To become a private hire minicab driver in London, you must hold a PCO Licence. Before you apply for a PCO Licence, you must pass a topographical skills test, apply for an enhanced CRB/DBS check, complete TfL Medical Declaration Form (TPH/204) and complete a London Private Hire Driver Licensing Application Form (PHV/203). From October 1st 2016 you may also have to complete a B1 English Test if you are a citizen of a non-English speaking country. There are fees for each part of the application process, please check our PCO Licence costs to see what it will cost you.
Transport for London Private Hire application process is changing, from 1st October 2016 applicants who are not UK citizens and are from a non-English speaking majority country will need to take a B1 English Test and submit a passed certificate with their private hire licence application.
Knowing how to communicate in clear English is a vital part of being a private hire minicab driver. Not only is it good for your own customer service but for the safety and comfort of your passengers. This new addition will also benefit you in other aspects of your work and life, so we encourage people to approach the new requirement with confidence.
We have B1 English language courses available to help you gain the confidence to pass the B1 English language test. Get in touch and we will help you get started.
Changes to the PCO licence application process IMPORTANT: FOR NEW AND EXISTING PCO DRIVERS! New mandatory requirements are going to be implemented to the PCO Private Hire driver license towards the end of September 2016 and 1st October 2016. We have spoken about the changes for a while now and they are now becoming reality, so it is very important that existing and future applicants of the private hire license take notice of the changes…
The popular technology company Uber who provides an app based minicab service in London says that thousands of private hire drivers in London will lose their jobs. Starting from October 1st 2016, Transport for London will introduce a new rule for their private hire license application process. Drivers looking to get licensed who are not from a majority English speaking country will have to prove they can communicate in English by providing a B1 English…
