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.
Planning a car for a longer stay
If your visit stretches over several weeks, the dates you choose will shape almost everything else, so it is worth fixing them before you request a quote. Note your arrival and departure days, whether any part of the stay is still flexible, and who among your party will be registered drivers. Write a short list of passengers and the bags each person expects to bring, including pushchairs, sports gear or instruments, and record approximate dimensions for anything unusually shaped. If you plan day trips from your base, sketch a rough itinerary so you can describe your likely mileage pattern. Ask the team which vehicle groups suit your party size, whether delivery to your accommodation is possible on your chosen dates, and what happens if your return journey shifts by a day.
Sorting out the return leg
Return journeys deserve their own notes rather than being treated as a mirror of the outbound trip. Consider whether you will leave from the same address you arrived at, or whether plans might change once you are there. Record the contact details of anyone collecting or meeting you, including a phone number that will work on the day, and note where the car should be handed back. Think about luggage on the way home: shopping, gifts or borrowed equipment can add to what you carried out, so adjust your bag list accordingly. Useful questions for a quote include whether the vehicle can be returned to a different point, how extensions are arranged if your stay lengthens, and what information the team needs from each driver before collection.
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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.















