What is a TfL PCO licence?
PCO (Public Carriage Office) is a TfL (Transport for London) department that issues a driving licence for private hire drivers, commonly known as a TfL PCO licence. The PCO licence is an essential permit that allows you to work as a driver at a ride-sharing service such as Uber and delivery services in London. Generally, it takes 12–16 weeks to process your PCO application.
Eligibility criteria for a TfL PCO licence
You need to meet the following requirements to be eligible for a TfL PCO licence:
- Your age must be 21 years
- In addition, you must have three years of driving experience in the UK.
- You must have a valid Criminal Record Check (DBS) check
- You must take TfL approved English language qualification
- Undergo a medical examination
- Complete the Topographical Skills Assessment
Renewing your TfL PCO licence
The TfL PCO licence is valid for three years, and after every three years, you will have to get it renewed. Before the licence expires, TfL will send you your renewal forms four months before your current licence expires, so you just have to fill out the form and send them back. It takes up to 8 weeks for the renewal process.
It’s illegal to drive with an expired licence, and you will be subjected to a fine of £2,500 with a violation flagged on your records. Following expiration, you have three months to renew your licence. TfL will delete your record if you don’t renew it within three months. After that, you will need to start over and submit a new licence application, which calls for running all the necessary background checks. You must obtain a fresh medical exam and a new DBS check that is good for three months to renew your licence.
Documents required for renewal of a TfL PCO Licence:
When applying for the renewal of a PCO licence, you are required to submit the following documents:
- A recent passport photograph
- Complete the renewal form.
- Complete the medical declaration form.
- Completed Criminal Records Check (DBS)
- Payment for renewal
You must provide a physical copy of your previous licence to TfL within the first week of its expiration, regardless of the method you use to renew it.
Cost of TfL PCO Licence Renewal
Your new licence is good for up to three years, and a PCO licence renewal costs £170.00. However, if it has been three months since your licence expired and you are applying from scratch, you will be required to pay the full licence charge.
NOTE: The TfL PCO licence application fee is non-refundable.
Late Renewal of TfL PCO Licence
If you submit the TfL PCO licence renewal application after your previous licence has expired, there is no guarantee of the immediate issuance of a new licence. You will have to wait until all the processes, including the DBS check, have been completed.
The new TfL PCO licence will become active on the day it is issued. However, it will not take effect from the date of the previous licence’s expiration or the date of application.
If you are applying for the licence with a gap of three months after your last TfL PCO licence has expired, you will be treated as a new applicant. This implies that until your new licence is issued, you cannot drive private hire vehicles or cab services. Also, you will have to obtain a new medical examination and fulfil all the requirements.
Conclusion
Your three-year TfL PCO licence entitles you to work as a minicab driver in London. You must therefore keep track of the date that your licence is up for renewal. Your renewal package will arrive from TfL 4-6 weeks before the due date. Most of the forms will already be filled out, but you still need to review the information to ensure it’s accurate. Therefore, you must adhere to these rules in order to complete the renewal process: carefully read them and sign the declarations; submit your renewal application form before the expiration of your current licence; keep in mind to include the licence fee and the application fee with your completed form; obtain a new DBS (CRB) check (as they only have a three-month validity period) and obtain a new medical check.
Haward Trainings offers training to help you meet the qualification requirements for the TfL PCO licence. We offer courses for English language training, SERU and Topographic assessment preparation, which will help you prepare and practice for the test.
