PCO licence application support in London
A PCO licence lets you work as a private hire driver in London. We help you understand the TfL application and prepare for the steps along the way.
A clearer route to your licence
Get support with the requirements, from your application through to assessment preparation.
Applying for a PCO Licence
Our team can assist you to complete your online or paper application, ensuring no mistakes are made so that you can get licensed as quick as possible.
Prefer the full picture first? Our PCO licence guide covers the requirements, costs and renewal rules in one place.
PCO Licence Requirements
PCO Application Process
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Apply online with TfL
£138 application fee -
DBS check (via TfL's provider)
£56.42 incl. ID verification -
DBS Update Service
£15 per year -
Medical (TPH/204 with your GP)
set by your doctor -
Topographical Skills Assessment
£40 -
SERU assessment
£40 -
Speaking & listening assessment
£40 -
Licence granted
£205 grant fee
One-off TfL fees above total £519.42 (or £534.42 with the first year of the DBS Update Service), plus the medical (set by your doctor). Figures are TfL's published fees as of October 2026 and can change; check TfL's current fee table before you apply. Training course fees not included.
How to apply for a PCO licence, step by step
Every applicant goes through the same TfL process. Here is the full journey, in order, with what happens at each stage.
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1. Apply online on the TfL portal
Create your application on TfL's licensing portal and pay the £138 application fee (non-refundable). First-time applicants confirm they are aware of HMRC tax obligations; if you have held a taxi or PHV licence in the last 12 months you will also need a tax check code. This is the point to declare any non-UK residence periods of three months or more in the last ten years, which trigger a Certificate of Good Conduct.
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2. Complete your enhanced DBS check
TfL runs checks only through its authorised provider, so you cannot bring your own certificate. You will register on the provider's portal, verify your identity documents at a Post Office, and subscribe to the DBS Update Service (£15 a year); TfL will not grant a licence without an active subscription. Our DBS process guide walks through every step.
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3. Pass the topographical skills assessment
The map-reading and route-planning test, run at TfL driver assessment centres. Once your application is in, TfL's bookings team contacts you to arrange a slot. Our topographical training gets you ready with practice on every section.
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4. Pass the SERU and speaking & listening assessments
Two separate assessments at a TfL centre: the Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding (SERU) assessment covers reading and writing, and the speaking and listening assessment covers spoken English. Our SERU training and online mock-test platform prepare you for the SERU side.
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5. Complete your medical
Download the TPH/204 medical form and take it to a registered medical practitioner with access to your full medical records, usually your GP. The doctor checks you against the DVLA Group 2 standard and completes their section. At renewal, a medical is needed if you are over 45 and your last one was more than three years ago, or if an age-related medical schedule applies to you.
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6. TfL processes and grants your licence
Once every check and assessment is complete, TfL processes your application and, if everything is in order, grants the licence on payment of the £205 grant fee. You must then work for a licensed private hire operator, wear your driver badge, and keep your DBS Update Service subscription active for as long as you hold the licence.
How long does it take, and can you apply?
Typical timeline
TfL processes applications in the order they arrive, and your checks run in parallel: the DBS check, the TfL assessments and the medical can all be in progress at once. Most applicants who keep on top of each stage are licensed within a few months; the slowest stages are usually the DBS verification and assessment-centre waiting times, so book early and respond to TfL emails quickly.
The eligibility rules in full
- At least 21 years old when you apply (no upper limit)
- Full DVLA, Northern Ireland or EEA licence held for at least three years
- Right to live and work in the UK
- Enhanced DBS check through TfL's provider, plus Update Service subscription
- Medically fit to the DVLA Group 2 standard
- Pass the topographical, SERU and speaking & listening assessments
- Certificate of Good Conduct for any non-UK residence of 3+ months in the last 10 years
Full detail on right-to-work evidence for EU/EEA nationals: our EU/EEA guide.
PCO licence FAQs
The questions we answer most often at the centre.
What is a PCO licence?
"PCO" stands for the Public Carriage Office, the TfL department that historically licensed London's hire drivers. Today it issues the Private Hire Driver Licence, but drivers still call it a PCO licence. It is the legal requirement to carry paying passengers in London, and it lasts three years before renewal.
How much does a PCO licence cost?
TfL's one-off fees come to £519.42: the £138 application, £56.42 enhanced DBS check (includes ID verification), three assessments at £40 each and the £205 grant fee. Budget for the first year of the DBS Update Service (£15) and the medical (your doctor sets the fee) on top. The fee table above links to TfL's current published figures.
How long does the application take?
TfL does not publish a fixed processing time and handles applications in the order they arrive. The DBS check, assessments and medical all run in parallel, so how quickly you move through each stage drives the total. Keeping your documents ready and booking assessments as soon as you can are the biggest time-savers.
Can I apply with a criminal record?
Having certain convictions may impact the success of your application. Please carefully review the following factors before submitting your application:
- Any conviction for a major violent offence (murder, manslaughter, etc).
- Whether you have more than one conviction of any type of violent offence in the last 10 years.
- If you are still serving a custodial sentence, even if you have been released early on licence or the sentence was suspended.
- If you have been convicted, cautioned or subjected to any other penalty for a serious sexual offence (rape, indecent assault, trafficking, possession of indecent images, etc).
- If you have been convicted, cautioned or subjected to any other penalty for more than one sexual offence of any type, irrespective of age.
- Whether you are listed on either the Children's or Adults' barred list.
- If you have been convicted, cautioned or subjected to any other penalty for touting in the last 12 months or have more than one penalty for touting in the last five years.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. Licensing decisions are made on a case-by-case basis by TfL.
Do I need a PCO licence to drive for Uber or Bolt?
Yes. Every private hire driver working in London, whether for Uber, Bolt or any other operator, must hold a TfL Private Hire Driver Licence and work for a licensed operator. The operator licence covers the company, not you; your PCO licence covers you personally.
How long does the licence last?
Three years. Renewal requires a fresh application with a new DBS check, a medical if you are over 45 and your last one was more than three years ago, and a tax check code. Keeping your DBS Update Service subscription active the whole time makes renewals smoother, because TfL can re-check your record without a new certificate.
Need a hand with your application?
Our team can complete your online or paper application with you and get you ready for every assessment along the way.