London Hire
London Hire is a UK vehicle rental company specialising in wheelchair-accessible vehicles, minibuses, and patient transport ambulances for local authorities, schools, healthcare providers, charities, and transport operators through spot, flexible, and multi-year contract hire with nationwide depot and workshop coverage.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersErith, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What London Hire does
London Hire Ltd is a UK-based, privately held vehicle rental and fleet management company founded in 1983 and headquartered in Erith, Kent. The company specialises in wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs), minibuses, patient transport ambulances, and standard cars/light commercial vehicles, serving local authorities, schools, NHS-linked healthcare providers, charities, and commercial transport operators through spot hire (daily), flexible hire, and contract hire arrangements of up to seven years.
The core product portfolio spans accessible van conversions (9- to 16-seater), coach-built accessible buses (16- to 32-seater including Treka and Mellor platforms), an in-house ULEM fully electric 9-seat accessible minibus, the Minibus Lite drivable on a standard B licence, PTS ambulances, and mainstream cars/LCVs. Operations are supported by the Motivity digital platform for electronic vehicle check sheets, photographs, and customer-facing documentation, and by a national approved-supplier workshop network with mobile technicians providing servicing, MOT, and 24-hour like-for-like replacement. London Hire is part of The London Hire Group, which includes London Hire Community Services Ltd (integrated transport with drivers and passenger assistants), Blue Anchor Vehicle Logistics Ltd, R J Motors Ltd (vehicle sales), and Heart Community Services CIC.
The business model combines recurring subscription-style rental revenue across short- and long-term contracts, managed fleet services with maintenance bundles, one-time used vehicle sales (including via eBay storefront) after typical 3-year cycles, and BVRLA-aligned framework agreement wins such as ESPO 218. Go-to-market is predominantly direct enterprise sales via phone, a 24/7 helpline, and active participation in industry trade shows (Commercial Vehicle Show, Euro Bus Expo, Coach & Bus UK, Kent Education Show). A November 2024 Paragon Bank debt facility of approximately $5 million provides capital for fleet investment.
London Hire firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- London Hire
- Legal name
- London Hire Ltd
- Website
- https://londonhireltd.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- London Hire is a UK vehicle rental company specialising in wheelchair-accessible vehicles, minibuses, and patient transport ambulances for local authorities, schools, healthcare providers, charities, and transport operators through spot, flexible, and multi-year contract hire with nationwide depot and workshop coverage.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
London Hire industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vehicle Rental and Leasing
- NAICS
- Passenger Car Rental (532111)
- SIC
- Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Long-Term Car Rental (Monthly/Extended Hire) (TLABAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Government & Public Sector Passenger Vehicle Leasing (TLABAAAJ)
Keywords
Where London Hire is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Erith
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
London Hire business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Vehicle Rental/Hire: Core revenue stream from renting accessible vehicles, minibuses, cars, and LCVs through spot hire (daily), flexible hire, and contract hire (up to 7 years). Services available with or without maintenance.
- Used Vehicle Sales: Sale of ex-rental vehicles after 3-year rental/contracting period. Vehicles are refurbished and sold with V5 documents, current MOT, spare keys, and documented service history.
- Fleet Management Services: Full fleet management services including in-house servicing, maintenance, MOT, and breakdown recovery through national network of workshops and mobile technicians.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Spot Hire - Short-term daily rental |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Flexible Hire - Rate benefits of long-term with termination flexibility |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Contract Hire - Up to seven years |
| Subscription | Annual | Minibus Lite - 5-year fully flexible contract |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
London Hire product offering
Product offeringCore offering
London Hire provides rental, leasing, and fleet management of accessible vehicles, minibuses, and standard cars/LCVs to the public sector, businesses, and charities across the UK. Hire terms range from one-day spot hire up to seven-year contract hire, with options for full in-house servicing, MOT, and maintenance. The company also operates used vehicle sales and an integrated community transport subsidiary providing vehicles, drivers, and passenger assistants.
