Getting a PCO license in London | What PCO Drivers Need to Know

Having the idea of increasing the earning or having a boss-less job that offers you freedom in choosing time and location of your career, is always a critical decision as you might not be successful in that. But, let me tell you something cool. Becoming a private driver is a way to choose becoming more independent in your job. You ask why? Well, clearly it offers you the following benefits:

1. You are free to choose the time and duration you spend on working.
2. You can work in any part of the city.
3. There is no boss and you are the boss of you.
4. Earning can go higher by earning tips.
5. You can choose your off days freely.
6. Etc.

Was it enough? In other words, by becoming a PCO driver, you can be a freelance taxi driver! so if you decided to choose this job as a part-time job, second job or even your main job, don’t miss this article as there are a few preparations of becoming an official PCO driver. One of these preparations is having a PCO license. Let's see what is needed to get a PCO license.

This article covers the items below

• Terms and conditions of getting a PCO license
• What else is needed to become a PCO driver?
• Conclusion

Terms and conditions of getting a PCO license

In order to get a PCO license you need to obey the following terms so that you are qualified to get one.

1. Being 21 or older.
2. Having a valid driving license in the UK and minimum of 3 years driving experience.
3. Being eligible to work in the UK.
4. Fluency in English and providing this fluency by an accepted degree.
5. No criminal background or providing DBS documents.
6. Having the medical checkup documents.

If you have the mentioned 6 conditions, then you have the possibility to register for a PCO license. In order to get a PCO license you have to go through the steps below:

Step one

Register online through the official website of TfL (transport for London) to get a PCO license (https://tfl.gov.uk) . Registration will ask you to provide the driver photo plus some other personal information and won’t take much long. Consider that, if you weren’t living in the UK for the past three months, there is an additional form needed to be completed to provide details of your abroad job and home.

Step two

Collect the documents of DBS, medical health proof, and fluency in English.

Note that even if you are a native English speaker, you will also have to prove your English fluency. Some accepted certifications are IELTS (International English Language Test System) and Trinity College London's ISE I qualification.

The medical check-up form is needed to be done by a GP. Even if you are not planning to register for a PCO license, it is a good idea to have a check-up every six months. In this form you are tested by the following 14 items:

1. vision
2. visuospatial perception
3. hearing
4. attention and concentration
5. memory
6. insight and understanding
7. judgement
8. adaptive strategies
9. good reaction time
10. planning and organization
11. ability to self-monitor
12. sensation
13. muscle power and control
14. coordination

This test will show if you are physically and mentally qualified for this job role.

The DBS document will also prove that you are having a clear background which means you have a good character.

Step three

There is a test that needs to be done (only if they ask you) called Topographical test which examines your map reading skills. As a PCO driver you have to be skilled enough to read the maps easily to find the best routes.

Step four

After doing all the previous steps and filling the forms, you are asked to pay the application fee. The total cost of PCO license is estimated as:

• DBS disclosure application: £56.85 for online applications – £58.85 for paper applications.
• License application fee: £124.00
• Grant of license fee: £186.00
• Post office check and send: £7.15
• English language test (if you don’t have a required degree): £180.00 - £200.00
• Topographical test: £75.00
• Medical test: based on your GP can be various

The total cost would be around £650.00 + the GP medical test fee.

What else is needed to become a PCO driver?

Having a PCO car is the next step of becoming a PCO driver. The PCO car can be either your personal car with valid insurance if it meets the conditions of the PHV operator or a PCO rental car which is ready to join the desired companies (such as Uber) and start working. Note that if you choose to use your personal vehicle, it should be a minivan or a four door car that is matched with all the terms of the vehicles for the company you apply for. As a recommendation, we offer you to choose a rental plan as it is a more rational choice.

Conclusion

Becoming a PCO driver is one of the best options of raising incomes as it has its customer every time of the year, the month, the week and the day. If you are planning to select this role as your main or semi-main career, let us congratulate you on your great decision. In this article a step by step guide of getting a PCO license in London was mentioned, and we hope it would be useful for the applicants.