Private hire driver licence (PHV or PCO licence)
A private hire driver licence is the licence from a council, or Transport for London, that you need to carry pre-booked paying passengers. In London it is often called a PCO licence.
Last checked 29/09/2026.
Getting one means a DBS check, a medical and whatever knowledge or English test the authority sets, and it takes weeks. The car needs its own vehicle licence too. Uber, Bolt, Freenow and Addison Lee all require it; food and parcel delivery do not.
What it means for your money
Renewing the licence, and the checks that go with it, are costs of running a private hire business and allowable expenses. A private hire licence is not a black cab licence: taking street hails needs a hackney carriage licence, which in London means the Knowledge.
Where to read more
Related
Do I need a licence to drive for Uber?
For passengers, yes - a private hire driver licence from your local council. For Uber Eats, no.
Getting startedUpdated 29/09/2026
What do I need to drive for Bolt?
A private hire driver licence from your local council, a licensed vehicle, and hire and reward insurance. The same requirements as any private hire work.
Getting startedUpdated 20/08/2026
Driving for Bolt: the full guide
What it takes to drive for Bolt in the UK, how the weekly payout is worked out, what the 2024 tribunal ruling on worker status means, why the 2026 VAT change is Bolt's problem rather than yours, and how to report the income correctly.
Getting startedUpdated 29/09/2026
Private hire or food delivery: which is worth doing?
Private hire pays more per hour and costs far more to get into. Food delivery you can start this week with the car you already own.
Earnings & profitabilityUpdated 20/08/2026
Uber driver benefits: holiday pay, pension, cover and Uber Pro
Since 2021 Uber drivers in the UK are workers, which brings a minimum earnings guarantee, 12.07% holiday pay and a pension. On top sit free Allianz insurance, the Uber Pro rewards tiers and early cash out. Here is what each one pays and how it is taxed.
Employment rights & legalUpdated 29/09/2026
What each platform insures, and what it leaves to you
Several apps give you free accident cover, and some pay out when you are ill or have a baby. None of them insures your car. Here is what each platform provides, when it applies, and the policy you still have to buy yourself.
InsuranceUpdated 29/09/2026