Product overview
London Hire is a national vehicle rental and leasing company specializing in accessible vehicles and transport solutions. The core product portfolio consists of wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs), minibuses, and standard cars/LCVs available for spot hire, flexible hire, or contract hire (up to 7 years). Vehicle types include: Van Conversions (9-seater, 9/11-seater, 14/16-seater, 15-seater) featuring internal/underfloor tail lifts, M1/M2 tested seating, and flat floors; Coach Built vehicles (16-seater Treka/Mellor, 24-32 seater) with underfloor lifts up to 400kg capacity; Electric Minibus (9-seat fully accessible LDV EV80) with 100-mile range; School Bus (Minibus Lite) drivable on B licence; Patient Transport Ambulance; and standard cars/LCVs (Ford Focus, Ford Galaxy, Toyota Prius Hybrid, Ford Transit range). The company also offers in-house servicing, maintenance, MOT, and fleet management services. A subsidiary, London Hire Community Services (LHCS), provides integrated transport operations including vehicles, drivers, and passenger assistants for home-to-school, SEN, and adult transport services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Spot Hire Short-term daily rental of accessible vehicles, minibuses, cars, and LCVs, available from one day with no hidden charges for documentation such as rental agreements and vehicle packs. Targeted at organizations needing temporary vehicle cover.
- Flexible Hire Mid-term hire product that combines the rate benefits of long-term rental with the flexibility to terminate during the contractual term. Designed for organizations needing longer-term vehicles with the option to exit early.
- Contract Hire Long-term contract hire for periods up to seven years covering accessible vehicles, minibuses, cars, and LCVs, available with or without full maintenance. Targeted at organizations committing to multi-year vehicle programs.
- Minibus Lite (School Bus) Lightweight minibus available under a five-year fully flexible contract at a fixed monthly rental rate with annual review. Drivable on an ordinary B licence, available in non-accessible (16 seats) and wheelchair-accessible (17 seats) variants under the 4250kg threshold. Includes free replacement vehicle, tax, and MOT. Targeted at schools and small organizations.
- Used Vehicle Sales Sale of refurbished ex-rental vehicles after the typical three-year contract period, supplied with V5 documents, current MOT, spare keys, and documented service history. Distributed via London Hire's eBay storefront. Targeted at individual and small business buyers seeking quality used accessible vehicles.
- Fleet Management Services Comprehensive fleet management covering in-house servicing, scheduled maintenance, MOT, tyre inspections and replacement, and breakdown recovery delivered through a national workshop network and mobile technicians. Targeted at organizations outsourcing the operation of their vehicle fleets.
- Community Transport Services (London Hire Community Services) Fully integrated transport operations delivered through subsidiary London Hire Community Services Ltd, providing vehicles, drivers, passenger assistants, and full contract management for home-to-school, SEN, adult, and patient transport. Targeted at local authorities and healthcare commissioners outsourcing complete transport service delivery.
- Vehicle Logistics Services (Blue Anchor Vehicle Logistics) Vehicle logistics services delivered through subsidiary Blue Anchor Vehicle Logistics Ltd, supporting vehicle movement, delivery, and related logistics operations across the London Hire Group.
Quantifiable outcome
- Same-day fault repairs at customer convenience or replacement vehicle provided
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use London Hire
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
London Hire technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
London Hire partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Treka BuscoreLeading bus converter providing coach-built accessible buses. London Hire took delivery of their 250th Treka Bus, demonstrating a long-term partnership. Treka CEO Mark Clissett noted London Hire's commitment and expertise in the accessible bus market.
- GM Coachwork GroupcoreVehicle conversion specialist providing accessible van conversions. Featured in Euro Bus Expo 2018 showcasing wheelchair accessible Ford Grand Connect conversion.
- Stanford CoachworkscoreEssex-based minibus builder providing accessible van conversions including 9-seat and 15-seat Renault Masters and LWB Mercedes Sprinters. Hosted successful Expo events at Brands Hatch.
- BVRLAcoreBritish Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association - the trade body for companies engaged in leasing and rental of cars and commercial vehicles. London Hire is a member.
- CTT (Community Transport Training)minorTraining provider for community transport sector.
- ArrivamajorMajor transport operator using London Hire vehicles for Arriva Transport Solutions and ArrivaClick service in Kent. Substantial order placed for Renault Multiplex PTS ambulances on fully serviced contract hire via London Hire.
