How to Apply for PCO Car Licence in the UK in 2023

After the COVID pandemic, the demand for Uber and Addison Lee bookings has skyrocketed, with more people in need of a safe, exclusive ride. As of the second quarter of 2023, Uber drivers earn an average of £29.72 per hour in this city.

 

So if you have decided to take the route and become a minicab driver in Greater London, all you need to do is apply for a PCO car licence. It sums up all the requirements to start cab driving legally and be hired by private cab companies.

 

What Is a PCO Car License

 

The Department of Transport for London (TfL) awards the Public Carriage Operator (PCO) licence as a legal standard to certify private-hire minicab drivers to work and get hired legally in London.

 

The Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act of 1998 increased the PCO's function to include the licencing of private hire operators, drivers, and vehicles, putting the capital in line with the rest of England and Wales. To ensure a safe drive, people need a safe driver, and that is exactly what the PCO licence and badge accredit.

How to Apply for PCO Licence

 

The PCO license application process goes through certain steps of verification, including a topographical test and a medical checkup by a GMC-registered doctor. There are also certain eligibility criteria for applicants. Below is a step-by-step guideline for all the prerequisites.

 


●    Eligibility Criteria to Apply for PCO Car Licence in London

 

➔     Age Limit: 21 years ( no upper limit)

➔     National Status: Permission to live and work in the UK - have a valid passport or biometric residence permit (BRP), EU ID card

➔     Driving Background:  Have a Valid Driving Licence from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) or any authority of EEA or Northern Ireland. The license must be over 3 years old.

➔     Criminal Background Check: Cooperate to go through an enhanced criminal record analysis.

 

The main goal of the eligibility requirement is to make sure that only honest and morally upright drivers are appointed by the state. In order to lower the possibility of criminal activity in the city, applicants must be identified as British citizens or have valid authorisation to work here.

 

●    Application Process

 

Once you qualify to apply, the process starts with jotting down all the essential documents, including the driver's licence, address proof, ID proof, proof of right to work in the UK, and any medical records, especially concerning eyesight.

 

Once you have all the needed documents, you may continue filling out the PCO licence application form, which you will find on the official website of TfL.

 

The application attracts a fee. You are paying for the cost of processing your application and conducting the necessary checks. The fee can vary and is subject to change, so check the latest fee on the TfL website.

 

●     Obtaining the Licence

 

Following the paperwork and CRB analysis, applicants need to go through the TPH 204 medical checkup and undergo 2-3 hours of Topographical Training to understand the London map. There could be tests for English Language to ascertain that you can communicate with passengers fluently.

You Would Be Better Off With All-In-One Guided Solutions If You Used the PCO Licence Centre in London

 

There are services that help aspiring cab drivers have a smooth and fast PCO application process and get a licence. You can contact a PCO Licence Centre in London, for example, the PCO Licence East London, which is London’s only fast-track all-in-one PCO licence centre.

 

They are independent operators of the TFL PCO application and offer an all-inclusive package for topographical training, the TPH 204 medical check, and all other parameters. While you can carry out these procedures on your own, you can definitely be better off with these fee-paying guided services, which bring the entire thing under one roof.

 

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