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 an arrival day
What should the first day of a trip actually involve? Answering that early makes the car arrangement far simpler. Write down your arrival time, where you are heading first and how many people and bags are travelling, since these shape the kind of vehicle worth requesting. If the day includes several stops, sketch the order of them so nothing gets left to chance. Think about whether an automatic suits the driver better for stop-start driving, or whether a larger boot would serve a supermarket run on the way. Passing these details to the hire team at the outset means the arrangement matches the itinerary rather than working against it.
Thinking through the return leg
The journey home deserves the same attention as the outward trip. Note your departure time, the number of occupants travelling back and any extra luggage accumulated along the way, such as shopping or gifts. Consider where the car will be handed over at the end, and whether that fits with your final destination or onward connection. If the return date is still uncertain, mention the possible range when enquiring so the options can be discussed. Drivers who prefer a particular transmission or seating position should say so at this stage too. A clear picture of both legs of the journey helps the hire team put together an arrangement that holds up end to end.
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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.















