Car Hire Eye

Put the Paperwork to Bed First

Nothing stalls a collection desk faster than missing documents. Dig out your driving licence, its counterpart code, and a second form of identification the evening before, then photograph them as backup. If any driver recently changed address, update the licence first. Ten minutes of preparation spares you a panicked search in a car park.

Choose the Size by Counting What Travels

Picture the actual day: passengers, shopping between stops, a pushchair folded into the boot. A compact car suits a solo traveller hopping between meetings, whereas a family stringing together a market visit, a lunch stop, and an afternoon walk needs genuine boot space. Count the bags before choosing, not after collecting.

Get Every Driver Onto the Booking Early

Whoever might take a turn at the wheel should be declared when you reserve, not added on the day. A partner who drives the return leg while you navigate deserves proper cover, and late additions sometimes depend on staff discretion at the desk. Settle it upfront and the day belongs to the itinerary, not the paperwork.

Set the Hours to Fit the Whole Day

Work backwards from your final stop. If the last visit ends at five, book a return that allows for a leisurely drive, a fuel top-up, and an unhurried handover. Whether a particular early start or late finish can be arranged naturally depends on what's free when you book, so ask when reserving rather than hoping on the day.

Common Questions