Short Term Car Lease London
Flexible short term car leasing, built for London driving.
London rarely gives you three years' notice. A new job or contract, a recent move — whatever's going on, you need a decent car now, without a long lease or the cost of buying outright.
That's what a short term car lease is for. Like a phone contract, but for a car: one rolling monthly payment, a modern car on your driveway, and the freedom to hand it back when plans change. No three-year tie-in, no forecourt haggling.
At Drive Subscribe, our short term leases in London start from one month and go up to three, six, nine, twelve or eighteen — whatever best fits your life. Hand the car back when you're done, and you're never stuck with a decision from years ago.
Why a short term car lease in London makes sense
London is an expensive, complicated place to keep a car, which is why leasing one a few months at a time works so well. A short term lease takes the city's biggest headaches off your plate.
Every car is ULEZ-compliant, so you pay £0 in the emissions zone — which now covers almost all of Greater London around the clock.
No depreciation, no MOT, no car to sell. London traffic, tight parking and high mileage are brutal on a car's value — but not yours. Servicing and maintenance are included, the resale risk is ours, and when you're done you just call and hand it back.
Wherever you are in London — north, south, east, west, central — we bring the car to you and collect it the same way. From inner boroughs like Westminster, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Lambeth and Southwark out to Barnet, Bromley, Croydon, Hillingdon and the edge of the M25. No depot, no queue.
Your London car lease options: what you can drive
The right size for how you actually drive — something small to nip through the City and park in Hackney, or something roomier for the school run and jobs across the boroughs. Our fleet has got you covered:
- Compact and city cars — easy to park, easy on fuel, built for central and inner London.
- Saloons and hatchbacks — comfortable all-rounders for the commute and the odd trip out of town.
- SUVs — more room for family life, or time split between London and the countryside.
- Work vans — ULEZ-compliant, for tradespeople and businesses working across the capital.
Running a business? A new starter who needs a car from day one, a contract that runs to Christmas, a team growing faster than a three-year lease allows — a 6, 12 or 18 month car lease in London handles exactly that, across cars and ULEZ-compliant vans. One fixed monthly price, no idle vehicles.
Whatever stage you're at — new job, new arrival, new plans — there's a term to match and one monthly price to plan around — see what's available now.
The benefits of a short term car lease in London
All our monthly subscriptions offer:
- Flexibility. Bends around your life instead of pinning it down — ideal for a work contract, a house move, a gap between cars, or trying subscription driving before committing to more.
- Affordability. One payment covers the car, servicing and maintenance — no repair bills out of nowhere. Once you add up depreciation, repairs and the cost of running an older car, it's often easier to manage than owning.
- Choice. A 1 month car lease in London to bridge a gap, a 3 month car lease to see out a contract — or step up to six, nine, twelve or eighteen, and switch cars at the end of your term. A compact for city weeks, something bigger for a summer trip? Easily done.
- Reassurance. Delivery and collection across every borough, maintenance handled, and the price you start on is the price you stay on — fixed for your whole contract. No mid-term rises, no hidden fees, no small-print surprises. A car when you need it, gone when you don't.
Short term car leasing in London: your questions answered
What exactly is a monthly car subscription, and how is it different from a traditional car lease?
It's one rolling monthly price for a car, from as little as a single month, with no long tie-in. Pick a 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 or 18-month term, drive a modern ULEZ-compliant car, and hand it back when plans change. Servicing and maintenance are included, with no depreciation or resale hassle, and we deliver and collect from your London address. A traditional lease usually locks you in for two or three years — this doesn't.
What’s included in my monthly price, and what costs are my responsibility?
Your monthly payment covers the car, servicing and maintenance — no MOT bills, depreciation or selling at the end. Every car is ULEZ-compliant, so no daily ULEZ charge either. Your first payment includes a refundable damage deposit alongside your first month. Three costs stay with you: insurance (more on that below — it's deliberate), the Congestion Charge where it applies, and fuel or charging. We confirm delivery and collection when you book, so nothing's hidden.
