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.
Organising a longer stay
Say the car is needed for a fortnight rather than a weekend. Longer hires call for a few extra notes in the enquiry, starting with the exact start and end dates and whether there is any flexibility around them. Record where the car will be based during the stay, whether the delivery point and the return point are the same, and who the main driver is. If other drivers might take the wheel, list their details too. Think about luggage for the whole party, including anything bought during the trip that needs space on the way home. Note any preference for an automatic or a particular body style, and add questions about collection options so the team can confirm everything before you commit.
Choosing around driver preferences
Who will actually drive, and what do they prefer? Before requesting a price, ask each named driver whether they favour an automatic or a manual, whether they find larger vehicles awkward, and whether an estate or a saloon suits the journey they have in mind. Write these preferences down, along with each driver's details, and note any that are firm requirements rather than nice-to-haves. If two drivers disagree, record both views and decide between them before the enquiry goes in. Consider the luggage each driver and passenger will bring, since the combined load influences the vehicle group discussed with the team. Any remaining questions, such as how delivery would work on the chosen dates, can be listed so nothing is left to sort out afterwards.
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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.















