A PCO licence allows you to work as a driver at ride-sharing and delivery services in London, UK. This licence lasts for three years, after which you will have to apply for a renewal before you can continue working as a PCO driver. It is best that you remember when your licence is due for renewal so you can get it renewed before it’s too late. Read on to find out how to renew your PCO licence.
How to Renew Your PCO Licence
Transport for London, which is responsible for the transport network in London, sends you a licence renewal pack 4-6 weeks before the deadline. The renewal pack consists of a number of forms, most of which are already filled out. So make sure you read all the details to ensure that everything is filled out correctly in the form.
To ensure that the renewal process is successful, you should follow these tips:
- Read through all the contents of the renewal pack thoroughly and then sign the declaration.
- Make sure to send the renewal application form before your current PCO licence expires.
- Make sure to send both the Application Fee and the Licence Fee with your application form.
- You will need a DBS (CRB) check as they are only valid until three months.
- You will also need a Medical Check.
Licenced drivers with an EC/EEA licence are required to get a GB licence when they apply for a renewal. If you fail to get a GB licence before the expiry of your current licence, you won’t be stopped from re-licensing.
However, you will have to get a GB licence and produce it to TfL within three months after the issuance of the licence.
Below, we have listed the most commonly asked questions about the process of PCO licence renewal:
How Long Does a PCO Licence Renewal Take?
All the PCO drivers are registered with Transport for London (TfL). Therefore, TfL sends out applications to renew your current licence 4-6 weeks before the deadline of your current licence’s expiration. This usually comes as paperwork, but you can also carry out the process online.
Generally, it takes up to 6 weeks to process PCO licence renewal applications. Getting your application filled out as soon as possible would ensure that you can continue driving as a PCO driver without having a gap in the licence when waiting for your application to be approved.
Can I Drive with an Expired PCO Licence?
Just like a regular driver’s licence, it is illegal to drive your car with an expired PCO licence. Driving with an expired PCO licence would also mean that you are voiding your vehicle insurance policy. If you are found to be driving with an expired licence, you will be subjected to a fine of a whopping £2,500, with a violation flagged on your records. This would make it even more difficult to work in the future as a PCO driver.
You have three months to renew your licence after it expires. If you fail to get it renewed within three months, TfL will remove you from their system. As a result, you will need to apply for a new PCO licence from scratch, which would require you to undertake all the preliminary background checks. Moreover, the starting date on your renewed licence will be from when it is issued, not from when you applied for renewal.
What Documents Are Required to Renew a PCO Licence?
The documents required to submit when you are applying for a PCO licence through the post or online are the same. These include:
- A recent photograph.
- A medical declaration form.
- A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check application (only needed if your situation has changed since you last submitted a licence application).
No matter which way you choose to get your licence renewed, you will have to send a physical copy of your last licence to TfL within the first week of its expiration.
What If I’m Late in Getting My PCO Licence Renewed?
If you apply for a PCO licence renewal after your previous licence has expired, there is no guarantee that your new licence will be issued immediately. You may have to wait until all the processes have been completed, including the satisfactory return of a DBS check.
The new licence is dated from when it is issued and not when your last licence expired or when you applied for licence renewal.
If you apply for the licence three months after the last PCO licence has expired, you will be treated as a new applicant. This means you will have to get a new medical examination and get all the checks cleared before you can obtain the licence.
If you are submitting a renewal application after your current licence has expired, you are advised not to drive your PCO car as you are not licenced to do so. So you cannot work as a PCO driver until your new licence is issued.
How Much Does a PCO Licence Renewal Cost?
A PCO licence renewal costs £170.00, and your new licence is valid for up to three years. But if you are applying from scratch, in case it has been three months since your PCO licence expired, you will have to pay the entire licence fee.
The table below highlights the typical cost of an application. However, some costs may vary.
| DBS disclosure application | £52 (online)£54 (paper) |
| *Licence application fee | £124 |
| Grant of the licence fee | £186 |
| Post Office® Check and Send | £7.15 |
| Speaking and listening assessment (if applicable) | £36 |
| Topographical assessment (if applicable) | £36 |
| SERU Assessment | £36 |
| Medical | Fee set by the examining doctor (your GP) |
| Example total: £477 excluding the cost of medical |
Final Thoughts
So that’s all, folks! That’s how to renew your PCO licence. It’s pretty simple, right? If you are a PCO driver looking for more information about working as a PCO driver, the legal structure you have to follow, and how you can make the most of this experience, check out Our Pco Blog. You can also rent out the best PCO cars at G&M Direct Hire.