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 a Work Trip Around Your Hire Car
Start by writing down the dates you need the car, including any early starts or late finishes, plus the name and contact details of the person collecting the vehicle if that is not you. List each appointment or site visit in order, with addresses and the name and phone number of whoever is expecting you at each stop, so the day can be planned realistically. Note whether any passenger will travel with you and how many briefcases, samples or tools they will bring. If a meeting might overrun, record the latest time you could return the car. Questions worth asking with your quote include which vehicle groups suit your route, whether an automatic or estate would serve the itinerary, and how a delivery or collection slot could be arranged.
Packing Lists for a Short Break
A short break goes more smoothly when the packing list exists before the booking rather than after it. Count everyone travelling and note what each person will bring, from suitcases and holdalls to pushchairs, golf clubs or a boot full of shopping on the return leg. Where an item is unusually shaped, such as a set of skis or a folding bike, measure its length and note it down, since that figure may influence the vehicle group worth discussing. Sketch the itinerary too: departure day, return day and any stops in between. Ask the team whether a vehicle group with suitable space is available for your dates, and who to contact if your return time changes, so any gaps in the plan can be raised before you travel.
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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.