The PCO licence cost is easy to get wrong in 2026, because TfL changed its fees twice this year. Assessment fees went up on 9 March 2026 and licence fees went up on 1 June 2026, and many blogs and fleet websites still show the old figures. This page lists every fee from TfL's current pages, adds them up with the working shown, and explains the one cost you can control: re-sits.
"PCO" is the old name for TfL's Public Carriage Office. Drivers still say "PCO licence", but the licence is now issued by Transport for London (TfL) as a private hire vehicle (PHV) driver's licence. All fees below were checked on TfL's private hire driver licence page and in TPH Notice 05/26 on 19 October 2026. UK Driver Licence Prep is an independent study aid, not part of TfL.
PCO licence cost: the full fee table (October 2026)
| Item | Fee | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licence application fee | £138 | TfL | Non-refundable. £124 before 1 June 2026 |
| Grant of licence fee | £205 | TfL | Paid when the licence is granted. £186 before 1 June 2026 |
| Enhanced DBS check (with ID check) | £56.42 | TfL's authorised provider | Exemption if you had a suitable enhanced check in the last four months |
| DBS Update Service | £15 a year | DBS | Required before TfL can grant the licence; keep it running |
| Post Office Check and Send | £7.15 | Post Office | For checking and sending your documents |
| SERU assessment | £40 (re-sit £30) | TfL, by card on the day | £36 / £16 before 9 March 2026 |
| Speaking and listening assessment | £40 (re-sit £30) | TfL, by card on the day | Part of the English language requirement |
| Topographical assessment | £40 (re-sit £30) | TfL, by card on the day | Some applicants are exempt |
| DVLA Group 2 medical | Set by the doctor | Your GP or examining doctor | Not a TfL fee; ask for the price first |
TfL takes assessment fees by card on the day and does not accept American Express. Its licence page says applicants are only ever asked to pay the cost of an application, and that it never charges more than the advertised fees.
Key fact: TfL does not offer a fast-track service. Anyone charging extra to "speed up" a PCO licence is running a scam, and TfL asks you to report them to tphreport@tfl.gov.uk.
How much is a PCO licence in total? Worked examples
Example 1: pass everything first time
This is the minimum a first-time applicant pays in fixed fees, before the medical:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | £138.00 |
| Grant | £205.00 |
| Enhanced DBS check | £56.42 |
| DBS Update Service (first year) | £15.00 |
| Post Office Check and Send | £7.15 |
| SERU + speaking and listening + Topographical (3 × £40) | £120.00 |
| Total before the medical | £541.57 |
The sum: £138 + £205 = £343. Add £56.42 = £399.42. Add £7.15 = £406.57. Add £120 = £526.57. Add £15 = £541.57.
Example 2: one Topographical re-sit
The Topographical test has the lowest pass rate of the three, at 51% in TfL's published figures. One re-sit adds £30: £541.57 + £30 = £571.57.
Example 3: a re-sit of every assessment
If you failed each assessment once: £541.57 + (3 × £30) = £631.57, before the medical. Re-sits also cost time, which is the bigger loss if you are waiting to start earning.
Example 4: exempt from the Topographical test
Previously licensed PHV drivers who passed a TfL topographical test, licensed London taxi drivers and professional London tourist guides (such as Blue Badge guides) don't sit it. Their total is £541.57 − £40 = £501.57.
Why some websites say £531
Earlier in 2026 TfL's own page showed an "example total" of £531 excluding the medical. That version listed the enhanced DBS check at £52 online (£54 paper) and the Update Service at £16 a year. The current page, checked in October 2026, lists the DBS check at £56.42 including the ID check and the Update Service at £15 a year, and no longer shows an example total. That is why you will see different totals online. Always use the figures on TfL's page on the day you apply.
What each PCO licence fee pays for
Application and grant fees
The £138 application fee covers TfL's work processing your application, and it is non-refundable even if your licence is refused. The £205 grant fee is charged only when TfL grants the licence. A PHV driver licence normally lasts up to three years, so the two fees together, £343, work out at a little over £114 a year for a full three-year licence.
DBS check and Update Service
TfL requires an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check through its authorised provider. Since July 2024 every applicant must also register with the DBS Update Service and keep the subscription running while licensed; TfL will not grant a licence without it. GOV.UK's DBS Update Service page lists the fee as £15 a year and says you must register within 30 days of the certificate being issued, so don't let that window pass.
