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.
Planning a return journey by car
The first decision to make is where the return leg ends, because a circular trip and an out-and-back journey place different demands on your schedule. Fix both the outward date and the date you need to be home, then note anything that could stretch the trip, such as visits you want to fit in along the way. Decide who drives each leg if more than one licence holder is travelling, and include their details in the enquiry. Consider how much you will carry back compared with what you take out, since shopping, gifts or borrowed items can change the boot space you want. Setting both ends of the journey out clearly helps the team quote for the right hire period.
Keeping a flexible day plan
A workable day plan leaves slack around the fixed points, so build in room between appointments rather than scheduling them back to back. Note the commitments that cannot move, then treat the gaps between them as space for parking, refreshments or an unscheduled stop. If the trip involves collecting someone, agree a fallback arrangement in case timings shift, and share your rough itinerary with them. Keep a short list of the day's essentials in the car so a change of plan does not leave anything behind at a previous stop. Flexibility is easier when the plan is written down and everyone travelling has seen it. This also gives the team a clearer picture when you explain the hire dates.
Explore other car hire areas
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.















