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.
Keeping a flexible day plan
Before you settle on your hire dates, it can help to sketch out how each day might unfold and where a spare hour could be useful. If your plans might shift, one decision worth making early is whether you want a firm end date or room to extend, and you can ask the team how changes to the return date would be handled. Note down any fixed commitments, such as a booked activity or a promised arrival time, alongside the looser parts of the schedule. Listing who will travel on which days also matters, since numbers that grow mid-hire might point towards a people carrier rather than a smaller car. Sharing this outline when you enquire gives the team a fuller picture of what you need.
Preparing questions before a quote
Writing your questions down before requesting a quote tends to make the conversation more productive. You might ask which vehicle groups are offered for your dates, whether collection and delivery can both be arranged, and what driver details the team will need from you. If you have preferences, such as an automatic gearbox or extra boot capacity for luggage, mention them at this stage rather than later. It is also worth asking how the price is confirmed and what happens if your dates change before booking. If someone other than you will collect the car, have their details ready to share. Keeping this list with your own notes means nothing important gets forgotten, and you can compare the answers you receive against your original plan before committing.
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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.















