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.
Planning a journey with a return leg
The key decision when a trip involves coming back is whether both legs need the same arrangement. If you are driving out loaded and returning empty, the vehicle still has to suit the busier direction, so note what you are carrying on the way out and what comes home with you. Write down the date and rough time of each leg, since an early start and a late return might stretch across more than one hire day. Consider where the car will sit between the two legs, and whether collection or delivery works better at each end. Mentioning all of this when you enquire lets the team quote for the full period rather than a single day.
Drafting your questions before requesting a quote
Before picking up the phone, draft a short list of what you want answered. Start with availability on your dates and whether the car can be delivered to your address or collected from a chosen point. Ask what the driver needs to show on the day, and how additional drivers are added if someone else might take the wheel on the return leg. It is sensible to ask what happens if your plans change, whether the booking can be extended mid-hire, and what the quote covers from beginning to end. If you are weighing two vehicle groups, such as an estate against an SUV, ask for both to be priced so you can compare. A prepared list keeps the conversation focused and makes the eventual quote easier to check.
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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.