Questions people actually ask us

One month, on a handful of vehicles — though the bulk of what we supply runs 3, 6, 9 or 12 months. There's a practical reason for that: on a fixed lease under three months, the initial rental can end up larger than the deal itself. Below that point, a subscription is almost always the better-shaped product, because the upfront cost doesn't scale the same way.

Depends on the vehicle. Anything tagged with a GL or GPC supplier code in our system is physically sat on our fleet already, so once your order's signed and paid, 3 to 5 working days is typical — quicker again if you've already been credit-approved. Anything else is a pre-order, and the timing is whatever the supplying fleet tells us. We pass that figure straight to you rather than rounding it down to sound better.

There's always an initial rental — one to three months' worth, paid at the start, which is different from a deposit even though it feels similar. Whether a genuinely refundable deposit sits on top of that comes down to your status and is decided by the underwriters, not by us. You'll see both numbers, clearly separated, on your quotation before you sign anything.

No — that one's on you, deliberately. Keeping the policy in your own name means your no-claims history stays yours and you pick your own excess. Occasionally an insurer balks at a leased or subscription vehicle; if that happens to you, ask us and we'll point you towards a broker who deals with exactly this every week.

We come and collect it. That's it — nothing to sell privately, nothing to trade in, none of the residual value gamble that comes with owning outright. Wear gets checked against our own return standards rather than the industry-standard BVRLA fair wear and tear guide, unless you've held the vehicle past 18 months, at which point BVRLA's standard takes over. The BVRLA code of conduct applies to us throughout, regardless.

Often, yes. A subscription or flexible lease just keeps rolling once the minimum term's up, right through until the car turns three years old, with no swap forced on you partway. A fixed-term lease is less automatic, but extension or re-contracting is frequently possible if there's availability — the trick is asking before the return date arrives, not after.

Every borough, yes. Stock is prepared and sent out from our Derby, York and Leeds sites, and we quote a delivery charge specific to your postcode before you commit to anything. Congestion charge, ULEZ, and any clean air zone costs are yours to cover as the person driving it day to day — that's standard across every agreement we write.

It should, a bit. London Short Term Cars trades under Cocoon Vehicles Limited, which the Financial Conduct Authority authorises and regulates for credit-related activities — check that on the FCA register any time you want. Your data's handled under UK GDPR too, whichever country you're applying from.

No. Leasing and subscription agreements never end in ownership — that's fundamentally what makes them cheaper per month than a purchase product. If you want the option to own, you need PCP or hire purchase, which we don't offer.

Breakdown assistance is included on all our agreements. You call the number in the vehicle pack and it's dealt with. On commercial vehicles this includes commercial recovery, which matters when a van is loaded.

Usually yes, with prior written permission and often a VE103 certificate confirming you're authorised to take a hired vehicle out of the country. Ask us well before you travel, not the week before.

Yes. Additional drivers must be named on your insurance policy and meet the agreement's driver criteria. Tell us and tell your insurer before they drive.

Damage is an insurance matter. Repairs must be carried out to manufacturer standards — don't use an unapproved repairer, because a substandard repair will be recharged at the end of the agreement.

Delivery charges vary by postcode and are confirmed in writing before you commit. Collection at the end of the agreement is arranged the same way.

On a subscription, often yes. On a fixed lease it's usually possible to re-quote, though it may change the monthly figure. Tell us as soon as you realise you've got it wrong — it's much cheaper than accruing excess mileage.

Both, depending on the vehicle. Some come from our own fleet at Cocoon Vehicles; others are sourced from funders and supplying fleets. Either way you deal with us throughout.