- Blue Light ServicescoreDesigned and built the Multiplex PTS vehicle for patient transport. Partnership with London Hire for contract hire of vehicles to Arriva Transport Solutions. Blue Light Services creates versatile ambulances that can function as multiple vehicle types.
- MotivitycoreSoftware platform providing electronic vehicle check sheets and pictures directly to customer email. London Hire uses Motivity for real-time vehicle logistics scheduling, delivery tracking, and customer documentation.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
London Hire competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Lex Autolease: UK's largest vehicle leasing provider, offering contract hire, fleet management and salary sacrifice across cars and LCVs. Direct overlap with London Hire on long-term vehicle leasing to public sector and corporate fleets, though Lex does not specialize in wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
- ALD Automotive: Global fleet management and long-term vehicle rental provider with a substantial UK presence. Comparable in multi-year contract hire and full-service fleet offering to corporate and public clients, but operates across all vehicle types rather than accessible minibuses.
- LeasePlan: Major international fleet and vehicle leasing group with UK operations. Comparable through its long-term operating lease and fleet management services to corporate and public sector clients across passenger cars and LCVs.
- Arval: BNP Paribas-owned fleet leasing and mobility provider serving UK corporate and public sector customers with multi-year contract hire and fleet management. Overlaps with London Hire in lease duration and customer profile, but not in specialized accessible vehicles.
- Enterprise Fleet Management: Enterprise's UK and European fleet management arm providing long-term leasing and full fleet management to corporate customers. Comparable in flexible hire, contract hire and full-service maintenance offerings to multi-site organizations.
- Europcar Mobility Group: Major European and UK vehicle rental brand serving both consumer and business customers with short- and long-term hire. Comparable in vehicle rental model and nationwide coverage, but focused on passenger cars and standard vans.
Regional players
- Northgate Vehicle Hire: UK-focused flexible vehicle rental specialist for vans, trucks and cars serving trade and commercial customers. Comparable in flexible and long-term hire for LCVs and minibuses though without London Hire's accessible-vehicle specialization.
- Dawson Rentals: UK and Ireland specialist in commercial vehicle rental including vans, trucks and welfare vehicles. Comparable in commercial LCV/truck contract hire with full maintenance options for operators and public-sector-type customers.
- Practical Car & Van Rental: UK national short- and long-term car and van rental chain. Comparable in spot hire, contract hire and nationwide depot coverage for cars and LCVs, though without the accessible-vehicle / minibus specialization.
Others
- Arriva: Major UK and European transport operator. Listed as both a customer and partner — places substantial orders with London Hire for accessible vehicles (e.g. Multiplex PTS ambulances) and runs ArrivaClick, the on-demand service deployed on London Hire-supplied minibuses. Closely aligned via partnership rather than head-to-head competition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
London Hire social profiles
Digital presenceLondon Hire compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
London Hire financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
London Hire leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
London Hire subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
London Hire funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
London Hire M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about London Hire
What does London Hire do?
London Hire provides rental, leasing, and fleet management of accessible vehicles, minibuses, and standard cars/LCVs to the public sector, businesses, and charities across the UK. Hire terms range from one-day spot hire up to seven-year contract hire, with options for full in-house servicing, MOT, and maintenance. The company also operates used vehicle sales and an integrated community transport subsidiary providing vehicles, drivers, and passenger assistants.
Is London Hire a public or private company?
London Hire is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was London Hire founded?
London Hire was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is London Hire based?
London Hire is headquartered in Erith, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does London Hire make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Vehicle Rental/Hire is the primary driver. The others are used Vehicle Sales and fleet Management Services.
Who are London Hire's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Lex Autolease, ALD Automotive, LeasePlan, Arval, Enterprise Fleet Management and Europcar Mobility Group. Regional players are Northgate Vehicle Hire, Dawson Rentals and Practical Car & Van Rental. Arriva is listed as an others.
Does London Hire have an API?
No public API is recorded for London Hire.
What industry is London Hire in?
London Hire's product category is Vehicle Rental and Leasing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLABAAAD, Long-Term Car Rental (Monthly/Extended Hire), with a secondary code of TLABAAAJ, Government & Public Sector Passenger Vehicle Leasing. Its NAICS code is 532111 and its SIC code is 7510.