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.
Mapping Out Your Arrival-Day Schedule
What needs to happen on the day you pick the car up? Write the day as a sequence of steps, from collection to each stop you have planned, with the time you expect at each one. Note who is travelling with you, how many bags they are bringing and whether any item, such as a golf bag or folded pushchair, needs particular consideration when choosing a vehicle group. Record contact names and numbers for anyone meeting you, plus booking references for restaurants, venues or appointments, so a delay can be flagged quickly. If the car is being collected rather than delivered, add the pickup details to your schedule and think about how you will reach that point. Questions about parking or entry at any stop should be asked of that venue. When you enquire, mention the dates, driver details and where you need the car so the team can confirm options.
Thinking Through the Journey Back
When does the return actually start, and who is involved? Set down the departure time you are aiming for, any stops on the way back and the people or luggage you expect to be carrying by then, since numbers sometimes change during a trip. If you are dropping passengers off at different addresses, list each one with a contact number in case arrangements move. Note the date and time the car is due back, and record where it will be left, whether that is your address or another agreed point. Where a return depends on a ferry, event finish time or another person's schedule, keep their details to hand. Anything still uncertain, such as whether an extra hour might be needed, is a fair point to raise with the team when confirming the hire.
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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.