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.
Leaving slack in your daily schedule
Before requesting a car, it is worth deciding how tightly you want to plan the days of the hire. Some journeys run to a fixed timetable, while others leave gaps that can absorb delays or extra stops, and knowing which style you prefer shapes the dates and times you pass on. Write down the appointments that must happen, then note any optional stops, such as a shop or a family visit, that you could drop if the day runs late. Record a contact number for each person you are meeting so any change can be passed along. When you ask for a price, mention the rough hours you expect to need the car and ask whether the hire period can be adjusted if your plans move.
Planning the return leg in advance
Return journeys often get less attention than the outbound trip, yet they deserve the same notes. Decide early whether the car comes back on the same day or a later one, and write that date down alongside the collection date. If a different driver handles the return, record their details too, since the team will ask. Think about where the handover happens and whether that point suits both legs, or whether collection and return differ. It can help to note what you will be carrying home, including any luggage or purchases, so nothing surprises you at the end. When you request a quote, include both dates, the driver details and the locations involved, and raise any open questions about timing then.
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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.