Lead times we'll stand behind
Four weeks means four weeks. We'd rather lose an enquiry upfront than lose your trust three weeks into a broken promise.
Who we are
One thing, since 2007
Vehicles for months, not years — that's been the entire focus since 2007, and we haven't drifted from it.
In short
London Short Term Cars trades as Cocoon Vehicles Limited, a UK vehicle supplier operating since 2007 and authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit-related activities. Short-term agreements are the entire focus — subscriptions, flexible leases, fixed short-term leases and van hire across 1 to 24 months — including the specialist cases mainstream funders turn down. Everything ships out from our Derby, York and Leeds sites, into London and the rest of mainland UK.
The business
What we spend our time on
Most vehicle brokers make their money on two, three and four-year contracts — bigger volume, simpler underwriting. We've stuck deliberately to the short end instead, partly because that's where the genuinely interesting cases live, and partly because plenty of people have no business signing a four-year agreement in the first place.
Practically, that shapes two things about how we operate. We hold and source stock built to be supplied for six or twelve months rather than forty-eight, which runs on a different supply chain to conventional leasing entirely. And we've spent years building relationships with funders willing to underwrite cases an automated system would bounce — new companies, expats, businesses owned from overseas.
Cocoon Vehicles Limited also trades under other names, including Cocoon Vehicles and Short-Term Leasing. Whichever front door you come through, it's the same team and the same fleet behind it.
Principles
What you can expect from us
Numbers before commitment
Monthly figure, initial payment, mileage, excess-mileage rate, delivery cost — all written down before you apply, never after.
What fits, not what's biggest
If a subscription would cost more than the lease you actually need, we'll say so. Same if plain rental turns out cheaper for you.
An inbox we don't clutter
Promotional email from us is genuinely rare. Customers tend to mention that unprompted, which tells you something.
Properly regulated
FCA-authorised for credit-related activities, UK GDPR compliant, and your data doesn't get sold on to anyone.
An electrifying fleet, deliberately
A growing share of the fleet is electric or plug-in hybrid — a sensible direction for a business built around London driving.
Being clear
Where we draw the line
- We don't sell conventional four-year contracts — it's simply not what we do
- No PCP, no hire purchase, nothing that ends with you owning the car
- We won't quote a rate we can't actually deliver on, just to get you talking to us
- We won't claim you're approved before underwriting's actually happened
- Insurance never gets folded quietly into your monthly figure
- Your details don't go to third parties
Independent resources
Compare us properly
We'd rather you made an informed choice than a fast one. These independent resources are genuinely useful:
- Compare Car Subscriptions — side-by-side comparison of UK subscription providers
- The Car Expert: best car subscription providers
- The Car Expert: best websites for short-term car leasing
Group
Our other services
- Cocoon Vehicles: car subscriptions
- Cocoon Vehicles: business solutions
- Cocoon Vehicles: salary sacrifice
- Cocoon Vehicles: van subscriptions
- carhireairport.co.uk — our sister site for hire under one month at any of the London airports
Keep reading
Next step
Talk to us
Tell us what you need and when you need it. We will come back with real availability and a written quote — usually the same working day.