Driving tips Archives

Blackwall & Silvertown Tunnel charges explained

From 7 April 2025, Transport for London (TfL) will begin charging drivers to use both the existing Blackwall Tunnel and the brand-new Silvertown Tunnel. For car drivers who regularly make Thames crossings – especially if you’re a PCO driver – this is important news for you. The Silvertown Tunnel, which connects Silvertown in Newham, East

Beginners guide Driving tips

How to pay the Gatwick Airport drop-off charge in 2025

Dropping someone off at London Gatwick Airport? Whether you’re a private hire driver or just giving a friend or family member a lift, this handy guide has everything you need to know about Gatwick Airport’s drop-off charges in 2025. From understanding the fees and exploring online payment options to discovering free parking alternatives, we’ve got

Manchester’s top hotspots & peak times for private hire drivers

Manchester is one of the busiest cities in the UK, making it a prime location for Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) drivers. But to really make the most of private hire work, you need to know the best times and places to be available. This guide breaks down the busiest spots, peak hours, and how things

Driving tips Electric cars

Private hire driver tips: Driving during Ramadan

Ramadan is a meaningful time for reflection, devotion, and fasting for Muslims worldwide. At Otto Car, we know many of our private hire drivers will be practicing this while still working hard on the roads. Fasting from dawn to dusk can impact energy, focus, and overall wellbeing. We’re here to support you in staying safe,

How to make your EV battery last in cold weather

With winter approaching, cold temperatures and bad weather can impact your electric vehicle (EV). As a private hire driver, it’s likely you’d prefer to reduce the amount of charging stops between jobs, but the cold can make this difficult. Understanding how the cold weather affects your EV and learning simple ways to increase your range

PCO driver guide Safety

Winter driving tips 2024 | How to drive safely in cold weather

Driving in winter can be challenging, especially when you experience bad weather like snow and ice. The Otto Team has a series of articles to keep Uber Partners safe on the roads and maximise their earning power. This post specifically covers how to drive safely in the winter months. Prepare your PCO car In addition

Electric cars

How to boost EV range as an Uber driver

Discover 13 practical tips to extend the range of your electric vehicle and earn more as an Uber driver. With plenty of quick wins, this guide will save you money.

Otto Life Stories #9: Dewan

To celebrate the diversity of the Otto family, we shine a spotlight on one driver’s cultural background in this series of interviews. Today, Dewan Choudhury reveals how to boost range and where to find the best Indian food in London. How long have you been a PCO driver? Five years – but that’s on and off.

Otto Life Stories #8: Mahen

Mahen Alexander escaped persecution in Sri Lanka to build a new life. He shares his fascinating story, along with money-saving tips for new drivers and reveals where to get the best mutton biryani in London. Tell us a little about your family background? I’ve worked as a PCO driver for six years but I have

King of the road: Safe Driver of the Year 2023

Every year, we celebrate one member of the Otto family with the safest driving record. This involves many aspects of how each driver handles their PCO car, from gentle braking through to always paying attention to the road ahead. The first winner of this new prize is Yusuf Omar Farah, who reveals below how regular

Otto Life Stories #7: Julius

To celebrate the diversity of the Otto family, we shine a spotlight on one driver’s cultural background in this series of occasional interviews. Today, Julius Cobotas reveals how summer boat parties helped to prepare him for PCO driving, where to get the best dumplings in London and why he no longer looks at riders’ phones.

What is the SERU assessment – and how to pass the test in 2024

A complete guide for Uber drivers about the Transport for London (TfL) SERU assessment. This post explains why this exam us now a key part of getting a PCO licence and gives tips on how to pass the test in 2024.

