Rental car luggage capacity – what size hire car suits your holiday needs?

So, you have arrived at your destination. Luggage and family in tow, you locate the correct car hire supplier, hand over your details and are given the keys to your holiday hire car, simple! The only thing left to do is embark on a life – size game of Tetris. We have all been there. Faced with a vehicle you may have overestimated in size you now have two options:

1. You accept the challenge and neatly pack your suitcases, handbags, backpacks, and beach ball into your vehicle. Oh, and the other passengers.
2. You upgrade to a larger car at a potentially inflated price.

Neither is ideal. However, it doesn’t have to be this stressful! Always check up on the rental car luggage capacity before booking.

Understand your needs

The first thing you should know is that hire vehicles are grouped into categories: economy, small family, estate / small MPV, large family, people carrier / large MPV, executive, jeep / SUV, and coupe / cabriolet. They are not priced by make or model. Secondly, to ensure you book the right vehicle for your needs you need to consider these key factors.

Location: If you are going to be based in a town or city a smaller car that is easier to park will be more practical. On the other hand, if you are heading further afield to somewhere more rural then you may want to consider a larger car with a bigger engine.

People & luggage: Whilst most cars typically seat 4 – 5 adults, some have limited boot space. If there are only 2 or 3 people travelling you may be able to use the back seat for extra luggage space. However, if all the seats are full you may need to plan to travel light or rent a larger car.

Budget: Everyone wants to save money on their hire car. So, it’s only natural you consider the overall cost of the type of vehicle you want to hire. If you are on a budget check fuel types and select the more economical option.

Extras

Child Seats: If you are travelling with young children you must adhere to the local laws. If you require a child seat make sure you hire a car that can accommodate it on top of your head count and luggage.

Understand your needs

The first thing you should know is that hire vehicles are grouped into categories: economy, small family, estate / small MPV, large family, people carrier / large MPV, executive, jeep / SUV, and coupe / cabriolet. They are not priced by make or model. Secondly, to ensure you book the right vehicle for your needs you need to consider these key factors.

Location: If you are going to be based in a town or city a smaller car that is easier to park will be more practical. On the other hand, if you are heading further afield to somewhere more rural then you may want to consider a larger car with a bigger engine.

People & luggage: Whilst most cars typically seat 4-5 adults, some have limited boot space. If there are only 2 or 3 people travelling you may be able to use the back seat for extra luggage space. However, if all the seats are full you may need to plan to travel light or rent a larger car.

Budget: Everyone wants to save money on their hire car. So, it’s only natural you consider the overall cost of the type of vehicle you want to hire. If you are on a budget check fuel types and select the more economical option.

Extras

Child Seats: If you are travelling with young children you must adhere to the local laws. If you require a child seat make sure you hire a car that can accommodate it on top of your head count and luggage.

Season/ climate: In the summer months your main concern will be air conditioning. It isn’t always guaranteed so make sure you check if it is specified. Travelling in snowy conditions? You may need snow chains or winter tires and a car that is easy to handle in inclement conditions.

Top tip: If you are travelling to a winter resort remember to consider any sports equipment you may be taking with you. You are unlikely to fit your ski gear into an economy – sized vehicle.

Once you have taken these into account, match up your needs to the appropriate car categories within the booking quote results page!

What are the different sizes of rental cars?

Our luggage capacities are worked out using a medium – sized suitcase which has an average size of 68x44x27cm. With our filter tool, you can filter rental cars by how many seats they have, the category they reside in, any inclusions, and the rental car luggage capacity.

Mini

2-4 x seats & 1 x medium size suitcase

As the name suggests this is a very small car. They are best suited to one or two people and usually have just two doors. With limited boot space your luggage will need to be minimal. However, the small engine size makes these cars very budget friendly. If you just need a car to whizz round the immediate area, then these vehicles are perfect. They can also squeeze into nearly any parking space!

Example vehicle: Kia Picanto, Fiat 500

Economy

2-5 x seats & 2 x medium size suitcase

These cars can comfortably fit around two to four passengers and a tad more luggage. Economy vehicles are aptly named for their relatively low petrol costs. With small engines they won’t win a race but are ideal for shorter trips and will be easy to park. A great compromise between size and value!

Example vehicle: Opel Corsa, Renault Clio

Small Family

5 x seats & 3 x medium size suitcase

This type of car is a great choice for a family on a budget travelling shorter journeys. Whilst they can cope with longer journeys these cars are ideal for driving in city locations. They are easy to park and offer good fuel economy. Most small family cars feature air – conditioning but it is always best to check this in advance.

Mini

2 – 4 x seats & 1 x medium size suitcase

As the name suggests this is a very small car. They are best suited to one or two people and usually have just two doors. With limited boot space your luggage will need to be minimal. However, the small engine size makes these cars very budget friendly. If you just need a car to whizz round the immediate area, then these vehicles are perfect. They can also squeeze into nearly any parking space!

Example vehicle: Kia Picanto, Fiat 500

Economy

2 – 5 x seats & 2 x medium size suitcase

These cars can comfortably fit around two to four passengers and a tad more luggage. Economy vehicles are aptly named for their relatively low petrol costs. With small engines they won’t win a race but are ideal for shorter trips and will be easy to park. A great compromise between size and value!

Example vehicle: Opel Corsa, Renault Clio

Small Family

5 x seats & 3 x medium size suitcase

This type of car is a great choice for a family on a budget travelling shorter journeys. Whilst they can cope with longer journeys these cars are ideal for driving in city locations. They are easy to park and offer good fuel economy. Most small family cars feature air – conditioning but it is always best to check this in advance.