Hiring a car can seem an arduous task when you see the seemingly endless range of companies and options available. However, in reality there are a series of simple steps to ensure you choose the right one, and the whole process can be quite painless.

It does pay to shop around a bit, and to work out in advance what your needs are, when hiring a car, it can save you not only money but also considerable stress if you plan ahead. Many of the companies have their own, sometimes seemingly arbitrary, set of terms and conditions, but if you check the key options up front you should be OK. In general, it’s best to book in advance if you can, as you’ll get a better set of available options and hopefully save yourself some unnecessary hassle on the day.

First of all, your choice may be influenced by your location. Different car hire companies operate in different parts of the UK, although there are some with national networks. If you want to drop the car off in a different location to where you picked it up, you may need to use one of the larger companies, as they will likely have more branches up and down the country for you to choose from. However, if you are taking the car back to the same place you picked it up, it’s worth checking out some of the local companies, as they often offer good deals.

Next ask yourself, what do you need in the car itself. Most of the larger companies will offer a range of different vehicle models, although in some cases they don’t actually guarantee that you’ll get the exact model you’ve booked. This is one of the things that’s worth checking in their terms, especially if you have specific requirements in terms of the size or model of car. Naturally the bigger companies are likely to have a bigger range of options, but again, it can worth having a look at what the smaller companies are offering too.

If you’ve booked a car in advance, you’ll need to take a set of documentation with you when you go to collect it. Company policies vary on this, so check what your particular firm requires. In general, you’ll need to take: both parts of your driving license (and sometimes other identification such as a bill to check your address), your booking reference if you have one together with the credit card you used for it, and identification for any additional drivers with you.

Before you head off, it’s worth checking a few things, such as whether you’re expected to refuel the car when you’re finished with it, and whether you’re limited to a set mileage. Also, you’ll have to sign a form verifying the condition that the car is in, so make sure you have a good look around it and that any marks etc are marked on the form before you go.