The Requirement Of A Pco License

By Author: Salvatore Andrea
Total Articles: 6240
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A PCO license stands for Public Carriage Office license and is considered to be one of the most important things as far as the chauffeurs of London are concerned. The importance of having a PCO license can be understood from the fact that unless and until a chauffeur owns this license, he is not permitted to operate on the streets of London. A chauffeur possessing such a license is also considered to be a surety of the fact that he has undergone a criminal records check. In addition to the criminal records check, a chauffeur is also required to undergo a complete medical examination so as to ensure that he is fit and capable enough to do the job of driving. Finally, the PCO license is also a proof of the fact that the driver has undergone a topographical skills training and knows his way in and around London.

When it comes to working as a chauffeur in London, one can either join a chauffeur company or can work as an independent chauffeur. When a person joins one of the various chauffeur companies, the company itself takes care of all the licensing requirements (which are required as per law) before putting the chauffeur ...
... on duty. This includes getting a PCO license for the chauffeur after making him clear all the important tests i.e. medical examination, topographical skills test and a background verification check. In addition to this, it is the sole responsibility of the chauffeur company to get an M.O.T done on all its cars. Without an M.O.T, it is not permitted to use a car for chauffeuring purposes. As against this, if the chauffeur is working independently, then it becomes his responsibility to get a Pco Licence as well as an M.O.T done on his car, before he starts carrying people from one place to another. It is mandatory for a chauffeur to have at least a six monthly M.O.T on his vehicle.

Earlier, the topographical skills test was not a mandatory requirement as far as furnishing of a PCO license was concerned. However, it was observed that most of the chauffeurs (particularly those who came from outside London) did not possess the basic topographical knowledge and found it hard to find their way in and around the city. Owing to this reason, it has now become mandatory for the chauffeurs to undergo a topographical skills training before they can apply for a PCO license.