Blaise’s story: The flexibility of private hire driving with Otto Car

In this interview series, we're celebrating the diverse cultures of the Otto Car family by talking to PCO drivers about their unique backgrounds. Meet Blaise Mudiayi, a university student, father of six children, and a proud owner of the Tesla Model 3 through our Rent to Buy plan at Otto Car. Blaise proves that with

Meet the Otto Team in Hendon

The all-new Otto Car Hendon hub in northwest London has been opened since early 2023. We’ve caught up with the team to understand what drivers should expect during their visit and how the hub has grown to better support drivers’ needs. Massive showroom “Hendon is our biggest hub so far. We’re happy to see that

Halloween and Bonfire Night: How to drive safely as a PCO driver

With days getting shorter, it can be challenging to drive at night. The good news is that you can make more money when this is a great time for Halloween parties and fireworks nights. The shorter days and poor weather cause problems for even the most experienced Uber driver. Pay extra attention as it is

Meet the Otto Team in Ilford

In the past year, the Otto Car Ilford hub in East London has grown to meet the high demands for the private hire community. To better understand how the hub has changed and what it means to PCO drivers, we recently had a chat with the team. Bigger team, shorter waiting times “It’s so much

How to handle PCO operator disputes

Losing access to the Uber app or the other operators (ie Bolt or FREENOW) is a nightmare for the PCO driver. It means that you cannot work for that specific app – nor any of them if the problem originates from TfL – and the longer this suspension lasts, the more money you lose. The clock is

Summer driving: How to make more money as a PCO driver

For some people, the summer is a time to relax but for Uber drivers this is a great opportunity to earn. Here’s how to stay safe in the heat and maximise your money. Plan when to work In the holiday season, lots of people are away but there are also fewer PCO drivers working. The

What is a fixed penalty notice and what it means for PCO drivers?

Driving in and around London can be tricky, especially if you’re new to private hire driving. For Uber drivers, a fixed penalty notice (or an FPN) can be issued for a wide range of minor motoring offences, such as speeding, restricted turns and box junctions. Worse still, we recently noticed some drivers ended up being

EV charger types: Slow, fast, rapid and ultra-rapid charging explained

If you’re a PCO driver looking to switch to an electric vehicle for Uber, then you probably have a lot of questions about EV charging, specifically the different types of EV chargers. There are a few things you need to consider when choosing your EV chargepoint – which can be intimidating for new EV drivers.

Meet our Hendon Hub Manager Mo

We’ve caught up with our Hendon Hub Manager Mohamed Salah, as he shares how the hub offers a whole new experience to drivers, future plans, and the best place to eat around Hendon and Colindale.

Meet our Customer Relations Supervisor Travis

Currently based at our Dulwich hub, Customer Relations Supervisor Travis shares his tips about choosing the right PCO car, and why he loves his job. How long have you been with Otto Car? Originally I joined Otto Car back in 2019. I left in September and then came back. I enjoy every moment working here.

Meet our Customer Relations Advisor Hasan

Customer relations advisors are usually the first point of contact for our family of PCO drivers. As a PCO driver himself, Hasan at the Hammersmith hub shares what he likes about being an Uber driver, PCN hotspots to avoid, and the best places to get jobs.

Meet our Hackney Hub Manager Kevin

We speak to Kevin, our Hackney Branch Manager, as he shares his experiences with PCO drivers and the best things to do in Hackney.

Otto Life Stories #4: Eniola

Eniola shares how to work longer shifts, her own experiences as a female driver and explains why this role is a good fit for family life.

PCN PCO driver guide

The risks, law and penalties of mobile phone use while driving

Otto Car’s experienced driving instructor Berat shares some statistics and tips about mobile phone use while driving in the UK.

Meet our new Ilford Hub Manager Ijaz

We recently caught up with the new Ilford manager Ijaz as he shares his new experience with the private hire community in Redbridge.

The alternative EV charging guide 2024

Here’s how to save money charging your electric car at public points.

Otto Life Stories #3: Edward

Edward reveals how switching careers to PCO driving helped him keep him in touch with his own children, and shares the secrets of Ghanain food.

Recent London PCN hotspots that PCO drivers need to know

Otto Car is here to help PCO drivers maximise their hard-earned income. In this article, we reveal the worst London hotspots where drivers got PCNs recently in September.

