Your last Totnes minibus booking went smoothly, so it's tempting to fire off the same enquiry again and hope for the best. Passenger needs shift, though, and a vague request slows everything down. This page shows how a returning hirer can build a sharper, better-informed enquiry from the very first message.
Count Passengers Before You Type a Word
The classic mistake is quoting last year's headcount from memory. A nephew brings a friend, a colleague drops out, and suddenly nine becomes eleven. Walk through your list properly, then state the real figure — plus luggage — so the operator can match a vehicle with genuine seats rather than guesswork.
Offer a Worked Timing, Not a Round Number
'Sometime Saturday morning' tells an operator very little. Instead, work backwards: ceremony at two, photographs at three, so you need the minibus outside by half twelve and back by nine. Giving the clock proper thought means your enquiry arrives with answers attached, and quotes come back faster.
Put Roads and Handovers in the Same Message
Lane widths, hill parking, a pickup three streets from the drop-off — scatter these details across several emails and something gets lost. Write one message covering every handover point and any tricky approach roads on the route. The operator then prices the whole job accurately instead of discovering surprises later.
Sort Drivers and Payment Before Anything Is Agreed
Once a quote feels right, people rush to say yes and leave the awkward questions hanging. Ask now who'll drive, whether you need your own licence details ready, and how payment splits across the group. Settling these while the enquiry is still open keeps the eventual booking straightforward.
Questions before you book
What should a minibus hire enquiry in Totnes contain?
A checked passenger number, precise pickup and return times, every handover location, notes on narrow or steep roads, and an early mention of who's driving and how payment will work.
Will enquiring about a minibus in Totnes hold one for me?
Usually not on its own. Vehicles may already be spoken for, so treat an enquiry as the opening conversation; a firm reservation generally follows once details and terms are agreed.


