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 return journey with your hire car
Before you request a quote, it helps to settle the shape of your round trip in your own notes. Decide the outward date and the return date, then consider whether either might shift by a day. If someone at the destination needs to know when you are arriving, note their contact details so you can update them if plans change. Think about who will be travelling and how many bags each person expects to bring, since a boot that seems roomy on paper fills quickly with suitcases and coats. If you are collecting equipment or gifts on the way back, roughly estimate their dimensions. You can then ask the team which vehicle groups suit your list and what happens if your return date moves.
Choosing around driver preferences
Every driver has habits worth recording before a booking is made. If the person behind the wheel prefers an automatic, note that early, because it narrows the available groups. Some drivers favour a higher seating position, while others want a compact car for narrow streets; writing these preferences down keeps the conversation clear when more than one person may take a turn at the wheel. List the full names and ages of any additional drivers, and note whether any of them hold licences issued abroad. If the car needs to reach a second address partway through the hire, mention that too. Questions worth asking include whether a preferred group can be held while you confirm travel dates with companions.
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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.