As a profession, PCO driving is on the rise in the UK. Platforms like Uber, Bolt, Ola, and others offer on-demand drivers a chance to earn a good amount of money and keep up with the rising cost of living due to uncertain economic conditions. However, not everyone can become a PCO driver.

This is because PCO drivers need to fulfill certain requirements before they can start driving and earning. Among these requirements is passing Transport for London’s English language test. If you’re wondering what the TFL English test is and why it is so important, continue reading to learn everything about it.

TfL’s English Language Test

The TfL needs to ensure every driver providing on-demand driving services to the passenger can effectively communicate with them at all times. They must be able to communicate effectively with their passengers and understand their requirements to facilitate them properly.

In order to do this, they conduct an English language test for all applicants. The English language tests ensure you and your passenger can communicate effectively in case there’s an emergency, an accident, or any other situation that puts you or the passengers at risk of harm, injury, or any other threat.

The TfL previously accepted certificates of English tests passed from any authorised English institute in the UK. However, this was only done till October 2021. After that, the TfL made it mandatory for every PCO driver to pass the English language test designed by the TfL itself.

Who Has to Take the English Test?

With the change of rules after October 2021, it’s mandatory for every driver applying for a PCO license to take the English language test. This includes:

• Drivers who are applying for a PCO license for the first time
• Drivers who didn’t submit the complete documents or English language certification for their application to be processed before October 2021
• PCO license applicants who were rejected and are now re-applying
• PCO drivers who have a license but want to get it renewed

What’s Included in TfL’s English Language Test?

Transport for London has developed a unique test to test a driver’s level of proficiency in English. This includes the SERU test approach. The Safety, Equality, and Regulatory requirements ensure the drivers are proficient in English and understand how important this is for them in their careers.

TfL’s English test is divided into two categories:

Listening and Speaking

The listening and speaking part of the test commences with the applicant conversing with the examiner for about 15 or 20 minutes. During this, the examiner usually asks the applicant a few questions. The applicant needs to understand these questions and answer them with relevant information. Some of the common questions in this conversation include:

• Questions regarding personal life or information

For example, the examiner may ask the applicant if they are married, have children, where they live, who they live with, their relationship with their parents, etc. The answers don’t necessarily have to be true if the person doesn’t want to disclose their personal information, but they should be relevant to the question.

• A situational roleplay

The examiner may make up a scenario and ask the applicant to roleplay with them according to the situation. This could be anything, like any instance of a road accident, road blockage, harassment, customer arguing, or any other situation that might arise while driving as a PCO driver.

• Pictorial Analysis

The examiner will show the applicant a picture and ask them what they notice or what information they gathered from that particular picture. This could also be a set of images, and it’s done to judge the applicant’s analytical skills and how they communicate their analysis.

• Short Speeches

The examiner may make a short speech and ask the applicant to listen to the speech carefully. Afterward, the examiner may ask the applicant questions from the speech.

Reading and Writing

The second part of TfL’s English test evaluates a person’s reading and writing skills. This part contains missing blanks that the driver must fulfill after understanding a paragraph or a sentence, choosing answers to multiple-choice questions, and completely paraphrasing certain phrases and sentences.

This test includes topics from a PHV driver’s handbook, like the safety of passengers, how to treat passengers, how to cater to disabled passengers, how to drive safely, defensive driving, TfL’s policies, etc.

How Much Does This Test Cost?

The cost of the test is fixed at £36 for a person who’s attempting it for the first time. For applicants who are renewing their license or attempting it again, the fee is £16.

How Many Times Can the Test Be Taken?

There’s no limit to how many times you may attempt the test. If you fail, you can re-attempt it until you pass. Usually, people pass the test on their first or second attempt.

Where Can the Test be Taken?

The test can be taken at any of the two offices of the TfL in West Kensington or Baker Street.

Complete Requirements for PCO Drivers

A person who wants to drive as a PCO needs a PCO license. In order to get a PCO license, a person needs to fulfil certain requirements. Let’s take a look at them here:

Age

The TfL’s minimum age requirement for a person eligible for PCO driving is 21. Although the legal age is 18 in the UK, and one can apply for a PCO license as soon as they turn 18, TfL usually doesn’t process these applications because it violates another eligibility requirement we’ll discuss later.

Driving License (United Kingdom or Europe)

A person is only eligible to drive as a PCO driver if they hold a valid driver’s license for at least 3 years. The driver’s license could be from the UK or anywhere else in Europe. The condition that a person must have held the license for over 3 years is why people under 18 are not granted a PCO license.

The 3-year period for holding the license also needs to be consistent. If a person has had any sort of breaks or disqualifications, they’ll need to wait at least 3 years before they can apply for a PCO license again.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check

When a person applies for a PCO license, their records will be thoroughly examined via a DBS check. The DBS check is done to ensure a person doesn’t have any criminal convictions or violent crimes on their record. Moreover, if the person has been convicted of any crime in the last 3 years, it can affect the chances of their application getting accepted or rejected.

Medical Check-Up

A person also has to clear a medical check-up before their application for a PCO license is processed. The medical criteria are similar to the ones for PSV and HGV drivers. If a person has any disability or problem that may affect their ability to drive, they may not be granted a PCO license.

This includes all sorts of disabilities and problems. For example, colour blindness can affect how you perceive the signal lights, vestibular disorders like dizziness or vertigo can divert your attention from the road and result in accidents, and more.

Topographical Test

The topographical test is a metric that determines how much you know about the place you’re planning to drive as a PCO. This includes the routes, landmarks, pick-up and drop-off spots, and other important places in an area or city.

The more knowledge you have of these things, the better you’ll do on this test and the higher your chances of getting a PCO license.

Private Hire Vehicle

If you fulfil all of the above-mentioned conditions, you’re likely to get approved and receive your license. However, having a PCO license is not enough to start your PCO driving career. You must also have a PHV (Private Hire Vehicle) license for your car.

You can get your car registered as a PHV if it fulfils certain requirements, which include:

• The vehicle has at least 4 doors or more
• The vehicle model should not be older than 15 years
• The vehicle must not have any visible physical damage
• The vehicle should be well-maintained
• The vehicle must be insured, and the name of the driver must be on the insurance papers
• The vehicle must not have any branding on it except for the ride-hailing platform it’s being driven for, like Uber, Bolt, or Ola.

All of these requirements are designed to keep strict control on the quality of transportation services the residents of the UK receive, ensure their convenience, and keep them safe and protected.

If you’re looking to start your career as a PCO driver, G&M Direct Hire can help.

We are a trusted PCO car hire in London and provide PHV-registered cars for rent. Our fleet includes electric cars, as well as hybrids and plug-in hybrids, like the Kia E-Niro, Nissan Leaf, Toyota Prius Plus, Mg 5, and more.

Furthermore, we can also help you obtain your PCO license. Get in touch with us now for more details.