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.
Information to gather before a quote
Start by writing down the dates you need the car, including the exact start day and finish day, together with the main driver's details and where you would like the vehicle collected from or delivered to. Add a short passenger list and a rough luggage count, noting anything unusually shaped such as a bicycle, golf clubs or a pushchair, along with its approximate dimensions. If you already know your preferred arrival or departure times, record those as well. When you contact the team, you might ask which vehicle groups are available for your dates, whether a specific model can be confirmed or only a category, and what would happen if your timings shifted after booking. Keeping these notes in one place gives you a clear record to refer back to.
Choosing around driver preferences
Consider who will actually spend the most time behind the wheel. Where two or three people share the driving, list each person's details so the team can confirm what is required for every named driver. Preferences vary: one person may want an automatic, another might favour the raised seating of an SUV, and a third could need the boot space of an estate for luggage and beach gear. Write these preferences next to your dates and collection point, then ask whether the group you have in mind is likely to be offered for your dates. Two further questions worth raising are how a switch to a different vehicle group would be handled if your first choice is unavailable, and whether a second driver could be added later if plans change.
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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.