The three assessments
TfL requires the SERU (Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding assessment), the speaking and listening test and the Topographical skills assessment before an application can be completed. Each costs £40 the first time and £30 for a re-sit. Our guides to the SERU test, the TfL English test and the Topographical test explain each one, and our SERU booking guide covers how and when to book.
The medical
You must meet the DVLA Group 2 medical standard, the same standard as bus and lorry drivers. TfL says the fee is set by the examining doctor. GP charges for this kind of report vary widely, so ask in advance. TfL lists two exemptions: you already hold a full or provisional DVLA Group 2 licence, or you are under 45 with an active TfL application where you have already completed TfL's medical.
PCO licence renewal fee
Renewing costs the same TfL fees as a new licence:
| Renewal cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | £138 |
| Grant | £205 |
| TfL fees for a renewal | £343 |
On top of that, your DBS Update Service subscription continues at £15 a year, and you may need a new medical. TfL's page says active licensees over 45 need a medical if the last one was more than three years ago, or if an age-related medical applies. Existing drivers who passed the SERU and English assessments don't pay for them again unless TfL requires a re-test. TfL's March 2026 notice asks drivers to send renewal applications as early as possible.
The vehicle: licensing a car for private hire
Your driver licence lets you drive; the car needs its own licence too. From TfL's private hire vehicle licence page:
| Vehicle cost | Fee |
|---|---|
| PHV vehicle licence application | £84 (non-refundable) |
| Grant of vehicle licence | £56 |
| MOT certificate (issued within 14 days of inspection) | Set by the MOT centre |
| Hire and reward insurance | Varies by driver, car and insurer |
Every PHV licensed for the first time must be zero emission capable and meet the Euro 6 standard, and it must be within TfL's age limits. Many new drivers rent a car that is already licensed from a fleet. Rental and insurance prices vary so much by driver, car and area that we don't quote them; get several quotes before you commit. TfL also reminds applicants that private hire vehicles are subject to the Congestion Charge and ULEZ, which affect running costs.
When you pay each fee
The fees don't all fall on one day, which helps with budgeting. This is the usual order:
| Stage | What you pay | Roughly when |
|---|---|---|
| Submitting the application | £138 application fee, plus £7.15 if you use Post Office Check and Send | Day one |
| DBS check | £56.42 to TfL's authorised provider | Straight after applying |
| Update Service | £15, then every year | Within 30 days of the DBS certificate |
| Medical | The doctor's fee | When your GP or doctor can see you |
| Assessments | £40 each, by card at the centre | When you book and sit them |
| Re-sits, if needed | £30 each | Each extra attempt |
| Licence granted | £205 grant fee | At the very end |
So the largest single payment, the £205 grant fee, comes last, after you have passed everything. If your application fails at an earlier stage, you will have spent the application fee, the DBS and any assessment fees, but not the grant fee.
Uber PCO licence cost: is it different?
No. Searches for "Uber PCO licence cost" are common, but there is no separate Uber licence. Every private hire driver in London needs the same TfL PHV driver licence and pays the same TfL fees, whichever licensed operator they plan to work for. TfL's page says that once licensed you can work for any private hire operator licensed in London. Operators such as Uber or Bolt have their own sign-up steps and vehicle rules, and any costs for those, such as renting a car through a partner fleet, are separate from TfL's fees.
Help with the costs
TfL's English language page notes that disabled applicants may be able to get support with assessment costs, or with the cost of medical evidence, through the government's Access to Work programme. Some councils and colleges also offer free or low-cost English courses for people on low incomes, which can help you pass the speaking and listening test first time. There is no general TfL discount or payment plan for the licence fees.
Costs people forget
- The medical. Not a TfL fee, so it is missing from many totals.
- Re-sits. £30 each, plus another trip to North Greenwich.
- Travel and time off. All three assessments are at TfL's Driver Assessment Centre, 14 Pier Walk, SE10 0ES. Many applicants book them on the same day to save a second trip.
- Certificates of good conduct. If you lived abroad for three months or more in the last ten years, you need one from each country, and the cost depends on that country.
- Self-employment. Most PHV drivers are self-employed and must register with HMRC. GOV.UK's working for yourself guide explains what that means for tax.
Key fact: Old blogs still quote £124 and £186 licence fees, or £36 and £16 assessment fees. Those figures were replaced in 2026. If a page quotes them, its total is out of date.
