How to Become a Minicab Driver in London

By Louise Goldstein

Being a minicab driver is a very respectable profession. It is your responsibility to make sure people get

from one place to another safely and securely. In London there are different kinds of cab drivers. You

have the traditional black cab drivers and you have minicab drivers which are also sometimes known as

private car hire drivers.

The main differences between a London cabbie and a London minicab driver is London cabbies drive the

famous black taxi and a mini cab driver drives a private vehicle which could be anything from a

Mercedes to a Toyota. Black cab drivers have to take The Knowledge this is an exam which assesses your

knowledge of London within a six mile radius of Charing Cross.

All-London drivers have to learn 320 routes and need to know all the landmarks and places of interest

along the way. The Knowledge can take between 2 and 4 years to pass.

London minicabs also have to be licensed although they can drive a variety of vehicles including MPVs,

saloon cars and estates or minivans. You can spot a London minicab by the sticker on its windshield and

the bright green sticker on the rear window which is issued by the Public Carriage Office.

In order to be an official minicab driver you must have a PCO licence this will qualify you to work for a

London mini cab firm. To apply for your PCO licence you need to request a Private Hire Driver

application pack. You can request one from the Transport for London website. The whole process can be

done within 2 -3 months as TFL aim to issue licences from 8 - 12 weeks from when you apply.

What you need to apply to be a minicab driver:

A completed application form

A medical form which has been signed by your doctor

A Criminal Record Bureau Disclosure Application

Photocopies of your driving licence and the paper counterpart

You will need to provide proof you can live and work in the UK

Certificate for the topographical skills assessment test

The topographical skills test shows you can read a map, identify and plan a route.

Finding a minicab company in London to work for:

Once you have your minicab licence you will want to find a good minicab company in London to work

for. Working for a minicab company can work in a couple of ways. One way is you pay the minicab firm a

weekly rent or you can pay commission on the jobs you take. Different companies vary in price so get a

few quotes from different minicab firms.

Each minicab company is different and will have requirements on the age of the vehicle you drive some

executive minicab companies will require you to have a car less than 5 years old and may even specify

the model to keep up the executive image the firm has built up.

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