Transport for LondonApplications
Please email enquiries@pco.org.uk or call us on 0845 602 7000 to get your pack. When you receive it, make sure you read the guidance notes thoroughly.
As long as you meet all the conditions, we will issue you with a licence which lasts for five years.
Operator licence types
You can choose to apply for either a 'small' or 'standard' operator's licence.
Small operator's licence
You must not have more than two private hire vehicles for carrying out private hire bookings.
Standard operator's licence
There are currently no restrictions on the number of private hire vehicles that a standard operator may have available to them.
Find out about application fees.
Application criteria
Here are just some of the things you should be aware of:
- In your application you must write the address of all premises in London which you want to use as an operating centre (where the private hire bookings are accepted)
If you employ staff you must have employer's liability insurance cover
- Before you put down any premises on a licence it must pass a licensing inspection. You can get more information about this in the application pack
- If you employ staff you must have employers' liability insurance cover
- If the operating centre is open to the public, you also need public liability risk insurance which provides a minimum indemnity of £5m to cover any one event
Suspending or revoking a licence
Once you've got your licence you must make sure you continue to meet the its conditions, as well as passing inspections which we'll carry out over the five years. We can suspend or revoke your licence if we feel you're not up to standard.
Legislation
The Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 (PDF 220KB)
The Private Hire Vehicles (London) (Operators' Licences) Regulations 2000 Statutory Instrument 2000 (PDF 67KB)
The Private Hire Vehicles (London) (Operators' Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (PDF 8.65KB)
The Private Hire Vehicles (London) (Operators' Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (PDF 77KB)
