Are you ready to start your journey as a PCO driver? If yes, then you’ve come to the right place. One of the first things you must do before you begin your journey as a PCO driver is to get a PCO licence. You cannot drive a private hire vehicle without this licence. And when you sign up with a ridesharing app, you’ll also be required to show your licence.

So we’ve put together a guide based on the requirements set out by the Public Carriage Office and Transport For London, so you have a clear idea of what documents you need.

Here are some things you should know:

a woman wearing a yellow shirt driving a PCO car for hire

The Eligibility Criteria

You should be 21 or over to be able to apply for a PCO licence. Here’s a list of documents and things you should hold before applying:

  1. A valid UK passport or identification card
  2. A valid UK driver’s licence for up to three years

a person wearing a white shirt with their hands on the steering wheel

Some Supporting Documents

Once you’ve ruled out the requirements in the eligibility criteria, you need to start gathering your supporting documents for the application. Here are the documents you’ll need:

  1. A medical check: This medical check has to be equivalent to the group 2 licence. All new and existing PCO driver applicants have to go through a standard fitness and medical test. If you have an underlying medical condition, it’s best to reach out to the PCO office and enquire about the particular condition before you submit the application and fees.
  2. A DBS Check:A DBS check is like a criminal record check to see if you haven’t been part of serious criminal activities. It serves as a check for your character as well. So, if you think your prior convictions can affect your application, you should reach out to the PCO office to confirm your eligibility.
  3. An English test: An English test is a mandatory requirement. You’ll also need to fulfil a Safety, Equality, and Regulatory Understanding assessment that’ll also be used as testing criteria in your language exam.
  4. Topographical Test: Once you’ve cleared all the eligibility criteria regarding the supporting documents, the TFL and PCO will conduct this test to test your geographical knowledge. Once you clear this test, you’ll be granted a three-year license.

It’s important that you get all the information before you start your application because it can be a very expensive investment. So, it’s best to ensure you do it right.

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Get PCO Car Rentals At G&M Direct Hire In London

Once you get your PCO licence from Transport For London, you can head down to the local PCO rental to help you find the right PCO car for you. Depending on your budget, you can choose from cars like Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius, MG5, Kia E-Niro, Nissan Leaf, and Prius Plus. All these cars are popular PCO cars for hire because of their convenient size, features, and design.

You should be aiming for the hatchback as it will give you boot space and choose a car with a lot of leg room to help make the ride comfortable for passengers. And some vehicles, like electric vehicles can also help you avoid congestion charges in the city. If you’re looking for an affordable PCO car for hire in London to rent a vehicle, check us out at G&M Direct Hire.

We offer PCO-licenced cars for rent in Whitechapel, Edmonton, Ilford, Harrow, and many more areas. As one of London’s leading PCO car rental companies, you can rest assured about one of the best customer services and PCO car rental experiences with us. You can get in touch with us for more information on our services and get your hands on the latest PCO vehicles in the market.