An Overview of Different Ride-Sharing Apps Available for PCO Drivers 2024

The rideshare industry has grown at a dramatic pace in the UK. It has become the bread and butter for hundreds of PCO drivers who want to earn well during these economic crises. The government allows aspiring rideshare drivers to apply for PCO licence before they can get hired.

Moreover, people are now less worried about owning a car and enjoying the convenience of calling a ride to their doorstep to get around. This has allowed many new ride-sharing apps to enter the market, making it tougher for PCO drivers to choose the best one.

Working for a rideshare company makes you an on-demand driver; therefore, you must choose an employer with maximum flexibility, commissions, and a growth-oriented pace.

At G&M Direct Hire, we encourage PCO drivers in London to hire a reliable PCO car and register as an Uber, Bolt, Lyft, or Ola driver for a healthy work-life balance. Our PCO car hires are known for their quality, mileage, and newness. We don’t compromise on client satisfaction and also understand that affording a PCO car in this economy can be tough for you. That’s why we bring a suite of electric and hybrid PCO cars at an affordable rate.

In this detailed blog, our team has discussed the most popular ride-sharing companies operating in London. We’ve also highlighted the process of registering with them and refining your career as a PCO driver in London.

1. Uber

Not only has Uber been identified as the most popular ride-sharing app in the UK, but it has also managed to stay lucrative even during the pandemic. It’s considered the market leader in the UK and is a trusted ride-sharing services provider worldwide.

If you’re a PCO driver who wants to ensure maximum driver satisfaction, gain more chances of growing as a PCO driver in the UK, and earn splendid benefits, consider signing up on Uber. A 2022 survey also revealed that more than 69% of the UK’s population uses Uber.

Uber has a last customer base, and therefore, you don’t have to spend a long downtime between two consecutive rides. It has an interactive, intuitive, user-friendly application, and you can pick your job according to your availability. Uber also offers a free cash-out option and has a special Uber Green program that provides a 15% commission to PCO drivers with EVs.

Recommended Read: How Can Uber Drivers Get More Trip Requests? 2. Ola

This India-based ride-sharing app has become a major contender for Uber and has proven its quality and reliability in the absence of Uber. Ola has turned into a strong competitor for the world-famous ride-sharing app in Australia, the UK, and New Zealand. It serves over one billion customers at more than 250 locations worldwide.

Ola has also expanded its service portfolio and now offers carpooling, car-sharing, and electric scooter services. They’ve also introduced corporate commute options targeting working individuals who prefer more sophisticated daily transportation.

Running an environmentally-conscious business is part of their mission; hence, Ola’s team prefers PCO drivers with electric vehicles. If you’re planning to register as a driver on Ola, you can find stunning and high-performance EVs for rent at G&M Direct Hire. All of our cars are MOT certified and well-maintained. Driving a PCO electric vehicle in London can also help you steer clear of ULEZ and congestion charges. It can also allow you to gain an edge over other applicants on ride-sharing apps.

3. Bolt

If there’s a ride-sharing company that was able to revolutionize the taxi and rideshare industry in London, it would have to be Bolt. Owned by Taxify, this company entered the market quite late and experienced some glitches in its first two years. They had to wait longer to obtain their TfL licence and finally managed to operate in the M25 areas. Bolt is now considered Uber’s biggest competitor and has riders from over 40 countries.

Bolt offers some of the best driver-attracting promotions and customer discounts to improve their operations and sales. Bolt, just like Uber, offered food delivery services during the pandemic, which further piqued the company’s success. However, Bolt has now suspended its food delivery service, and Uber Eats continued to thrive in its monopolised market.

So why should you consider signing up on Bolt as a PCO driver? Here are some exciting advantages you cannot miss:

Bolt allows PCO drivers to find rides within a specified radius. This feature helps drivers reduce their fuel expenses and optimise rides throughout the day. The app will show you requested rides within a 0.6 to 5.3-mile radius.
If you’re an extremely quick PCO driver, you may be eligible to earn pickup lotteries when driving for Bolt. Yes, they offer airport rides to PCO drivers who are quick, strategic, and extremely professional.
As a driver for Bolt ride-sharing company, you’ll get to enjoy 50% off for the first two months after signing up.
Bolt offers weekly payouts and an additional £1.50 for rides in the congestion zones compared to Uber, which pays £1 for the same.

4. Kapten

Owned by French entities, Kapten is a relatively newer ride-sharing app in London. It was launched in 2019 and was soon rebranded as Free Now. Signing up on this app can offer you the most exciting locations to work in. For example, Kapten operates in London zones 1 to 6, which cover all the major airport areas.

What’s more, there’s no bargaining option in Kapten, and their app crafts out the exact fare for the driver and passenger, reducing last-minute confusion and arguments.

