Settled, longer-term, all credit welcome
Long-term car hire with bad credit
Yes — you can hire a car long-term, typically 12 to 36 months, even with poor or adverse credit. You get the settled feel and competitive monthly of a longer commitment, but it is still judged on affordability rather than your credit history, and there is no multi-year finance agreement to underwrite. Getting a quote involves no credit check.
Check my options →Updated August 2026
Bad credit and "long-term" are not words you usually see together — long finance deals are exactly where a poor credit file does the most damage. Longer-term hire works differently. You commit to a settled period and a keener monthly, but the agreement is a rolling hire rather than credit for the car's full value, so a default, CCJ or thin file weighs far less. It is the middle ground a lot of people actually want: something dependable for a year or two, without either a stop-gap feel or a finance rejection.
How can it be long-term and still bad-credit friendly?
Because you are hiring the car, not buying it on finance. Even over 24 or 36 months, the supplier is renting you a vehicle and can end the exposure by taking it back — so the decision rests on affordability now, not on scoring the whole value against your history. That is why drivers refused a long PCP are frequently approved for a long hire. The same logic runs through our CCJ and default and very-poor-credit pages.
Settled cost, no nasty end
A longer term usually carries a lower monthly than a short hire, and it is predictable — no balloon payment, no residual value to worry about, no resale to arrange. At the end you simply hand the car back, or line up the next one. If you would rather keep things shorter, a 12-month hire is the natural step down.
Giving yourself the best chance
Be realistic about the monthly, have your documents ready, and be upfront about your situation so we match you to a partner who genuinely works with adverse credit — our guide on how to get approved goes into the detail. When you are ready, check your options — no credit check, no obligation.
Facts & figures
The bigger picture
Source: FCA Financial Lives 2024, 2024
Source: DVLA / GOV.UK, 2025
Source: Finance & Leasing Association, 2025
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No credit check to get a quote, and no obligation. Tell us what you need and the right partner is usually in touch the same working day.
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- ✓ Flexible 6–36 months
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It’s pre-filled from your answers, only your latest bank statement is needed to submit, and it still never touches your credit score.
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Common questions
How long is "long-term" hire?
Typically 12 to 36 months. Exact terms depend on the supplier and vehicle, confirmed before anything is agreed.
Can I really get a longer term with bad credit?
Often, yes. Because it is a rental rather than finance, a longer term is far more achievable with adverse credit than a long PCP or HP would be. There are no guarantees — the partner makes the final call.
Is a longer term cheaper per month?
Usually — a longer, certain term lets the supplier offer a lower monthly than a short hire.
Will enquiring hurt my credit score?
No. Getting a quote involves no credit search; any check comes later, with your permission.