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.
Comparing everyday car sizes
If you are weighing up two or three vehicle groups, start by listing what the car will actually carry on a typical day. A city car or automatic might suit short solo trips with a single bag, while an estate or SUV gives more room if pushchairs, shopping or sports kit travel with you regularly. Note the rough number of passengers, how many cases or boxes usually come along, and whether anyone in the group needs extra headroom or legroom. Executive saloons and people carriers sit at opposite ends of the size range, so writing down your usual load first helps you describe it accurately. When you ask for a quote, include the dates, where the car is needed and any delivery or collection preference, and raise any open questions about vehicle groups then.
Arranging an arrival-day itinerary
Suppose the car is needed on the day you arrive somewhere new; a short written itinerary can settle most decisions in advance. Jot down each planned stop, the approximate timing, and who should be contacted at each end, including a name and phone number for anyone meeting you. Record how many people and bags will be in the car on that first day, plus the dimensions of anything bulky, so you can confirm the vehicle group when you enquire. If part of the itinerary is still undecided, say so when requesting a quote and ask which details the team needs confirmed before booking. Keeping the itinerary as a simple list of times, contacts and items means any changes can be noted in one place rather than worked out on the day itself.
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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.