Is insurance included in a short term car lease in London?
Insurance isn't included — and that's on purpose. A one-size policy would cost you more than sorting your own. Take out your own cover, cancel it when you hand the car back. We'll tell you exactly what you need.
How much can I save on ULEZ charges in London?
For many people this is the biggest saving. Every car meets current ULEZ standards, so you pay £0 in the Ultra Low Emission Zone — now all of Greater London, nearly round the clock. An older, non-compliant car costs up to £12.50 a day, over £1,000 a year. Switch to a subscription car and that disappears. Not sure if your current car is compliant? Enter your registration in an online ULEZ checker and you'll know in seconds.
Do I still pay the London Congestion Charge?
Yes — everyone does. Transport for London sets it for the central zone, so no leasing or subscription company can waive it. Since January 2026 it's £18 a day. One way to pay less: fully electric cars on TfL Auto Pay get a 25% discount (£13.50 a day). So if you're often in the central zone, one of our electric cars pays the lower rate automatically, on top of £0 ULEZ. Petrol and diesel cars pay the full £18. We'd rather say so upfront.
Can I change cars or extend my London car lease term easily?
Yes — that's the point. Choose a 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 or 18-month term; on the shorter ones you can switch cars at the end of each period, and there are longer terms if you need them. Keep the car, swap to something that suits a new plan, or hand it back when you're done.
Can you get a short term car lease in London with no deposit?
Straight answer: no, not a truly no-deposit one. Your first payment includes a refundable damage deposit alongside your first month. It isn't there to catch you out — it covers early cancellation, missed payments or initial wear, and it comes back to you. Almost every reputable provider works this way; anyone promising nothing upfront is usually recovering it somewhere you can't see.
Do you offer London car and van leasing for businesses and trades?
Yes — we lease to businesses and trades, vans included. Alongside cars, we run ULEZ-compliant work vans for tradespeople and businesses. A short term subscription lets you flex the fleet up or down as work changes, stay within London's emissions rules, and avoid paying for idle vehicles — without a long-term commitment.
Why are short term car leases becoming so popular in London?
Flexibility, mainly. People and businesses can move to a newer, cleaner car every few months and keep pace with London's tightening emissions rules, without signing their life away. It suits anyone in flux: students, contractors, people on short assignments, or bridging a gap between cars. Cost plays a part too. With ULEZ almost everywhere and the Congestion Charge climbing, drivers want a modern, compliant car without gambling thousands on buying. A subscription keeps the risk low and lets you step away if life changes. Businesses use it the same way — scaling to demand instead of paying for cars that sit still.
How quickly can I get a car, and how do I hand it back?
Your car arrives 10–14 days after you order — we're not a same-day hire service. We take a little longer because we deliver a car that's properly ready, straight to your London address, no depot visit. When you're done, hand-back is one phone call — we come and collect. That's the whole process.
And if you're wondering who's behind all this: Drive Subscribe is an ACL Automotive brand — the team that runs short-term leasing for some of the biggest names in the business. The car's short-term. We're not.
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Browse our current short term lease and subscription deals and find something that fits your life right now. Have a look through the range or get in touch, and we'll bring the car to your door.
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The flexible short term car & van lease service from ACL Automotive Contracts. FCA regulated, BVRLA member, 20+ years in vehicle leasing.
© Drive Subscribe is a trading style of ACL Automotive Contracts Ltd 2026
Drive Subscribe is a trading style of ACL Automotive Contracts Limited, who are registered in England | Registered number 06296885 | VAT number 338 855 754 | DPA number Z100466X
ACL Automotive Contracts Limited t/a Drive Subscribe are an owner and broker of hire who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, registration number 730720. Member of the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association (BVRLA). Complaints we cannot resolve may be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Prices shown are indicative and subject to status and availability.