How to start private hire work in the UK

Your step by step guide on how to start work as a private hire driver in the UK.

The flexibility offered by working as a private hire driver is something that appeals to a lot of people nowadays. Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern living, private hire work gives you the freedom to set your own schedule, choosing to work at times that suit you.

But when you’re looking to start work as a private hire driver, it’s not always easy to know where to begin. There are a few things you will need to have in place first before you can get out on the road and start earning money.

In this post, we’ll look at what you need to do to start private hire work in the UK. We’ll also give you some tips to help you can get through the application process quickly and easily.

Step 1: Get a vehicle

When it comes to getting a vehicle to use for your private hire work, there are lots of options available. You may already have access to a family car, or you may own a vehicle which you can use. If not, you may need to purchase a car to use specifically for work.

Another option that’s available to you is to rent a car to use for your work or you can set up a rent to buy plan for a vehicle. This is perfect for drivers looking for short-term access to a vehicle, without high up-front costs.

The car you choose is likely to be a very important decision, so it’s always worth looking at different vehicles and payment plans. It’s also important to make sure that your chosen car meets any vehicle requirements which a private hire operator may have.

Step 2: Insurance

If you have purchased your vehicle using a rent or rent-to-buy option, you may find that private hire insurance is already included as part of your contract. If you are using a personal vehicle, you will need to make sure you have Private Hire insurance in place.

Standard Social, Domestic & Pleasure insurance does not cover you for work as a private hire driver, so you will need to have additional protection in place to carry out this work.

If you’re looking for an idea of how much Private Hire insurance will cost you, fill in your details below and we can get an estimated price for your cover.

If you like the price you see, you can refine your quote and get an accurate price for your cover online. It won’t take more than a couple of minutes!

Step 3: Get your private hire licence

To work as a private hire driver in the UK, you need to get your private hire licence first. These licences are issued by your local council, so the requirements may differ depending on where you live in the UK.

For more detailed instructions on applying for a private hire licence in London, please click here. If you are looking to apply outside of London, you can click here for more information.

Remember, specific requirements can vary, so always ask your local council if you have any questions.

Step 4: Onboarding

Once you have everything in place for your application, you can begin the onboarding process with a private hire operator. This process will vary from company to company, so it’s a good idea to research what different companies are looking for and prepare in advance of any appointments.

If you go to an onboarding session with your vehicle, insurance and private hire licence all sorted, you’ll be likely to get through the onboarding process quickly so you can start work as soon as possible.

To get a quote for your insurance and take one step towards starting private hire work, fill in your details using the form below:

If you have any questions about the insurance you need for private hire work, our friendly customer support team are here to help 7 days a week. You can also visit our Private Hire insurance page for more information about our cover.