How to Become an Uber Driver in London (PCO Licence Requirements)

Thinking about driving for Uber in London? Here is the first thing to know: Uber cannot take you on until you hold a TfL private hire driver licence, better known as a PCO licence. So before anything else, you need to apply for a PCO licence — Uber onboarding comes after. It is the same licence whether you plan to drive for Uber, Bolt or FreeNow.

This guide takes you through the whole journey, written for someone ready to start driving: the Uber driver requirements in London, the TfL application and assessments, real 2026 fees, signing up with Uber, and whether to rent or buy your car.

Step 1: Check You Meet the Basic Requirements

TfL sets the rules for every private hire driver in London, whichever app you drive for. To apply, you must:

• Be at least 21 years of age at the time of applying.
• Hold a full DVLA, Northern Ireland or other EEA driving licence that is at least three years old.
• Have the right to live and work in the UK. TfL checks this, and you will need a DVLA share code plus an HMRC tax check code.
• Be “fit and proper”, which means passing an enhanced DBS criminal record check.
• Meet DVLA Group 2 medical standards, shown on a TPH/204 medical form.

Tick all five boxes? Then you are ready to apply for your Uber PCO licence through TfL.

Step 2: Apply for Your PCO Licence With TfL

You apply online through TfL and pay a £138 non-refundable application fee. We explain every document in our step-by-step PCO application guide, but in short, TfL needs three big things from you:

1. TPH/204 medical. A doctor with access to your full medical records — usually your GP, or a GMC-registered private doctor — examines you and completes the form. It is not free on the NHS; you pay the doctor’s fee.
2. Enhanced DBS check. Applied for through TfL’s authorised provider, £52 online. You must also join the DBS Update Service (£16 a year) — since February 2024 TfL will not grant a licence without it.
3. Three assessments at TfL’s driver assessment centre, covered below.

The three TfL assessments

• Topographical assessment (£40, £30 resit). Map reading, route planning and finding destinations, done on a computer at TfL’s assessment centre at Pier Walk, North Greenwich. It is still mandatory in 2026. Our topographical test training gets most drivers through first time.
• SERU assessment (£40, £30 resit). Safety, equality and regulatory understanding, based entirely on the PHV Driver’s Handbook. It is now open-book, but many drivers still fail without preparation — see our SERU test training.
• English speaking and listening test (£40, £30 resit). A 15–20 minute conversation over a secure video or telephone link, at B1 level. SERU itself covers the reading and writing part.

Everyone who applied on or after 1 April 2023 must pass SERU and the English requirement before TfL can issue the licence. So treat these as the priority, not an afterthought.

What Does a PCO Licence for Uber Cost?

TfL’s own worked example comes to £531, excluding the medical. Once granted, your PCO licence normally lasts three years.

How Long Does It Take?

TfL publishes no fixed end-to-end time, and in 2026 new applications are moving slower than usual while a backlog clears. TfL aims to review each new application within 10 working days, then invites you to book your assessments. After you pass, TfL fully checks your medical, DBS, driving history and right to work before deciding.

Realistically, allow several months for a clean new application. The most common delays are GP appointments for the medical, DBS processing and expired check codes — all things good preparation can soften.

Step 3: Sign Up With Uber

With your PCO licence in hand, Uber onboarding is the easy part. Uber London is the TfL-licensed operator, and all bookings run through it. To activate your account, Uber asks for:

• Your UK driving licence and PCO licence.
• Passport or other proof of your right to work, plus your National Insurance number.
• A bank statement and a utility bill under three months old.
• A profile photo taken at an Uber Greenlight Hub.

You also complete a short virtual onboarding course. Not licensed yet? Uber’s free “Ignition” appointments help applicants through the TfL process too.

Step 4: Choose Your Car — Rent or Buy

Your car needs its own TfL private hire vehicle (PHV) licence, which lasts one year with an annual inspection, plus hire-and-reward insurance from a provider Uber accepts. For Uber the car generally needs to be manufactured in 2008 or later — check Uber’s current vehicle rules for the exact tier you want.

• Renting a PHV-ready car is the fastest start. The rental company usually handles the PHV licence, inspection and often insurance. You pay weekly, with no big upfront cost.
• Buying your own car is cheaper long term if you drive full time, but you arrange the PHV licensing, inspection and insurance yourself.

Many new drivers rent first, learn what the work pays, then buy once the income is steady.

What About Bolt, FreeNow and Other Apps?

Good news: the same PCO licence covers them all. Bolt, FreeNow, Ola and Veezu each have their own sign-up checks, but there is no extra TfL licence to get. Many of the drivers we train run Uber alongside one or two other apps to keep busy in quiet hours.

How We Can Help You Get on the Road

From our Southall centre we handle the whole journey: full PCO application support, the TPH/204 medical with a GMC-endorsed doctor and same-day endorsement, the enhanced DBS, and 1-to-1 SERU and topographical training with a 99% pass rate. Flexible payment plans are available, and we are rated 5.0 on Google by drivers just like you.

If you want to be driving for Uber with as little delay as possible, book a visit or call us today — we will map out your fastest route to the licence.

Frequently Asked Questions