PCO Licence Fees in 2026: What Drivers Need to Know

The TfL private hire driver licence is valid for three years and is central to PCO licensing. As of 2025/26, TfL charges approximately £196 for a new three-year driver licence. Renewals are slightly lower at around £174 for a further three years.

Before you apply, check the current rates directly at tfl.gov.uk as fees can change with little notice, and any fees you see published online (including here) may not be up-to-date.

The fee covers TfL’s administrative processing of your application, but it does not include the separate medical, DBS, or assessment costs outlined below.

An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is mandatory for all PCO applicants. TfL arranges the DBS check as part of the licensing process, and the fee, currently around £40, is usually included in the overall application cost.

The enhanced DBS check goes beyond the standard criminal record check. It covers spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and any other information held by local police that is considered relevant. This is a higher standard than most licences, which is why passengers can trust who’s behind the wheel.

At Addison Lee, drivers are required to hold a valid enhanced DBS as a condition of working with us, in line with TfL requirements and our own internal standards.

Your car needs its own licence before it can be used for private hire in London. The private hire vehicle (PHV) licence is annual and costs around £190 to £230, depending on the vehicle’s age and whether it meets TfL’s emissions standards.

You’ll also need a valid MOT (around £55) and, if your vehicle is a licensed taxi or PHV, it must meet TfL’s current emissions requirements. Older, higher-emission vehicles face stricter rules and in some cases cannot be licensed at all under the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Clean Vehicle standards.

Vehicle insurance for private hire is a further cost. Expect to pay £1,500 to £3,000 or more each year for a private hire insurance policy, depending on your driving history, vehicle type, and insurer. This sits entirely outside the TfL licensing process but is a legal requirement.

Every Addison Lee vehicle comes fully PCO-licenced, with an industry-leading package that covers insurance, maintenance and repairs, removing three of the biggest ongoing costs and the admin that comes with them.

Once you’re licensed, the ongoing costs are lower than the initial outlay, but they’re still regular.

Your driver licence renewal costs approximately £174 every three years. Your vehicle licence and MOT together run to roughly £245 to £285 annually. Medical renewals are required by TfL, and become more frequent as you get older, at 45 and then again from 65. Budget £80 to £150 each time.

In practice, most active private hire drivers in London budget between £250 and £350 a year for licensing costs, excluding insurance. Factor it into your monthly budget early so it doesn’t catch you off guard at renewal.