, so nobody arrives with a different idea of the schedule. Ask each companion for their mobile number and an alternative contact, and record who is travelling on which leg if people join or leave partway through. Note how many bags each person expects to bring, since that can influence whether a compact city car remains suitable or a people carrier fits the group better. If someone prefers an automatic, add that to your notes. Sharing these details early, and passing them to the team with your enquiry, keeps the open questions few and the booking conversation straightforward.
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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.