Setting up an LTL captive: when is it a good idea (and for whom)?

Published on

26/3/2025

Setting up an LTL captive: when is it a good idea (and for whom)?

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Long the preserve of major automotive or banking groups, the long-term leasing (LLD) captive is now open to a growing number of players: regional distributors, retail groups, fintechs and even service companies.

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But is it really worth taking the plunge? And, above all, when is it relevant?

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This article will help you make sense of it all.

Why create your own long-term rental captive?

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Operational leasing has become an essential strategic lever. Yet most companies still outsource it... leaving margins, data and customer relations in the hands of third parties.

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Creating your own captive allows you to :

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Regain control over profitability: No more commissions paid to an external lessor.

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Long-term customer loyalty: The customer remains part of your ecosystem throughout the contract.

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Use usage data: to adjust your offer, forecast needs or sell intelligently.

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Create a valuable asset: A well-managed captive becomes a new line of recurring income.

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But you have to be ready. And it's not just a question of size.

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4 signs that you're ready to launch your own captive

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1. You already manage a stock or flow of assets for rental.
You have vehicles, equipment or goods that you could offer on a monthly rental basis. Perfect: you've mastered the raw material of the LLD model.

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2. You have a regular or loyal customer base.
The LLD model works all the better if your customer base is recurrent. This is the case if you sell on a B2B basis, work with subscribers or have a network of regular points of contact.

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3. You're looking to smooth out your revenues and gain stability.
A captive enables you to transform a transactional model (one-shot sales) into a recurring model. Ideal if you're looking for greater financial predictability.

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4. You're ready to structure a new business (or get help).
Creating a captive also means managing contracts, risks and returns. If you're ready to frame all this - or get help - you're ready to launch.

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At what point does a captive become viable?

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Good news: you don't need 10,000 vehicles or a CAC40 group to get started.

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Our field experience shows that it is possible to launch a profitable captive as early as :

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300,000 to €500,000 of assets to finance (vehicles, equipment, etc.).

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100 to 200 contracts planned over 12 months.

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1 project team available, even if reduced.

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The most effective approach? Start with an MVP, a "minimum viable park" test in a region or customer segment. Within 3 to 6 months, the first results are in.

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What this means in concrete terms

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Creating a captive doesn't mean "just offering rentals".

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We need to structure a real model:

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Legal choice: independent structure, subsidiary, or integration?

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Regulatory framework: LCB-FT compliance, taxation, approvals

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Solution tech: management platform, CRM, contracts

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Operations: logistics, after-sales service, scoring, restitution

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Management: key indicators (IRR, utilization rate, resale, etc.)

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Good news: at anyLease, we're here to support you across the entire value chain. Tech, business, legal, finance, HR. All in less than 90 days.

In the automotive distribution sector, the ROI from the acquisition of the Leas@ solution and full support is effective from the 8th contract signed, particularly in the context of refinancing!

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Conclusion

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Creating an LTL captive is no small matter.

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It's all about vision.

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If you're looking to regain control over your rental offering, secure your income and build a lasting customer relationship... it's probably time to give it some serious thought.

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