How to get a PCO license in London
Working as a private hire driver in England’s capital city, London, is quite an attractive prospect for a lot of people. It provides flexible work, a reasonably competitive rate of pay, and access to around 10 million potential customers.
One of the first steps in the journey is to get your hands on a PCO license. Below, we go through the main steps involved in that process, from checking basic eligibility to proofreading your application.
Check that you’re eligible
Before you get started with the whole process, you’ll want to make sure that you check that you’re actually eligible for a PCO license. The basic criteria are that you’re:
- At least 21 years old
- Have held a full DVLA license (or an eligible EU/EEA license) for at least 3 years
- Have the right to live and work in the UK
If you meet these basic criteria, then it’s worth continuing with the rest of your application.
Complete the necessary assessments
Next, you’ll need to pass a series of assessments and checks. These include:
- A medical exam to prove that you meet DVLA’s Group 2 standards
- An enhanced DBS check, along with overseas criminal background checks if you’ve lived abroad recently
- A topographical skills test, to prove that you can safely navigate London and use maps
- SERU (Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding) assessments, and an English listening and speaking test
There can be a waitlist for some of these checks, and you may also want to revise a little to prepare. The enhanced DBS check can sometimes take a while to sort out, but there’s unfortunately no way to expedite it.
Prepare your documents & submit your application
Next, you can get all your test results and documents together and put them in your application. Once it’s completed, double or even triple-check everything, getting help from a friend or family member if possible.
Something as simple as a misspelt last name can result in your application being denied, meaning you then have to start the whole process again.
Once you’re certain everything is filled out correctly, you can submit the application. Sadly, there’s no single timeframe to expect your licence to arrive in. At the shortest, it could take a few months, but it could take up to a year if there are a lot of delays.
Getting driving
Once you’ve got your PCO license, all you’ll need to do is find an appropriate licensed vehicle and you’ll be ready to go. A PCO car hire company like Westgate Hire is generally the best way to go, especially if you’re just getting started.
They provide vehicles that are fully licensed and ready to work in, while taking care of all the vehicle-related paperwork and maintenance sides of things. Combined with high levels of flexibility, it’s not hard to see why a lot of drivers choose this option.
Getting your PCO license in London isn’t too hard. It can take a while to get all of your documents processed and pass all of your tests, so the earlier you start, the better.
