How to Renew Your Expired PCO Driving Licence in 2024

A PCO licence allows you to work legally as a private hire driver for ride-hailing apps or traditional transport firms, such as taxis, minicabs, or hire cars. This driving licence stays valid for three years. Drivers who wish to continue to work as PCOs must apply for a new licence before the expiry date of the old one. It is important to keep an updated and renewed licence at all times during the ride.

If you’re a PCO car driver in London who wants to renew their expired PCO driving licence before the end of its three-year period, here are the steps you need to take. Read on to learn all about it.

Check the Expiry Date

The first step to renewing your expired PCO driving licence is to check the expiry date. The expiry date can be found on the front of your PCO licence, issued by Transport of London (TfL).

Although it’s unlikely that you’ll forget to renew your driving licence when it expires, there are certain circumstances when you can forget to do it and end up with an expired licence. Make sure to mark the expiry day on your calendar or set up a reminder on your smartphone to remind you to renew it on time.

Complete Your Driver Training

All new and existing PCO car drivers are required to complete safeguarding awareness training. It is an online course that is designed to educate drivers about driving in safe conditions, road safety, and the importance of complying with traffic laws. You will need to provide proof of completion of the training when you renew your driving licence.

Update Your Insurance and Vehicle Documents

Before sending in the documents required for PCO licence renewal, ensure all the paperwork is up-to-date. If your insurance or other vehicle documents need updating, do this as soon as possible. Your PCO renewal requires valid insurance and vehicle documents.

Medical Exam

All PCO car drivers are required to pass a medical exam before renewing their licence. It proves that you’re medically fit to drive vehicles in the public right of way. All applicants must complete Group 2 standards of the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA).

Take an appointment with a general practitioner (GP) or outpatient department of a district general hospital and have a face-to-face examination. Sign the medical form and send it back to TfL.

DBS Check

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) requires you to pass a DBS check. It is to ensure that you are not a threat to public order or public safety. The form is a questionnaire that TfL provides you after checking your eligibility for PCO renewal.

The test costs £13 and is valid for only three months. Make sure to send in an updated DBS certificate for every PCO renewal you do.

Recent Photographs

For your PCO driving licence renewal, submit a recent photograph of yourself. It must be an image of your face in your profile or a close-up with a full-length headshot.

For more, check out the photo guidelines by TfL.

Submitting Your Application

Once all the documents and required paperwork are ready, you can submit your application for PCO renewal online. You will have to visit the TfL website submit your application for renewal online and pay with your credit card. You can also do the application process through the mail if you prefer to do it this way.

Submit Missing Documents

TfL keeps updating the requirements for PCO licence submission. If the regulations have been changed or any information has been added, you must submit a new application form. Here are some of the recent documents that you must submit if you haven’t already:

A work permit to prove you are legally allowed to work and earn your income to live on a pay-as-you-go basis. Read more here.
Tax check with HMRC for proof of your tax liabilities
Recent TfL English test

Paying the Fees

The renewal application costs £380, including the TfL English and application fees through the mail. If you want to save some money, you can submit the application online and save up to £10.

Licence Renewal Process

The licence renewal process is usually completed within a week or two. After this period, your PCO licence will be renewed, and you will have the freedom to continue driving as a PCO car driver and earn money through these rides.

What If I Can’t Renew My Licence on Time?

Driving a PCO car rent for Uber without a licence is illegal. You must renew your PCO licence before the expiry date and pay the licence fee at the latest.

If you forget to renew your licence and it’s expired already, you’ll have to wait for six weeks before you can get back on the road. Furthermore, if you don’t renew it within three months of the expiry date, your data will be removed from the system, and you’ll be treated as a new applicant that requires registration.

Penalties for Driving With a PCO Licence

As mentioned before, driving without a PCO licence is illegal, and if caught, you’ll be prosecuted by the authorities. The penalties include a fine of up to £2,500 and a maximum penalty of licence suspension. This can make it difficult to earn a living wage if you want to rent a PCO car for Uber.

List of Documents Required for PCO Licence Renewal

To renew your PCO licence, you must submit the following documents:

Medical form
A DBS check
Two recent photographs
Relevant tickets
Original licence
Relevant tickets
ID card copy

How Much Does PCO Licence Renewal Cost?

The final cost of renewing your PCO licence varies depending on several factors. The estimated costs for each step include:

Driver training (up to £200)
Medical check (£80)
DBS check (£52 online)
Renewal fee (£170)
English Test (£36)
SERU Assessment (£36)

Things to Know About Late Renewals

If a PCO car driver wants to renew after the expiration date has passed, the immediate licence issue cannot be guaranteed.

After renewal, the new expiry date will take effect from the date it is granted. For this reason, it is important to renew your PCO licence before it expires. The process will take up to 3–4 weeks, so you can avoid time away from the job and lost income by starting the renewal process beforehand. You can apply for licence renewal 28 days before the expiry date of your PCO licence.

If your licence expires, you will no longer be able to drive Uber or other ride-hailing companies.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Renewing Your PCO licence

PCO drivers who are unaware of how to renew a licence are likely to make several common mistakes that will lead to a very long and costly process. You don’t want to stay away from the job because your licence has expired and lost income that may be your only source of income.

Here are some common mistakes you might make when renewing your licence:

Not Submitting the Required Documents

Visit the TfL website and make sure you have all the documents required for renewing the licence before submitting. If you don’t have a certain document, you will have to resolve this issue before submitting your application.

Not Taking the Training Course Seriously

If you are to take an assessment or a training course before renewing the licence, it’s important that you do it seriously and prepare for the test thoroughly. Do the homework and find out everything you can about the test before you take it.

Not Researching Licensing Requirements

Check and make sure you are aware of the licence requirements in your area and confirm that the requirements are exactly what you need to renew your licence. It’s essential to read the requirements thoroughly before making a decision about the renewal process.

Not Renewing on Time

Renewing the licence on time is important to avoid the hassle of having to start a new process as a new applicant. It can lead to frustration as you’ll be waiting for a longer time to renew your licence than the normal time for renewal. You will also end up spending more money by registering for another course and taking the test again. So make sure to renew your licence in time before the next deadline for renewal.

If you’re looking for a PCO car hire in London, you’ve come to the right place! At G&M Direct Hire, you can rent a PCO car for Uber in London for a short or long-term rental.

We have a range of PCO fuel-powered, hybrid, and electric cars for hire, which are popular choices among Uber drivers. All vehicles are Uber-approved and come with a full range of standard features. Contact us for more information. You can also browse our fleet here.