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.
Travelling with children and bags
If children are part of your journey, their equipment often shapes the car you need more than the number of seats does. List each child's age, whether they require a seat or booster, and the dimensions of those seats once fitted, then add the bags, pushchairs and toys that will travel alongside them. Note whether any equipment belongs to you or will be borrowed at the other end, since that affects what must fit in the car. When you contact the team, share the full passenger count and the equipment list together, and ask how the estate, SUV and people carrier groups compare for boot space. If grandparents or friends will join on some days only, mark them as occasional passengers so the numbers stay clear.
Comparing everyday car sizes
Choosing between vehicle groups becomes simpler once you compare your busiest day rather than an average one. Write down the maximum passengers, the luggage for that day and any one-off items such as a folded bicycle, flat-pack furniture or a large pet carrier, including rough measurements for each. Then set the groups side by side on paper: compact city cars and automatics for lighter loads, estates and SUVs for mixed luggage, executive saloons for smart occasions and people carriers for larger parties. Ask the team how each group is categorised and whether your list falls near a boundary. Where two options look workable on paper, note your second choice so you can raise it if your first is unavailable.
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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.