Otto Life Stories #2: Solomon

Veteran driver, Solomon, shares how he managed to turn his entire life around and spills the secrets of creating a dream retirement plan.

Otto Life Stories #1: Augustin

To celebrate the diversity of the Otto family, we will shine a spotlight on the cultural background of one experienced PCO driver in this new series.

Hot weather tips for PCO drivers

Most PCO drivers are aware of the dangers of winter driving. However, did you know it’s just as important to prepare yourself and your PCO car for summer?

How PCO drivers can beat inflation

What can a PCO driver do to beat inflation? The Otto Car Rent 2 Buy + bundle will always be at the same fixed price for the entire length of the contract.

What is it like on your first day as a PCO driver

In this guide you’ll know what to expect on your first day as a new Uber driver, as our driving instructor shares his PCO knowledge and tips.

Avoid getting a PCN as an Uber driver

We’ve put together our PCN data and analysed the most common types of fines. Let’s not waste our hard-earned money with a fine.

Ramadan 2022: Top tips for safe PCO driving

Ramadan is usually a challenging time for PCO drivers to remain safe on the road. Here at Otto Car, keeping our drivers and passengers safe is the number one priority. As we’re in the middle of Ramadan, we thought it’d be helpful to share some handy PCO driving tips to our family of private hire

London Congestion Charge: What is it and what it means for PCO drivers

A comprehensive PCO driver guide to the London Congestion Charge, covering the dates and time you need to pay, and where the zone is.

Highway Code changes – Here’s what PCO drivers need to know

New Highway Code 2022 rules will come into force soon, and here is a PCO and Uber driver guide to the key changes for you to avoid fines.

How to deal with road rage as an Uber driver

Road rage is more common than you think, with almost half of UK drivers having been the victims. Here are our tips to avoid road rage as an Uber driver.

Top tips for PCO drivers to stay safe and well

With Covid-19 cases rising in London, Uber drivers need to be careful on the roads. Follow our tips to help keep you and your rider safe.

PCO driver guide Safety

The ultimate PCO driver guide to night time driving

As an Uber driver, you can earn well at night but there are more risks. From breaks to speeding, check out our guide for the private hire industry.

PCO driver guide Safety

Winter driving tips 2024 | How to drive safely in cold weather

Top EV chargepoint providers in London | PCO driver guide

We’ve outlined the top chargepoint providers in London, and where they’re located. Loaded with the rates, exclusive offers and sign up info for PCO drivers.

Charge & Coffee | The ultimate break guide

Take a break from Uber, charge up and relax with a coffee and a bite to eat. Our new charging guide for PCO drivers is available to read.

London PCN Locations for Uber Drivers | May 2021

We’ve got a newer article for you! Check out our latest PCN guide to save your hard-earned money. Here at Otto Car we’re on a mission to help PCO Drivers avoid PCNs. This challenge has been made more difficult in the last couple of months due to increased cameras, bike-lanes, and restricted routes since lockdown.

City of London PCN guide | Avoid a fine

Avoid a PCN in the City of London with Otto Car’s new guide for Uber drivers & PCO drivers. From Lime Street to Princes Street

Meet Martin | Uber driver stories

Martin has been working in the private hire industry for 9 years, including a number of years with Uber. We caught up with him to hear his story.

Meet Ranjeet | Uber driver stories

Meet Ranjeet, an Uber driver on Rent 2 Buy +. We talked about the Uber Clean Air Plan, Covid-19 and much more in our latest PCO driver story.

Safety The Otto Team

Driving up standards with Rocky | Driver development

We help Uber Drivers and PCO drivers improve their driving standards through our Driver Development programme.

Developing a charging strategy | A step-by-step guide for PCO drivers

London’s PCO drivers are turning towards EVs in large numbers. It’s important to have a charging strategy ready for your new Uber car.

An essential guide to earning more with PCO plug-In hybrids

A full guide for PCO drivers thinking of using a plug-in hybrid as their next Uber car, such as the Toyota Prius.

