How Long Does a PCO Licence Take?

"How long does it take to get a PCO licence?" is one of the most searched questions about London private hire, and the honest answer is that nobody can give you a fixed number. TfL doesn't publish one. What we can do is show you what TfL has said, the stages your application goes through, what each stage depends on, and which delays are in your hands.

"PCO" is the old name for TfL's Public Carriage Office; the licence is now a TfL private hire vehicle (PHV) driver licence. Facts on this page come from TfL's private hire driver licence page, TPH Notice 06/26 (March 2026) and TfL Freedom of Information responses, checked in October 2026. UK Driver Licence Prep is an independent study aid and not part of TfL.

What TfL says about how long a PCO licence takes

TfL's licence page makes four points:

• It aims to process new PHV driver applications within a reasonable period of time.
• Because it is still handling high volumes, new applications will take longer than normal to progress.
• New applications are processed in order of the date received. Renewals are processed in order of licence expiry date.
• Sending an application does not guarantee a licence, and the process is multi-staged, sometimes with requests for more information.

In a 2025 Freedom of Information response (FOI-1546-2526), TfL said it receives around 1,000 applications a week and that it could not calculate an average processing time without reviewing each application by hand. So there is no official "average" to quote, and any website giving one is guessing.

TfL's March 2026 notice, TPH 06/26, adds detail:

What TfL said (March 2026)	What it means for you
Initial review of each new application within 10 working days	TfL checks for missing documents early; fix anything it asks for straight away
Sufficient assessment capacity, with bookings available	You shouldn't have to wait long for a SERU, English or Topographical slot
Applicants who passed all assessments are processed in date order of their results	Passing earlier gets you into the final queue earlier
Final review may lead to requests for further evidence	Answer quickly, ideally with everything at once
Renewals reviewed within around 10 working days; drivers expiring within six weeks prioritised	Renew early so you are never in the danger zone

Key fact: TfL acknowledged in March 2026 that new driver applications have recently taken longer to progress, and introduced a one-off Goodwill Payment Scheme (TPH 03/26) for eligible drivers affected by past delays. Eligible drivers are contacted directly.

The stages, and what each one depends on

This table shows the usual order. The time each stage takes depends mostly on things outside TfL, and some on you. We give no day counts where none are published.

Stage	What happens	Depends on
1. HMRC check	First-time applicants confirm they know their tax obligations; others get a tax check code (valid 120 days)	How quickly you complete the HMRC step
2. Online application	You register with TfL and submit the form and documents	Having every document ready and readable
3. Initial review	TfL checks the application for gaps	TfL aims for 10 working days
4. Enhanced DBS check	Through TfL's authorised provider, with an ID check	DBS processing time, your address history
5. DBS Update Service	You register within 30 days of the certificate	You
6. Group 2 medical	Your GP or a doctor with your records completes the form	GP availability; TfL's medical advisers may review your history
7. Safeguarding course	Free online course before the SERU	You (it is short)
8. Three assessments	SERU, speaking and listening, Topographical at North Greenwich	Booking, and passing first time
9. Results	Results letter after quality checks	TfL's assessment team
10. Final review	TfL confirms every requirement is met	Your replies to any requests
11. Licence granted	You pay the £205 grant fee and receive your badge

How long do assessment results take?

TfL's On Route magazine explains that the SERU is marked by software and the Topographical routes by an assessor, with quality checks on both before results letters are sent. If you sit several assessments on one visit you get one report with all your scores. For the taxi version of the SERU, TfL's notice says results come within a maximum of 15 days. TfL doesn't publish a turnaround for the PHV assessments.

How long after the Topographical test do you get your PCO licence?

Many people book the Topographical test last and expect the licence to follow within days. It doesn't work like that. Your application only moves to final review after all assessments are passed. Then TfL works through those cases in the order results were issued, checks everything again, and may ask for more evidence. How long that takes depends on the queue and on whether anything is missing from your file.

Exam tip: The assessments are the one stage you can shorten. Book them as soon as TfL invites you, and prepare so you don't need a re-sit. TfL's own notice says applications cannot reach final review until every assessment is passed.

Why PCO applications get delayed

TfL's FOI response and its March 2026 notice list the common causes. Here is what each one looks like in practice:

1. Incomplete or unclear documents. A blurry photo of your passport, a missing page or names spelled differently across documents. TfL recommends all identity documents match, with consistent spelling and order.
2. DBS problems. Gaps in your address history, or a check that takes longer than usual. DBS timescales are outside TfL's control.
3. The medical. Waiting for a GP appointment, or a condition that TfL's medical advisers need to review against the DVLA Group 2 standard.
4. Failed assessments. A re-sit means another booking, another visit and another wait for results. The Topographical test has a 51% pass rate in TfL's published figures, so it causes the most re-sits.
5. Overseas checks. If you lived outside the UK for three months or more in the last ten years, you need a certificate of good conduct from each country. Some countries take weeks to issue them.
6. An expired HMRC code. A tax check code is valid for only 120 days. If it expires, the application is incomplete.
7. Missed messages. TfL may phone or email for information. Check every email folder and your voicemail, and use the exact email addresses TfL gives you.

