How to become an Uber driver in London – Ultimate guide 2025

Think about becoming a private hire driver? If so, you’ve probably thought about becoming an Uber driver too – one of the most popular platforms among PCO drivers in London. With millions of passengers using the app, there’s no shortage of work for drivers.

When you join Uber, you become an ‘Uber Partner’, which comes with extra benefits like an earnings guarantee, holiday pay and free insurance for things like sickness and personal injury cover. Uber also offers in-person practical support to help you get started as a new driver.

You won’t be doing it alone. Uber guides you through the sign-up process, and when it’s time to choose your vehicle, Otto Car is here to help. As London’s largest private hire vehicle provider, we offer a range of Uber-approved electric cars on flexible Rent to Buy or PCO Car Hire plans, alongside the Accelerate Scheme (created exclusively to support new Uber Partners).

Our guide is here to support you through the sign-up process and help you choose an Uber-approved car on one of our Rent to Buy or PCO Car Hire plans once you’re ready.

Getting started is simple – all you need is an email address to create your Uber profile. We’ll take care of the rest. Check out the full guide:

• Step 1: Check you’re eligible to be an Uber driver
• Step 2: Sign up with Uber in London
• Step 3: Apply for a Private Hire Driver Licence
• Step 4: Apply for a PCO licence
• Step 5: Start onboarding with Uber
• Step 6: Choose an Uber-approved car
• Step 7: Get a private hire vehicle (PHV) licence and insurance
• Step 8: Upload your car documents
• Step 9: Activate your Uber account

Step 1: Check you’re eligible to be an Uber driver

Here are the main requirements to become an Uber driver in London:

• UK driving licence (Uber insists you convert an EU or EEA licence to a UK one)
• 21 years old minimum (3 years of UK or EU/EEA qualified driving experience)
• No history of serious driving offences (see the TfL website – pages 21 to 23 – for more information)
• Suitable car and insurance (you can organise this once your other documents are ready)
• Private Hire Driver Licence (also known as a PCO licence in London – read our full guide on how to get a PCO licence if you haven’t got one already)
• Bank account in your name (or a company you own)*

*According to Uber, if you earn above the VAT limit (£90,000 per year), you must register for VAT, even if you aren’t a company.

Step 2: Sign up with Uber in London

Signing up with Uber is as easy as

Next, it’s time to book an Ignition appointment at the Uber Greenlight Hub in Tower Hill. This helpful meeting is where the whole process is explained in more detail by the Uber team.

At this point, you may upload basic personal documents (e.g. bank statements) into the Uber website – they’ll let you know what you need to bring before your appointment.

The Uber Ignition programme is a free service to show you how to become an Uber driver. You can even get free training sessions to help prepare for the Transport for London (TfL) tests.

Step 3: Apply for a Private Hire Driver Licence

This is the most important document you need to become an Uber driver and it’s issued by the council where you’ll work. For Uber in London, this is handled by TfL.

Most drivers call it a PCO licence as it was provided by the old Public Carriage Office before it transferred to TfL. The correct name is a Private Hire Driver Licence or PHDL – this means it’s a licence for the person, not the car.

This licence is a minimum Uber driver requirement. If you already have a PCO licence, skip to step six.

Even though this stage of the Uber application process is quite simple, it can take several months – so it’s important to plan ahead.

Keep in mind that you don’t need a private hire licence simply to be an Uber Eats driver or a delivery driver in London.

Step 4: Apply for a PCO licence

To begin, simply create an online account with TfL and it will send you the complete application pack.

The easy way to think about a Private Hire Driver Licence is to say the process is split into two main sections: the checks and the tests.

The PCO licence checks

You must provide all of this information to TfL when you submit a full application for a PCO licence.

✅ Medical check (usually completed by your own doctor)
✅ Background check (you must subscribe to the DBS Update Service)*
✅ Right to work check (UK/Irish citizens can use basic ID documents for this)**
✅ HMRC tax check ***

*The Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) is a criminal record check. Drivers must now subscribe to the DBS Update Service and pay the subscription fee (£16 per year).

** Other nationalities can apply for a share-code or use immigration documents. If you’ve lived outside the UK for 3 continuous months in the past 10 years, you need a Certificate of Good Conduct from each one.

*** New drivers merely need to confirm that they understand this. Renewals need a tax-check code.

The PCO licence tests

You’ll be invited to book three tests once TfL completes its checks, which can take several weeks. Most PCO drivers take all three tests in one day at the TfL offices.

✅ Speaking and listening test – this is the first half of the TfL english Language Requirement (ELR) test and is a short verbal English assessment.
✅ Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding (SERU) test – this is the second half of the ELR and is a written test, mostly about passenger rights.
✅ Topographical Skills test – this is to test basic London geography and the ability to use a map.

From 1 April 2023, new Uber drivers must pass all three TfL tests before they can get a PCO licence.

