How to become an Uber driver in London

Becoming an Uber driver in London is essentially a two-track process: first, you qualify and get licensed as a private hire (PHV) driver with Transport for London (TfL), and then you onboard with Uber. This shouldn’t be too difficult in most cases, so long as you meet the basic criteria – below is a practical, up-to-date walkthrough.

Check you’re eligible

You must be 21+, have held a full UK/NI/EEA driving licence for at least three years, and have the right to live and work in the UK. Those are TfL’s baseline driver criteria that you’ll need to prove before they’ll look at the rest of your application. 

Get your TfL private hire driver licence

This is the part that takes the longest. You’ll complete several checks and assessments, including:

• • Enhanced DBS + Update Service. You apply for an enhanced DBS check and must register for the DBS Update Service and keep it active for the life of your licence (this became a licence condition in 2024). TfL won’t grant or renew a licence without it.
    
  • Medical (Group 2). Your GP (or another doctor with access to your records) assesses you to DVLA Group 2 professional-driver standard.
    
  • Topographical assessment. A practical map-reading/route-planning test at a TfL centre – satnav is helpful on the job, but you must also be able to show that you can plan safe routes if tech fails.
  • English Language Requirement + SERU. You’ll need to take a speaking & listening test (ELR) and the SERU assessment (Safety, Equality & Regulatory Understanding), which also checks reading/writing using TfL’s PHV Driver Handbook.

Apply via TfL’s portal, upload the documents they ask for, and keep copies of all the relevant documents – missing paperwork is the most common cause of delays.

Sort the vehicle (London PHV licence)

To carry fare-paying passengers, your car itself must be TfL-licensed as a PHV. The owner of the vehicle applies and presents: V5C, MOT, and hire-and-reward insurance; TfL checks the car meets its standards and then issues PHV plates. (The car itself can be owned by the driver, financed or rented – what matters is that it’s PHV-licensed.) 

Two practical notes from TfL’s own guidance:

• • Insurance: PHVs must have hire-and-reward cover at the point of licensing (and whenever in PHV use). Upload clear policy documents – this part is checked.
  • City charges: Factor in Congestion Charge and ULEZ when costing out your plan to become a PHV driver; TfL explicitly tells new PHV drivers to consider both. EVs and certain other vehicles may reduce these costs.
    

Uber also checks vehicle documents in its app: PHV licence, insurance, MOT and logbook.

Sign up with Uber

Once you hold the applicable TfL driver licence and have access to a PHV-licensed vehicle, create an Uber account and book a Greenlight Hub appointment (or an online “Ignition” session). Uber reviews your documents and then if everything checks out, activates your account. 

Bring: your PHV driver badge/paper licence, DVLA plastic licence, National Insurance number, and a recent bank statement for payouts.

Uber’s “requirements” pages also outline the onboarding flow and the exact documents they accept – worth checking before your visit, so nothing bounces.

Insurance, records and compliance (don’t gloss over this)

Hire-and-reward motor insurance is mandatory for PHV work; Uber will expect an active certificate on file, and TfL can inspect the insurance you have in place via the operator.

In London’s PHV model, the booking sits with the operator (Uber). Since 2022, Uber has adjusted its model so riders contract with Uber, which then pays the driver – this is good to know for receipts and complaints processes.

The three-licence rule. Every trip must be by a licensed driver, in a licensed PHV, on a licensed operator job. If any link is unlicensed, the job isn’t lawful.

English, safety and route-planning – why TfL tests matter on the road

TfL’s ELR allows you to prove that you can communicate with passengers and the authorities; SERU checks you understand safety, equality and regulatory duties (think assistance dogs, safeguarding, lost property, complaints). 

The topographical assessment proves that you have basic geography and route-planning skills. Uber expects you to meet these TfL standards as part of being eligible to drive in the city.

Earnings, taxes and paperwork

Uber pays out weekly to the bank account you’ve added. For tax, most drivers register for Self Assessment and declare PHV income; TfL also requires a HMRC tax check code at renewal (and in some cases at first grant), so get your HMRC setup done early. 

Keep receipts for fuel, insurance, tyres, valeting, phone, and car finance/rental – good records make a real difference at year-end, and make submitting your tax return (whether alone or with an accountant) so much easier. 

Electric options and running costs

London driving favours EVs: lower running costs, easier entry into ULEZ, and access to Uber’s PowerUp support – £5,000 EV assistance available until 30 September 2025 (eligibility applies; make sure you add it to your account before the deadline).

Common pitfalls

DBS Update Service lapses are a common issue that can easily be avoided. Letting it expire can put you out of compliance; TfL now conditions licences on continuous subscription. Set a reminder for any changes you need to be involved in.

It’s important that you don’t leave your topo/ELR/SERU too late. Book assessments early – topo and SERU slots can get busy.

Insurance gaps are also unacceptable. Upload clear hire-and-reward documents to Uber and keep the car properly insured for PHV use, especially at TfL licensing points.

Mixing taxi and PHV rules is a huge no-no. PHV drivers cannot take street hails or use taxi ranks; all work must be pre-booked through Uber (the operator).

The route to becoming an Uber driver is straightforward, but paperwork-heavy: get the TfL driver licence, license your car as a PHV, then activate with Uber. Keep insurance up to date, stay subscribed to the DBS Update Service, and book your topo/ELR/SERU early so nothing stalls. Do that, and you’ll be able to go online in the app legally and confidently in London.