Do I Need To Register For Uber

How to go an Uber Driver in London (2022)

How to become an Uber Driver in London (2022)

May 18, 2022

Why should you lot work with Uber?

If y'all desire to be a PCO commuter, you are probably also thinking how do you start working as an Uber driver.

The reason is that Uber is past far the biggest operator for PCO cars in London – and has millions of passengers across the UK. Being an Uber commuter allows y'all to immediately pick up a steady flow of jobs on its app.

Recent changes mean Uber drivers at present qualify for extra benefits. These include a minimum earnings guarantee, holiday pay and costless personal insurance (e.g. sickness).

Uber has several rivals and you lot tin compare them all in Otto Car's Private Hire Operator Guide. Even so, Uber is the only ride hailing app that offers new drivers practical support to help them get a PCO licence – and it is so pop that y'all should only ever try these new rivals alongside the Uber driver app.

Sounds good? Here's how to starting time…

1. Check you are eligible

First, you need to know if you can meet the basic Uber commuter requirements:

Britain driving licence (Uber insists you convert an Eu or EEA licence to a Uk one)
At least 21 years old (Including three years as a qualified commuter)
No history of serious driving offences (Full list of deal-breakers is here)
Suitable vehicle and insurance (You lot can brainstorm the Uber registration without this)
Private Hire Licence (Near drivers call this document a PCO licence)
Bank account in your proper noun (This can also be for a company you own)

2. Sign-up with Uber

The first stride is to annals your interest to become an Uber commuter in this short form.

To exercise and so, yous but need an email address and a smartphone. Y'all cannot begin Uber driving until you get all of the correct paperwork only this form volition get things moving. Uber will then inquire you lot to complete an online preparation video and book an appointment.

You tin can upload simple personal docs (e.chiliad. bank statements) at this point or await until later.

3. Apply for a Private Hire Licence

The almost important certificate that you demand to work every bit an Uber driver is a PCO licence, which is technically called a Private Rent Licence (PHL). In London, these licences are issued past TfL (Send for London).

If you already take a PCO licence, you can move onto footstep 4 of this article.

For new drivers, note that this phase of the Uber application process can take several months and is split into two sections – the checks and the tests. Here is a quick summary:

Medical cheque (This is usually completed by your own dr.)
Background check (This must meet the Enhanced DBS standard)
Right to work check (This includes proving you know how to pay Great britain tax)

The checks are more often than not completed earlier you submit a Individual Hire Licence application on the TfL website. The tests tin can presently be done after you submit this form. Almost PCO drivers have all iii on the aforementioned day at the TfL premises in Bakery St or west Kensington.

Speaking and listening test (A short verbal assessment)
Safety, Equality and Regulatory Agreement (SERU is a written test)
Topographical Skills examination (Bones London geography and ability to use a map)

Drivers who apply for a PCO licence earlier 31 March 2023 can exist issued one – and then have until this appointment to laissez passer the two language tests. From 1 April 2023 onwards, yous will have to laissez passer these tests BEFORE the licence is approved.

In May 2022, TfL estimated that the costs of applying for a PH Licence (i.e. PCO licence) is effectually £477, plus the price of the medical bank check.

Otto Car has articles on each phase, plus a guide to the entire PCO licence process here.

Did You Know?

The Uber Ignition programme is a free service that shows you how to become an Uber driver. Yous tin can get confront-to-face communication and back up sessions to prepare for the TfL tests.

Book an initial date with Uber Ignition here

Various private agencies offer to help new PCO drivers with their licence application for a fee but Otto Car suggests y'all stick to official channels (due east.g. Uber Ignition).

4. Get onboard with Uber

Once you have a Individual Rent Licence, yous demand to upload your personal docs into the Uber app at its Greenlight hub. Before you tin can do this, Uber will ask y'all to consummate a second online preparation.

Here is a checklist of the personal documents you need:

Proof of identity (e.g. passport)
UK Driving Licence (original plastic card)
DVLA Electronic Counterpart Check Lawmaking (get yours hither)
Private Hire Licence (i.e. PCO Licence)
Profile photo (Must be taken past Uber team at Green Low-cal Hub)
Banking concern statement

It commonly takes a calendar week or and then for your personal details to appear in the Uber app as a new commuter. It's worth waiting for this to happen before y'all get a PCO vehicle and insurance.

v. Find an Uber-approved car

Y'all are probably wondering what kind of car do you need to become an Uber commuter?

There are strict rules near which vehicles can use the Uber commuter app. Some of these vehicle requirements are decided by Uber (east.g. no commercial branding or cosmetic damage) but most rules are set by the licensing authority of the city in which you lot piece of work.

In London, TfL insists that Individual Hire Vehicles (i.east. PHVs) under 18 months one-time must be Zero Emission Capable (ZEC) and meet the Euro 6 emissions standard. This ways the car has to exist either fully electric or one of a small number of hybrids.

With Uber introducing its Clean Air Plan to encourage PCO drivers to utilise electric cars, this choice has get complex.
You need a PCO auto that meets the rules and that yous can rely on to do the chore properly. This vehicle should also exist affordable enough for you lot to earn good coin – and one that you relish driving. After all, this is where yous'll work every day.

Why non accelerate this journey with sensible advice from the best team in the business?

Otto Car has been an official Uber Partner since 2015 and is the UK's largest provider of vehicles to Uber drivers. Nosotros tin give you the keys to a car that kick starts your career – and provide all the back up you need to stay on track.

All of the cars in the Otto Car fleet run across Uber's vehicle requirements and our PCO insurance is 2nd to none. Y'all tin can likewise get a finance plan that works for you, whether you lot prefer a flexible PCO Car Hire or a Rent 2 Buy + bargain to go an owner-commuter.
Every hour of the day, Otto Car helps people to go an Uber commuter. People just like you.

6. Upload your automobile documents

The final stage of opening your driver account is to share the vehicle documents with Uber. If yous have sourced your ain PCO motorcar, yous tin can take this pace directly with Uber at the same time that you supply the personal documents (run across pace 4).

Otto Car is happy to back up its family of drivers by helping them to upload these PCO car documents at one of our own hubs.

Hither is a checklist of the vehicle documents you demand:

Private Hire Vehicle Licence (This is separate to the personal PH Licence)
Logbook (or New Keeper sideslip)
MOT (Must be issued within the last 6 months but isn't needed for new cars)
Private Hire Insurance Certificate (Most Otto Machine deals include PCO insurance)
Hire Agreement or Permission letter of the alphabet (Otto Car volition provide this)
Vehicle Schedule (Otto can provide this too)

Please note that due to COVID-19 restrictions some steps may be subject field to change.

vii. Actuate the account and hit the road

Within a few hours of the final documents being approved, your status will change from 'signed-up' to 'active' and you will officially go an Uber Driver. This is the betoken when you can start to earn extra money with Uber as a PCO driver.

The Uber squad volition explicate how to become the nearly out of its commuter app. One time yous have downloaded this onto a smartphone, yous simply swipe 'yes' to accept rides, drive to each pick-upwardly location and and so take Uber riders to their chosen drop-off. It's as piece of cake as that.

Taking information technology further…

Discover the superlative eight Uber passenger's destinations in London here

Learn how the Uber Clean Air Plan unlocks a cheaper PCO Car Rent or Hire ii Buy+ bargain

Melody into Otto Car'southward 'On The Road' podcast to hear how you can benefit from Uber'due south plans.