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.
Questions Worth Asking Before a Quote
Before requesting a price, take a moment to draft the questions you want answered. You might ask how the vehicle groups differ from one another, what delivery or collection arrangements are possible on your dates, and what the fuel arrangements are at the start and end of the hire. Note whether you need to add a second driver and what details would be required for them. If your plans involve an early start or a late return, ask whether those times can be accommodated. Write each question down as it occurs to you, along with your preferred dates and the type of car you have in mind. An organised list means nothing gets forgotten during the conversation, and you can compare the answers against your own requirements before committing.
Travelling with Children and Luggage
Families often have more to carry than they first expect, so a written inventory can be worth preparing. Count the adults and children travelling, noting each child's age, since this may affect the seating you need to arrange. List the child seats or boosters you will bring and their approximate dimensions when fitted. Then tally the suitcases, holdalls and any pushchairs, recording roughly how large each one is. If you are planning a longer itinerary, note the stages of the journey and where bags will be loaded and unloaded along the way. Keep a note of who is holding tickets or documents, and add a contact number for anyone meeting you at the other end. These records can then guide your conversation about which vehicle group suits your trip.
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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.