How to Become an Uber Driver in London

Before you start the application process, you must meet these baseline requirements. These apply across all Uber services in London.

• Valid UK driving licence — held for a minimum of 3 years. Some TfL requirements may specify longer — review your licence history before applying, as any lapses can affect eligibility.
• Right to work in the UK — this applies to everyone, including British citizens, EU nationals, and non-EU migrants. You must provide evidence before Uber can activate your account.
• Minimum age of 21 — TfL requires drivers to be at least 21 years old to apply for a Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) driver licence.
• Clean driving record — Uber and TfL both conduct driving history checks. Certain endorsements, particularly drink-driving or serious speeding offences, will disqualify you.
• Medical assessment — required by TfL as part of the PCO licence application. A standard GP medical form (DVLA Group 2 standard or equivalent) is usually sufficient.

Uber will not approve your account until every document has been submitted, reviewed and accepted. Getting these together before you start saves weeks of back-and-forth. For a full walkthrough of uploading each document, see our guide on how to upload documents into your Uber account.

• UK driving licence (photocard) — both the front and back. Must be current and match your current address.
• Passport or biometric residence permit (BRP) — tused to verify your identity and right to work in the UK.
• PCO / Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) driver licence — issued by TfL. This is the single most important document and takes the longest to obtain — see Step 3.
• Enhanced DBS certificate — Uber uses their own approved provider. You cannot substitute a DBS certificate obtained elsewhere.
• Private hire vehicle insurance certificate —must specifically cover commercial passenger transport. Standard or fully comprehensive insurance is not sufficient — see Step 7.
• Vehicle logbook (V5C) — to confirm the vehicle is registered in your name, or that you have permission to use it commercially.
• MOT certificate — must be valid for the duration you intend to drive. Vehicles older than 3 years require a valid MOT.

In London, you must hold a Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) driver licence issued by Transport for London (TfL) before you can legally carry passengers for hire. This is commonly called a PCO licence (after the former Public Carriage Office). It is not the same as your standard UK driving licence.

For a detailed walkthrough of the full application process, see our guide on how to become a PCO driver.

What the TfL application involves

• Online application via TfL — submit your application, documents, and fee (currently £124 for a new licence) through the TfL licensing portal.
• Medical assessment — completed by your GP or an approved medical practitioner. TfL requires Group 2 driving standard. This can add 1–2 weeks if your GP has a waiting list.
• Enhanced DBS check— TfL conducts their own DBS check as part of the licence application. This is separate from Uber's own DBS check.
• Topographical skills assessment— a test of your knowledge of London's roads and landmarks. It is not as extensive as the Knowledge test for black cab drivers, but you do need to prepare. Practice tests are widely available online.

The vehicle you drive determines which Uber services you can offer, and directly affects your potential earnings. Each service tier has different requirements around vehicle age, size, and condition.

Before putting your vehicle through inspection, read our guide on how to pass the TfL vehicle test to make sure it is ready first time.

If you don't own a vehicle that meets these standards, hiring a PCO-ready car is the fastest way to start. Our PCO car hire fleet includes Uber-approved vehicles with insurance included — most drivers are on the road within 45 minutes.

If you want to deliver food rather than carry passengers, the requirements are significantly simpler. You do not need a PCO licence to deliver with Uber Eats.

What you need for Uber Eats

• Proof of identity (passport or government-issued ID)
• Proof of right to work in the UK
• An approved delivery vehicle — car, scooter, motorbike, bicycle, or e-bike

Uber Eats earnings are typically in the same range as passenger driving (£15–18 per hour before expenses), but without the upfront cost of a PCO licence. Many drivers start with Uber Eats while their PCO licence application is being processed, then switch to passenger trips once approved.

To carry passengers, Uber requires an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. This reviews your criminal record to confirm you are legally permitted to work with members of the public. For a full explanation of what DBS checks involve and what they mean for PCO drivers, see our detailed guide on DBS checks for PCO drivers.

How Uber's DBS process works

Uber uses their own approved DBS provider. You cannot substitute a certificate obtained through another organisation — it must be arranged through Uber's application process. Once you submit your application via the Uber Driver app, Uber initiates the check on your behalf.

You can track the status of your DBS check within the Uber Driver app. If it has been more than 6 weeks with no update, contact Uber support — they can provide a reference number to query the status directly with the DBS.

This is one of the most commonly misunderstood requirements for new drivers. Your standard car insurance — even fully comprehensive — does not cover you when driving commercially for hire. If you carry a passenger and are involved in an accident without the correct insurance, your policy will be void.

What type of insurance you need

You need Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) insurance, sometimes also called hire and reward insurance. This specifically covers you for carrying fare-paying passengers. Policies are available from a range of specialist UK insurers.

Uber's own insurance coverage

Uber provides third-party liability coverage while you have the app open and are actively on a trip. However, this does not replace the need for your own PHV policy — particularly for periods when you are logged into the app but waiting for a trip request, and when the app is off entirely.

All vehicles in our PCO car hire fleet include PHV insurance as part of the weekly hire rate. You do not need to arrange it separately.

Once you have your PCO licence, DBS certificate, and vehicle in order, you are ready to create your Uber driver account. This is done through the Uber website or the Uber Driver app.

1. Create your account — go to uber.com/en-GB/drive or open the Uber Driver app. Enter your email address and choose your operating city (London).
2. Select your service type — choose passenger trips, Uber Eats delivery, or both. You can add services later once you are approved.
3. Upload your documents — submit each document listed in Step 2. Uber reviews them individually. If one is rejected, you will be notified in-app and asked to resubmit — this is common and not a cause for concern. Our guide on uploading documents into your Uber account takes you through this step by step.
4. Add your payout bank account — Uber pays drivers weekly. You will need to provide UK bank details at this stage. Make sure the account is in your name.
5. Wait for approval — once all documents are verified and checks are complete, Uber will activate your account via the app.

The total time is typically 4–10 weeks, driven almost entirely by the PCO licence and DBS check timelines.

Earnings vary based on hours worked, location, service tier, and time of day. The figures below are gross earnings before expenses (fuel, insurance, vehicle costs, and Uber's service fee).

How Uber's service fee works

Uber deducts a service fee from each trip — typically around 25–30% of the fare. The remaining amount transfers to your bank account on a weekly basis. You can view a full breakdown of earnings in the Uber Driver app.

When earnings are highest

Peak hours (7–9am and 5–8pm on weekdays), weekend nights (10pm–3am), and during major London events consistently produce the highest demand and surge pricing. Drivers who plan their hours around these windows typically earn 30–40% more per hour than those driving off-peak.

Managing quieter periods

Uber income is irregular by nature. Demand drops significantly in January, during prolonged bad weather, and during summer holidays. Experienced drivers recommend setting aside 15–20% of income from busy weeks to cover slower periods and fixed costs — insurance, vehicle payments, phone bills — that do not reduce when demand falls.

As an Uber driver, you are legally classified as self-employed (a sole trader in most cases). This means you are responsible for declaring your income to HMRC and paying your own tax and National Insurance. Uber does not deduct tax from your earnings.

What you need to do

• Register as self-employed with HMRC — do this as soon as you start driving. You must register by 5 October in the tax year after you began earning. Failure to register can result in penalties.
• File a Self Assessment tax return — every year, you declare your Uber earnings and allowable expenses. The tax year runs April to April. Online returns are due by 31 January each year.
• Keep records of all income and expenses — HMRC can request evidence going back 5 years. Keep every receipt for fuel, maintenance, insurance, and any driving-related equipment.

Expenses you can deduct

As a self-employed driver, you reduce your taxable income by deducting allowable business expenses. Common deductions include: