WhatsAppWhy is my PCO application taking so long?
Private hire driving can be an incredibly convenient source of work for a lot of people. However, there are a few hurdles that have to be jumped before you can start working, and one of the biggest of these is getting your PCO licence.
While in the best-case scenario, this won’t take more than a few months, there are often delays that mean it takes a lot longer than that. From TfL overload to DBS checks, these are some of the main reasons why your PCO application might be taking a lot longer than expected.
Delays are high at the moment
The private hire driving market in London is one of the largest in the world, with over 100,000 licensed operators and vehicles. TfL has to process each and every one of these applications, along with regular renewals.
When there’s a spike in applications, as has been the case in recent years, this can lead to substantial delays, with some prospective drivers having to wait more than a year for their licence to come through.
Once these backlogs start to form, it can take a very long time for TfL to get back on top of things and get back to their ideal timeline of 3 months from start to finish.
Specific causes of delays
There are a range of specific causes behind PCO application delays, some of which you will have some control over as an applicant.
Incomplete applications
One of the most common causes of delay is incomplete applications. Even a tiny mistake in your application form, like a spelling mistake in your name, a gap in your address history or failure to disclose a previous licence application, can result in weeks of delays.
This is mostly because it can take TfL several weeks, sometimes even months, to actually get round to checking your application. If it’s only at this stage that you realise there’s an error which needs rectifying, you’ll have to go back to the beginning of the queue.
To avoid these kinds of delays, it’s worth getting a friend or family member to check over your application for you, especially if English isn’t your first language. They can help you to check that you’ve filled in all the necessary sections, and that all your dates, names and addresses are written properly.
DBS checks
As part of the PCO application process, you’ll have to pass the most in-depth kind of DBS criminal background check, the Enhanced Check.
These checks aren’t just automated by a police computer, they require police officers in all the locations you’ve lived to personally go through your files and see if there are any issues that could be relevant to private hire work.
If you’ve recently lived and worked overseas, the DBS may also need to check with the police in that country, and due to the varying systems that need to be navigated, this can be a significant cause of delay.
Assessments
You will also need to pass a series of tests.
Medical assessment
One of these is a medical assessment, to prove that you meet DVLA Group 2 medical standards. You will need to prove that your vision meets the right standards, that your blood pressure is healthy, that your diabetes is being treated properly if you have it, that you aren’t prone to epilepsy or sudden blackouts, and that your cardiovascular health is up to scratch.
English tests
You will also need to pass the two-part TfL English test.
The speaking and listening test takes around 20 minutes, and can be done via phone or a video link. This test is to ensure that you can speak and listen in English to an acceptable standard.
The SERU assessment is a computer-based writing and reading test, and covers the Safety, Equality, and Regulatory Understanding as outlined in the PHV Driver’s Handbook.
Topographical test
Lastly, you’ll need to pass a topographical assessment, which will assess your ability to map journeys in London using digital maps, and find locations in an Atlas of Greater London.
There will be waitlists for some of these tests, and if you fail them, you will have to book a resit. Try to book them as soon as reasonably possible, and for the ones that require preparation, make sure that you revise properly, leaving enough time to maximise your chances of passing first sit.
TfL administrative overload
As mentioned earlier on, it’s very possible that your PCO application delays are simply due to TfL administrative overload. If there’s been a spike in applications, it can take them months to start to work through the backlog, which is why some prospective drivers have been waiting around a year even though they’ve done nothing wrong.
These kinds of delays can be incredibly frustrating, especially because there’s very little you can actually do about it.
What can I do to prevent delays?
If the delays are a result of TfL administrative issues, background check problems, or test backlogs, there’s unfortunately not much you can do. These kinds of delays can be really frustrating, but unfortunately, it will often just be outside of your control.
You can try emailing TfL, or if there’s a specific issue that isn’t being handled properly, escalate the issue through a driver union. This should generally be a last resort.
What you can do is make sure that you’ve filled in your application form properly, double or even triple-checking everything before you send it in.
You can also make sure that you’ve revised for the tests properly, taking them seriously and talking to other people who have sat them in the past to get a good idea of what to expect.
In some cases, PCO applications can end up taking much longer than you’d like, and there won’t be any way around it. You’ll just have to find another stopgap employment solution, and make sure that you’re otherwise ready to go when your license does finally come through.