The main exception is the topographical test if you are a licensed London taxi driver, a professional tourist guide (e.g. Blue Badge Driver Guide) or a previously licensed private hire driver who already passed it.

How much does it cost to get a PCO licence?

TfL says the full cost to apply for a Private Hire Driver Licence is £477, plus the price of a medical check.

Various private agencies offer to help new PCO drivers with their licence application. We recommend sticking to official channels (e.g. Uber Ignition) to guarantee it’s legit and to save you money on extra fees.

Step 5: Start onboarding with Uber

Once you have a PCO licence, you can upload any outstanding personal documents into the Uber app at the Uber Greenlight Hub. Before you do so, Uber will ask you to complete some basic online training.

Here’s a checklist of the personal documents you need to complete your onboarding:

• Proof of identity (e.g. passport)
• UK Driving Licence (original plastic card)
• DVLA Electronic Counterpart Check Code (you can get this from the UK Gov website)
• Private Hire Driver Licence (i.e. PCO Licence)
• Profile photo (taken by the Uber team at the Uber Greenlight Hub)
• Bank statement (no older than three months)

Once Uber approves your documents, it takes a few days for your driver account to be activated in the Uber app. Wait for this to happen before you start to pay for a PCO car and rideshare insurance.

Step 6: Choose an Uber-approved car

By now, you’re probably wondering what kind of car do you need to become an Uber driver?

There are strict rules around vehicle registration for the Uber Driver app. While some are set by Uber – such as no commercial branding – most come from your local licensing authority. That’s because you also need a PHVL to operate legally – read the full guidance from TfL.

As London’s largest provider of private hire vehicles, Otto Car is here to make the process as smooth as possible. You’ll join a supportive community of drivers and get expert advice every step of the way. We offer high-quality PCO cars through our Rent to Buy or PCO Car Hire plans with no credit checks.

Plus, new Uber Partners can unlock exclusive benefits through our Accelerate Scheme* – a fast-track path to getting started in the industry. With our all-inclusive EV rental plan, you’ll enjoy discounted rates and the opportunity to own the vehicle over time.

Right now is also a great time to make the switch to electric. Eligible drivers can save up to £3,000 on an electric PCO car through Uber’s EV Assistance, which has been extended until 30 September 2025.

*You must be a new Uber Partner in London with up to 100 trips taken to be eligible for the Accelerate Scheme.

Step 7: Get a private hire vehicle (PHV) licence and insurance

Whichever car you use for Uber trips, you must get rideshare insurance and secure a PHVL from TfL.

As with all car insurance, there are different levels of cover (e.g. third party or fully comp) but the policy must include ‘hire and reward’. For a new driver, Uber insurance in London can easily cost £3,500 per year.

Gaining a PHV licence is more complex than simply renewing online. You must pass a TfL inspection at a licensing centre every 12 months. It also needs two MOT tests per year (unless new).

Be ready to supply evidence about any vehicle modifications, as it’s easy to fail a TfL vehicle inspection due to minor things, like a poorly fitted dashcam.

With Otto Car, you don’t need to worry about any of that. Nearly all of our London drivers have PCO insurance included, as well as a PHVL, servicing and MOTs. We even have our own drive-through licensing centre in Hammersmith, run by ex-TfL experts to give you peace of mind.

When you think about what is the best car for Uber driving, always consider what your own time is worth.

Plus, very vehicle that Otto Car provides also comes with our TfL-approved smart dashcams at no extra cost – to protect your income and keep you safe on the road.

Step 8: Upload your car documents

The final step to open an Uber driver account and get your first ride request is to share the following vehicle documents:

• Private Hire Vehicle Licence (PHVL)
• Logbook V5C (or AFRL certificate for new cars)
• MOT (must be issued in last 6 months but not needed for new cars)
• Private Hire Insurance certificate (plus supporting schedules if needed)
• Hire Agreement or Permission letter (Otto Car will provide this)

If you source your own PCO car, you can do this upload with Uber yourself when you supply the personal documents (see step 4).

Otto Car drivers get full support to upload vehicle documents to Uber at any of our London hubs.

Step 9: Activate your Uber account

Within hours of these car documents being approved, your driver status within the Uber app will change from ‘signed-up’ to ‘active’ – and you officially become an Uber Partner. This is when you can begin to earn extra money with Uber as a PCO driver.

The Uber driver app is simple to use. Once you have this on a suitable smartphone, you simply swipe ‘yes’ to accept jobs and then take the Uber riders to their chosen destinations.

Take the next step with Otto Car

Starting out as an Uber driver can feel overwhelming – but with Otto Car, you’re never on your own. We offer more than just a car; we provide the support, guidance, and community you need to succeed.

Explore our range of electric vehicles through our Rent to Buy or PCO Car Hire plan that fits your needs. With our all-inclusive plans, you know that the weekly costs are clear and there won’t be surprises.

Visit one of our London hubs or call 020 8740 7444. The friendly Otto Team is here to help.

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