The real saving: pass first time
You can't negotiate TfL's fees, and you can't skip the DBS check or the medical. The cost you do control is re-sits. Every failed assessment costs £30 and, more importantly, pushes back the date your licence is granted and you can start earning. TfL's March 2026 licensing notice says applications cannot move to final review until all assessments are passed, and that applicants who pass are processed in the order their results were issued. A re-sit can therefore move you back in the queue.
A week of our Pro plan costs £6.99, less than one £30 re-sit. Everyone can start free: the SERU diagnostic, the free SERU mock 1 and the free Topographical mock 1 are open to all. Pro adds mocks 2 to 10 and section practice for every test. See pricing. There is no pass guarantee: what you get is realistic practice with an explanation for every answer.
Where the PCO licence cost fits in the process
Fees are one part of the picture. For the full step-by-step process, read our PCO licence guide. For eligibility (age, driving licence, DBS, medical), see PCO licence requirements. For timescales, see how long a PCO licence takes. And if you are applying to drive with an app, our guide on how to become an Uber driver in London covers the operator and vehicle steps.
Your study plan
- Budget: set aside £541.57 plus the medical, and a margin of £30 to £90 in case of a re-sit.
- Today: take the free SERU diagnostic and the free Topographical diagnostic to see which assessment needs the most work.
- This week: read our SERU mock test guide and Topographical practice guide.
- Before booking: score 85% or more on three mocks in a row for each test, starting with the free mock 1.
- Then: book all three assessments, ideally on the same day, and bring a card that is not American Express.
Frequently asked questions
+How much does a PCO licence cost in 2026?
Using TfL's published fees as of October 2026, a first-time applicant who passes every assessment first time pays £541.57 before the medical. That covers the application and grant fees, the enhanced DBS check, the first year of the DBS Update Service, the Post Office Check and Send service and three £40 assessments.
+What is the PCO licence application fee?
The PHV driver licence application fee is £138 from 1 June 2026. It was £124 before that date. You pay a separate £205 grant fee when the licence is issued.
+How much does it cost to renew a PCO licence?
A renewal costs the same application and grant fees as a new licence, £138 plus £205, so £343. You also keep paying the DBS Update Service each year, and you may need a new medical depending on your age and when your last one was done.
+Is the PCO application fee refundable?
No. TfL says the £138 application fee is non-refundable, even if your licence is not granted. The £205 grant fee is only charged when the licence is granted.
+How much does the PCO medical cost?
TfL does not set the medical fee. It is charged by the doctor who completes your DVLA Group 2 medical, usually your GP or a doctor with access to your full records, so ask for the price before you book.
+How much does the DBS check cost for a PCO licence?
TfL lists the enhanced DBS check through its authorised provider at £56.42 including the ID check. You must also join the DBS Update Service, which costs £15 a year on GOV.UK.
+How much does it cost to licence a car for private hire?
A TfL private hire vehicle licence costs £84 to apply (non-refundable) and £56 when granted. On top of that you need hire and reward insurance, a recent MOT and an inspection, and many drivers rent a car that is already licensed instead.
+Are there any hidden costs?
TfL says it never charges more than its advertised fees and does not offer a fast-track service. The costs people forget are the medical, re-sit fees if you fail an assessment, travel to the North Greenwich assessment centre, and the vehicle side: insurance, rental or purchase, and the Congestion Charge.
Study offline on your phone too
The UK Driver Licence Prep app has the same questions, works offline, and explains every answer in Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Arabic, Pashto, Farsi, Somali, Romanian or Polish, plus a map trainer for the Topographical.
Keep reading
- How to Get a PCO Licence in LondonHow to get a PCO licence in London in 2026: eligibility, every step in order, the TfL tests, fees from June 2026, renewal and scams to avoid.
- How to Book Your SERU TestHow SERU test booking works: the TfL portal, the £40 fee and £30 re-sit, getting to 14 Pier Walk, what to bring, rescheduling and results.
- How Long Does a PCO Licence Take?How long it takes to get a PCO licence in 2026: what TfL says, each stage and what it depends on, causes of delay, renewals, and what you can speed up.
- PCO Licence RequirementsEvery TfL PCO licence requirement in 2026: age 21, three years' driving, right to work, DBS, Group 2 medical, good conduct certificates and three tests.
- How to Become an Uber Driver in LondonHow to become an Uber driver in London in 2026: the TfL PCO licence, a licensed car and insurance, operator sign-up, costs and timings. Independent guide.