Free guides to the London PCO licence

Free, step-by-step guides to getting and keeping a London private hire licence. Everything here is built on TfL's own published material, and everything TfL gives away free we link to rather than charge for.

The licensing track

Work through these in order if you are starting from nothing.

1. Getting your PCO licenceEvery requirement and every 2026 fee, in the order TfL asks for them, with the real cost of passing first time. 2. Passing SERUWhat the Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding assessment covers, and how to prepare with TfL's own free material. 3. Passing the topographical assessmentHow the routes are marked, where the marks are lost, and why you should not pay anyone for practice tests.

Once you are licensed

Choosing a car, and understanding what you are signing.

Which cars the platforms acceptAll 780 models Uber approves in London, with the minimum model year that actually applies under TfL's age limit. Passing the annual vehicle inspectionWhat TfL checks and why cars fail, including the 14 day MOT window and the dent and scratch limits it publishes. How rental deposits workWhat a holding deposit is, what can be deducted, and why releasing it can take up to 21 days. Rent to buy, explained honestlyWhat the agreement actually is, who owns the car while you pay for it, and which protections the paperwork removes.

Everything else

Driver FAQsShort answers to the questions drivers ask most, with links through to the full guides. ResourcesThe full directory, including the official TfL and gov.uk pages worth bookmarking. The JournalLonger pieces on the trade, the rules and what changes when they change.