What you control, and what you don't

You control	You don't control
Sending a complete, accurate application	DBS processing times
Registering for the DBS Update Service promptly	GP availability for the medical
Booking assessments early	TfL's queue for final review
Passing the SERU, English and Topographical first time	Requests from TfL's medical advisers
Replying to TfL fast, with everything at once	How long another country takes to issue a good conduct certificate

The left column is where to put your energy. Preparing for the assessments is the single biggest factor: our SERU mock test guide and Topographical practice guide show how to be ready before you book, and our SERU booking guide covers the booking itself.

If your application seems stuck

Waiting with no news is stressful. Before you assume something has gone wrong, work through these steps in order:

1. Check your online account. TfL's online service lets applicants track the progress of an application. Look for any outstanding request or document marked as missing.
2. Check every inbox. TfL says it may contact applicants by email or phone. Look in spam and junk folders, and listen to voicemails.
3. Check your assessments. If any assessment is not yet passed, your application cannot reach final review. That is usually the reason for a long silence.
4. Check expiry dates. An expired HMRC tax check code, a DBS certificate that has not been linked to the Update Service, or a lapsed right-to-work document can all hold an application.
5. Then contact TfL. Use the email address in the correspondence TfL has sent you, quote your application reference, and send any missing document at the same time. TfL asks applicants to supply all requested information together rather than in pieces.

Chasing repeatedly does not move you up the queue, because new applications are handled in date order. A complete file does.

Can you speed up a PCO licence by paying?

No. TfL's page says it does not offer a fast-track service and never charges more than the advertised costs. Anyone offering to speed up your application for a fee is committing fraud, and TfL asks you to report them to tphreport@tfl.gov.uk. The only legitimate fees are the ones on our PCO licence cost page.

How long is a PCO licence valid?

A PHV driver licence normally lasts up to three years. TfL can issue a shorter licence, for example when your right to work in the UK or your driving licence expires sooner. Your vehicle has a separate licence with its own inspection cycle.

While licensed, you must keep your DBS Update Service subscription running and, if your licence was granted on or after 1 July 2024, tell TfL about any arrest, charge, caution or conviction within 48 hours.

How long does it take to renew a PCO licence?

TfL said in March 2026 that it aims to review renewal applications within around 10 working days of receipt, and that it prioritises drivers whose licences expire within the next six weeks. It also said it continues to issue short-term PHV driver licences to existing drivers where specific criteria are met.

Even so, TfL's advice is clear: send your renewal as early as possible, ideally as soon as your renewal pack arrives. Checks outside TfL's control can add time, and applying early is the best protection against a gap.

Can you drive while your renewal is processing?

Only while your current licence is valid. Once it expires you must stop working as a private hire driver until a new licence is granted. Driving for hire without a valid licence is an offence, and your insurance will not cover the journey. After a long gap you may have to apply again as a new driver.

Key fact: Renewals are processed by expiry date, not by when you apply. Applying early doesn't jump the queue, but it gives TfL time to finish before your expiry date arrives.

A realistic timeline you can plan around

Because TfL won't give a figure, plan with ranges you control:

• Week 1: gather documents, complete the HMRC step, submit the application, book the medical.
• As soon as invited: book all three assessments, ideally on one day at North Greenwich.
• Before the assessments: complete the free safeguarding awareness course and prepare until you score consistently well on mocks.
• After passing: answer any TfL request the same day if you can.

Drivers commonly report that the whole process takes several weeks to a few months. That is what people say in forums and driver groups, not a TfL figure, and the 2026 backlog has made it longer for some. Treat any promise of a fixed date with suspicion.

Our PCO licence requirements page lists every eligibility rule so you can check you qualify before you apply, and the PCO licence guide explains the whole process in order. If English is not your first language, read about the TfL English test early: it is one of the three assessments.

Your study plan

1. Today: take the free SERU diagnostic and the free Topographical diagnostic to see how far you are from being ready.
2. This week: submit a complete application and book your medical. Don't wait for one step before starting the next.
3. Next two to four weeks: study for the SERU and the Topographical test using the free mock 1 for each.
4. When you score 85% or more on three mocks in a row: book your assessments.
5. Then: watch your email and phone, and reply to TfL quickly. If you plan to drive for an app, read how to become an Uber driver in London for the operator steps that follow your licence.