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 luggage
If children are part of your travelling party, the list of things to organise grows quickly, so it pays to write it down rather than rely on memory. Count how many children are coming, their ages and what each one needs for the journey, from pushchairs to travel cots and booster seats. Note the number of suitcases, holdalls and any bulky items, along with rough dimensions for the largest pieces, since this helps when discussing which car group to request. Ask whether any item can fold or separate into parts, and record that alongside the measurements. Where another adult is meeting you at the destination, keep their phone number with the itinerary. Mentioning all of this when you ask for a quote gives the team a clearer picture to work from.
Leaving space in a day plan
A schedule with no breathing room between commitments can cause problems the moment anything runs late, so consider building flexibility into the day from the start. Sketch out each stop, how long you expect to spend there and the gap you would want before the next one, then look at whether the overall timings still make sense. If the day involves collecting or dropping off people, note their names and numbers in case timings shift and you need to warn them. Record the latest time you could return the car without disrupting the next booking, and compare that with your planned finish. When contacting the team, it is worth asking how hire periods are arranged, since the answer may influence how much slack you decide to build in.
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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.