Honest lead times
If a vehicle is four weeks away we say four weeks. We'd rather lose the enquiry than lose your trust in week three.
Who we are
About London Short Term Cars
We've been doing one thing since 2007: putting people into vehicles for months rather than years. That's the whole business.
In short
London Short Term Cars is a trading style of Cocoon Vehicles Limited, a UK vehicle supplier trading since 2007 and authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit-related regulated activities. We specialise exclusively in short-term agreements — car subscriptions, flexible leases, fixed short-term leases and van hire from 1 to 24 months — including specialist cases that mainstream funders decline. Vehicles are dispatched from Derby, York and Leeds into London and the rest of mainland UK.
The business
What we actually do
Most vehicle brokers sell two, three and four-year contracts. It's a bigger market with simpler underwriting. We've deliberately stayed at the short end, because it's where the interesting problems are — and because a lot of people genuinely shouldn't be signing a four-year agreement.
In practice that means two things. First, we hold and source vehicles that can be supplied for six or twelve months rather than forty-eight, which is a different supply chain to conventional leasing. Second, we've built relationships with funders who will underwrite cases that automated systems reject: new companies, expats, overseas-owned businesses.
We're a trading style of Cocoon Vehicles Limited, which also trades under other names including Cocoon Vehicles and Short-Term Leasing. Whichever brand you arrive through, you're dealing with the same team and drawing from the same fleet.
Principles
How we work
Everything in writing
Monthly payment, initial payment, mileage, excess mileage rate and delivery charge. Before you apply, not after.
The right product, not the biggest
If a subscription costs you more than the lease you actually need, we'll tell you. If daily rental is cheaper, we'll say that too.
Almost no marketing email
We very rarely send promotional email. Spam from us is essentially non-existent, which our customers seem to appreciate.
Regulated and compliant
FCA registered for credit-related regulated activities, GDPR compliant, and we don't sell your data to anybody.
Reducing our impact
We've moved a large part of the fleet to electric and plug-in hybrid — a natural fit for a business built around London driving.
Being clear
What we won't do
- Sell you a four-year contract — we don't offer conventional leasing
- Offer PCP or hire purchase, or anything that ends in ownership
- Quote a price we can't supply at, just to get you on the phone
- Promise approval before an application has actually been underwritten
- Bundle insurance into your monthly payment
- Sell your details 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.