Keep healthy as a PCO driver

When driving with Uber as a PCO driver, health might take a backseat. Join us and Gig Guy London as we go through important health tips.

Otto Car’s driver assessment – What’s it all about?

As a reputable PCO car rental company, it’s our duty to make sure we’re putting safe drivers into our cars with our driver assessment.

Meet Anita | July’s Safe Driver of the Month

Here at Otto Car, we value safety and that’s why we’ve introduced our safe driver of the month award for our family of PCO drivers in London.

London’s PCN hotspots

We’ve got a newer article for you! Check out our latest PCN guide to save your hard-earned money. This week we’ve been focusing on areas where our PCO drivers are picking up tickets consistently. Using years worth of data to spot trends and the keen eye of the Otto team, we’ve been digging deep to

It pays to drive safe with Otto Car | Meet Rogerio

Safety is extremely important here at Otto Car. That’s why we’ve been awarding our safest driver a special award.

Electric cars

Will an electric PCO car work for me?

From driveways to EV range, we give Uber drivers the information they need before switching to an electric PCO car on Rent 2 Buy.

PCO road rules | Drive smart as an Uber driver

We’ve found our top 10 PCNs, so PCO drivers and Uber drivers like you can avoid the fines and save more money.

Top tips for driving on black ice

Avoid an accident with your PCO car with our top tips for driving on black ice in winter. Take extra care as an Uber driver in London.

Driving tips Safety

Driving in winter | Top PCO safety tips

Get ready for winter with our winter guide for PCO drivers & Uber Drivers in London. From black ice to fog, you’re covered.

What to do if you get into an accident

If you’re involved in a traffic accident while driving Uber, here’s what you need to do as a private hire driver in London with Otto Car.

Safety

Safe driving guidelines for PCO drivers

Read our safety tips for Uber driving as a PCO driver in London. Follow these rules to keep you and your passengers safe at all times.

London Bank Junction access

TfL have recently announced that London’s Bank Junction is not accessible for certain vehicles at certain times.

Avoiding car park PCN’s

Don’t get caught out as an Uber Driver, make sure you avoid car parking fines from such as Euro Car Parks and National Car Parks.

Safety

Chris’s checks for PCO drivers

Safety is the number one priority here. Keep yourself, passengers and the public safe with our driving instructor’s top Uber driving tips.

AJ’s top PCN hotspots in London

As an Uber Driver, you want to avoid charges at all spots. Read our PCO guide to avoid Transport for London PCNs.

3 simple steps if you’ve had an accident

If you’re involved in a traffic accident while driving Uber, you’ll need to follow the right steps. Read our PCO accident guide today.

Ash’s top tips for PCO drivers

Get the best out of your PCO car with our guide specifically for private hire drivers with Uber in London.

Uber driver tips | How to change a tyre

We have created a simple video to guide you through the process of changing your tyre. Get back on the road and earning with Otto Car.

5 simple tips to keep your PCO car in good condition

Keep your PHV vehicle in check with our top tips for your PCO car. Here are some small things you can do to maintain your Uber car.

Drive smart | Shoyab’s top tips for driving a Toyota Prius

Learn from the best in the PCO business as Shoyab takes you through his top tips for driving a Toyota Prius as an Uber driver.

Driving tips Safety

PCO driver wellbeing | How to keep fit and healthy

As a PCO driver, it’s very important to make sure you keep yourself in good condition. Follow our PCO guide to driver wellbeing.

Driving tips PCN

PCO driver tips: Avoiding fines (Part 2)

Read the second part of our guide to avoid PCNs and fines in London. We cover speed limits as well as pedestrian zones for PCO drivers.

TfL spot checks | Are you prepared?

Avoid time off the road with our TfL spot check guide. From tyres to documentation, we run through the checks needed to stay on the road.

How to upload your documentation to Uber

From the MOT to PCO insurance, we list all the necessary documents to work for Uber with our Uber Documentation Upload Guide.

The top 10 Uber destinations in London

Our PCO guide to London’s top Uber destinations will help you maximise income potential. Perfect for private hire drivers.