Are you thinking about starting your career as a PCO driver in London? You’ve come to the right place. Becoming a PCO driver is an exciting and rewarding experience if you like to drive and meet new people.

We interviewed some veteran PCO drivers and asked about their experience as private hire drivers in London. They elaborated that they take great pride in their work and lead fulfilling careers. They also shared some amazing insight into their workdays which we'll discuss below.

So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

Each Day Brings A New Challenge

Do you dread the routine of sitting behind a desk? For a PCO car driver, no two days are the same. While other careers may require you to look at the same screen or papers daily, PCO driving is all about going to new places and meeting new people. You could be at the airport in the morning, at a school in the afternoon, or take night-time partygoers around the city. So, you can consider each day as a new adventure.

Drive For A Living

If you feel happier behind the wheel of a car, PCO driving is for you. It’s a career that'll make your heart sing. Just imagine you're driving around your hometown, meeting tourists, neighbours, and residents, enjoying conversations, listening to music, and taking in picturesque sights. Sound's heavenly, doesn't it?

However, it's not all plain driving. You'll have to be quite vigilant on the road and protect yourself and your passengers from accidents and mishaps.

Easy To Get Started

Becoming a private hire driver is one of the easiest ways to earn £30,000 plus a year in a job. However, you’ll need to apply for a licence and take some preliminary tests to qualify for it. Once you have your licence, you can either register your own car as a PCO-licenced car or get a PCO car for rent to begin driving on London roads.

However, we recommend getting a PCO car for hire because PCO vehicles can rack up hundreds and thousands of miles within two years of consistent driving, causing wear and tear on the engine and the vehicle. So, if you use your personal car, you may need to replace it after a few years because the maintenance expenses will significantly increase for you.

Also, you won’t have to worry about car maintenance with a PCO car for hire because most PCO car rental companies offer free maintenance services for all their PCO cars.

Be Your Own Boss

If you prefer to be your own boss, PCO car driving is for you. You'll be working for yourself, setting your own hours, and paying your own way without a boss hovering over you. So, if all that appeals to you, go for it!

Yet, a word of caution: if you work for yourself, you won't receive benefits like employer-sponsored pension contributions, vacation time, or sick leaves. So, treat your PCO driving job as a business and maintain a budget accordingly.  

Enjoy Flexible Working Hours

If you wish to abandon the 9 to 5 schedule, this is your chance to do so. PCO driving will allow you time to drop your kids off at school or take a college course. So, you can decide if you want to work part-time or full-time depending upon your day’s schedule.

However, PCO driving is not as flexible as you think. You may have to plan your shift around rush hours because you won't sit idle for long periods and earn at twice the usual rate because of the traffic.

So, you aren't getting paid if you aren’t getting any customers. That’s why you should choose your shift timings wisely. An average PCO driver working 30-40 hours a week can earn between £20,000 to £30,000 annually.