Recommended Read: Here’s Why You Should Work For Ride-Sharing Apps

Kapten and Free Now have recently signed a merger MOU and offer greater mobility, flexibility, and benefits to PCO drivers. With a customer base of over 15 million passengers, Free Now is actively looking for new PCO drivers to meet the rising demands.

As a Kapten driver, you can earn up to £20 extra during peak hours. The company gives a warm welcome to its drivers and offers referral bonuses. Kapten pays £1 per ride in the congestion zones and awards drivers weekly bonuses based on their performance.  

5. Green Tomato Cars

If you’re a PCO driver with an EV car hire and want to work for a ride-sharing company that only specializes in green commute options, Green Tomato Cars is the answer.

GTC is London’s first-ever carbon-neutral and carbon-negative ride-sharing company. It only allows PCO drivers to work for them if they have an electric vehicle. The company has geared up double offset on carbon emissions and has an all-corporate work account.

As a GTC driver, you’ll get a user-friendly and responsive application. The company offers a whopping £2.25/job Congestion Charge contribution and more if you’re an exempted PCO driver. Check out our EV PCO car hire fleet at G&M Direct Hire in London. Our firm has over 13 years of industry experience and has assisted over 3,000 PCO drivers to kick-start their careers by renting a reliable PCO car.

As a leading PCO hire company in London, you can stay assured that we’re committed to customer satisfaction above everything else.

Recommended Read: A Guide to PCO Driving from a Professional

Why Should You Consider Registering on a Ridesharing App in London?

When a ride-sharing company hires you as a PCO driver, they’ll only charge a cut of what you earn per ride, and it’s a good deal considering you get to access their massive customer base across the city. What’s more, ride-sharing companies have intuitive applications that make it easier for drivers to take and complete rides.

Here are some reasons for becoming a PCO driver for a ride-sharing company in London:

It sets you free from the shackles of a 9-5 job, allowing you more flexibility.
Ridesharing companies offer their new drivers the liberty to create a suitable and flexible working plan.
With a valid PCO licence, you’re your boss. Ridesharing companies don’t boss around their drivers as long as you meet their criteria and requirements.
PCO drivers who choose to work for a ride-sharing company earn above than national average wage. Even a rookie Uber driver can earn somewhere between £25,000-30,000 per annum. And if you’re a more experienced PCO driver, you can earn substantially more money.
Optimise your expenses as a rideshare company driver by renting an electric vehicle in London. Electric cars are exempted from congestion charges in London. You will also not have to pay ULEZ charges meaning another £12.50 savings will go into your pocket.
As a PCO driver for a ride-sharing company in the UK, you don’t have to buy a vehicle. You can easily avoid the need for owning and maintaining a car by hiring an affordable PCO-hired car to boost savings and profits and keep expenses to a minimum.
PCO ride-sharing drivers enjoy positive, high ratings, professional cashless service delivery, and substantial profits.

Recommended Read: Here’s Why PCO Car Rentals Are So Popular

Can I Sign Up on Multiple Apps at Once?

This is a common question many PCO drivers ask us, and we say yes. You can register on more than one ride-sharing app in London. However, you cannot control when and where you drive as it’s decided by the employer after selection.

You can juggle as a driver for different apps if you don’t want any downtime and want to stay on the road for the maximum period. Relying on more than one ride-sharing app is a good way to keep your career and income stable and ensure a backup in an emergency.

But before you do any of this, don’t forget to optimise your expenses and prove your road worthiness by renting a quality PCO car. We offer various, promising PCO car rentals including Nissan Leaf, Kia E-Niro, Mustang Mach-E, and more. Check out our fleet here.

Obtain a PCO Licence Before Signing Up on Any Ridesharing App in London

The PCO driver is your first, most-important permit to become an Uber, Bolt, Ola, or basically any other ride-sharing app driver in the UK. It’s the first step toward your new career as a rideshare driver. The PCO license is sometimes also known as the Private Hire licence and allows licensed individuals to work as a chauffeur, minicab driver, or a rideshare app driver.  

You’ll have to apply for your PCO licence through Transport of London and it comes with a 3-year validity. You must at least be 21 years old, have a 3-year or longer driving licence, and a clear DBS.

You will be required to submit complete medical exam reports and take a topography and English language test. A topography test will assess your ability to locate and identify different areas across London and use an A-Z guide with varying distances and routes.

Ready to Kick-Start Your Career as a PCO Driver in London, UK?

If you want to start your career as a PCO driver in London, get in touch with us now. At G&M Direct Hire, we provide a wide range of all-electric PCO cars for rent. You can also check out our resources to learn about how you can get a PCO licence or sign up with the top ride-sharing apps.

You can rent a Kia E-Niro, Kia Niro 2 EV, MG5 Exclusive, Volkswagen ID 3, and Nissan Leaf, among many other PCO car rental options available at G7M Direct Hire.

Our fleet includes the latest electric cars and hybrid vehicles. Explore them here.