London’s short-term vehicle specialists · FCA registered · est. 2007

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Long-term hire

Long-term car hire, and when it's actually the right call

Rental stretched across months instead of days. The fastest option to arrange — and we'll tell you honestly when a flexible lease would be cheaper.

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In short

Long-term car hire is car rental taken over months rather than days, typically from one month upwards. Its advantages are speed and simplicity: less underwriting than a lease, and in some cases insurance bundled in. Its disadvantage is cost — beyond roughly three months, a flexible lease or car subscription usually works out cheaper for the same vehicle. If you need something for under a month, our sister site carhireairport.co.uk may suit you better than any of our 1–24 month agreements.

Be honest about it

When hire beats leasing

Choose long-term hire when…

  • You need a vehicle within days and can't wait for underwriting
  • The requirement genuinely might end in four to eight weeks
  • You'd rather have insurance bundled than arrange your own
  • Credit history makes a finance agreement difficult right now
  • It's a cover vehicle while something is repaired or replaced

Choose a lease or subscription when…

  • The requirement is three months or more
  • You want a specific model and specification, not a rental category
  • Monthly cost matters more than speed of arrangement
  • You're happy to arrange your own insurance and keep your no-claims
  • You want a fixed, predictable figure for budgeting

Rough guide

Cost shape over time

General guidance, not a quotation. Get us to price two structures side by side and pick the cheaper one.
How long you need itUsually cheapestWhy
Under 3 weeksDaily rentalNo initial payment and no minimum term to absorb
3 weeks – 3 monthsLong-term hire or subscriptionRental rates drop at monthly tiers; a subscription's minimum term starts to pay
3 – 6 monthsSubscription or flexible leaseDepreciation spreads further; hire rates stop improving
6 – 24 monthsFixed short-term leaseLowest monthly figure of all the options
Over 24 monthsConventional leasingA different product entirely — we'll point you to it

What's included

Included in your monthly payment

  • The vehicle itself, for the whole agreement
  • Servicing and routine maintenance
  • Road fund licence (road tax)
  • Manufacturer warranty
  • Breakdown assistance
  • Delivery, and collection at the end

You arrange separately

  • Fully comprehensive insurance — arranged by you
  • Fuel or electricity
  • The London congestion charge, ULEZ and clean air charges
  • Parking and speeding penalties
  • Damage beyond our return standards
  • Mileage driven above your contracted allowance

Answers

Frequently asked questions

Vehicle rental extended across months rather than days. It's administratively the simplest way to get a car — often no credit agreement, minimal paperwork — but per month it's usually the priciest of the short-term options once you go beyond a few weeks.

Generally anything from one month upwards. Below about three weeks, standard daily rental is normally cheaper. Above about three months, a flexible lease or subscription usually costs less for the same vehicle.

Almost never, over a comparable period. What it buys you is speed and simplicity. If you need something tomorrow with minimal underwriting, hire wins. If you have two weeks and a reasonable credit position, a lease or subscription costs less.

Sometimes — a genuine difference from leasing, and part of why the monthly figure looks higher. Always check the level of cover and the excess before comparing a hire price against a lease price; they're often not like for like.

Yes, and it's common for short projects, visiting staff and cover vehicles. For anything beyond a couple of months, ask us to price a flexible lease alongside it so you can see the difference for yourself.

Keep reading

Next step

Get hire and lease priced side by side

Tell us how long you think you need a vehicle. We'll quote both structures so you can see the difference in black and white.

Get a quote 0207 183 0340