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 Your Return Journey Early
One of the first decisions worth settling is which day the car goes back. If your plans involve a single day out, a weekend away or a longer stretch, note the date you would like to collect and the date you intend to return, including rough times. It also helps to record whether anything might shift - a later finish, an extra appointment or a change of plans that could extend the hire by a few hours. Writing these details down before requesting a quote gives the team something concrete to check against availability. You might also ask whether the return point stays the same as the collection point or whether an alternative handover can be arranged, and note any preference for morning or evening timings on both ends.
Listing Passengers and Luggage for a Short Break
Before packing for a short break, sketch a quick list of who is travelling and what each person plans to bring. Count the adults, children and any infants requiring seats, then tally the suitcases, holdalls and smaller bags so the total is clear. If you own awkward items - a pushchair, golf clubs, a folding bike or a cool box - measure their length, width and height and keep those figures with your notes. You can then pass the passenger count and bag inventory to the team when asking about a vehicle group, whether that points towards an estate, an SUV or a people carrier. Any questions about space at your accommodation, such as where bags can be set down on arrival, belong with the place you are staying.
Explore other car hire areas
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.