PCO vehicle inspection: What to expect and how to pass first time

If you want to use a vehicle for private hire in London, it needs its own licence from TfL — separate from your PCO driver licence. To get that licence, your car has to pass an inspection.

The inspection itself isn't complicated, but a surprising number of drivers fail on their first attempt. Usually it's something minor — a blown bulb, missing paperwork, tyres that looked fine but measured under the limit. These are easy fixes, but they cost you time and potentially weeks of earnings while you sort it out.

This guide covers what actually happens at the inspection, what you need to bring, and how to avoid the common mistakes that catch people out.

What it costs

The inspection costs £140, paid in advance when you book. This covers the inspection itself and the vehicle licence if you pass.

If you fail, you get one free re-inspection within 21 days — as long as you've fixed whatever caused the failure. Miss that window or fail twice, and you're paying £140 again.

The vehicle licence is separate from the costs of your driver licence, insurance, and everything else. For a full picture of what you'll actually spend, see our breakdown of the real cost of being a PCO driver.

How to book

You can book online through the TfL website or by calling 0343 222 5555. Online is faster — you pick a date, time, and location, and you can reschedule if something comes up.

Book early. Slots fill up, especially at the more convenient locations. If your vehicle licence is due for renewal, don't leave it until the last minute — you might find yourself waiting weeks for an appointment, which could mean a gap in your ability to work.

Inspection sites in London

TfL has five inspection centres across London:

•        Central West (Staples Corner): Unit 2 Aquarius Business Park, Priestly Way, NW2 7AN

•        West (Heston): 20A Airlinks Industrial Estate, Spitfire Way, TW5 9NR

•        North (Enfield): Unit 2, Watermill Business Centre, Edison Road, EN3 7XF

•        South East (Sidcup): Unit 13 & 14, Klinger Industrial Park, Edgington Way, DA14 5AF

•        Central East (Rainham): Unit 10 Segro Park, RM13 8HY

If you're licensing a vehicle outside London, you'll need to go through your local council instead. Find your local council here.

What to bring

Missing documents are one of the most common reasons for a wasted trip. You need all of the following:

•        V5C registration certificate (logbook) — or proof of purchase if you're still waiting for the V5C to arrive

•        Valid MOT certificate — must be dated within the last 14 days

•        Hire and reward insurance certificate — standard car insurance won't be accepted

•        Insurance permission letter — confirming your insurer authorises the vehicle for private hire use

•        Existing PHV licence and discs (for renewals only)

The insurance catches people out. You need specialist PHV insurance, not regular car insurance. And you need the permission letter as well as the certificate. If your insurer hasn't provided one, chase them before your appointment.

Additional documents for specific situations

If your vehicle is a personal import or left-hand drive, you'll also need a Voluntary Individual Vehicle Approval (VIVA) certificate. Some vehicles may also require a certificate of conformity — check with TfL if you're unsure whether this applies to you.

Important: Unless the car is registered in your name, you'll need to be nominated by the registered keeper to act on their behalf when presenting the vehicle for inspection.

Check everything the night before. If any document is missing, expired, or doesn't match the vehicle, you'll be turned away.

What happens on the day

The inspection takes around 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the vehicle and whether any issues come up.

When you arrive, you'll hand over your documents and the inspector will check they're all in order. Then they'll go over the vehicle systematically — exterior, interior, mechanical components, and emissions.

You'll usually wait in a reception area while this happens. Some centres have a viewing area where you can watch, others don't. Either way, you'll be called back once they're done to go through the results.

If everything passes, you'll get a Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR) on the spot. This is what you need to complete your PHV licence application. If something fails, you'll get a report listing what needs fixing.

What inspectors actually look at

The inspection covers safety, roadworthiness, and compliance with TfL's requirements. Here's what they're checking:

Lights and signals: All lights need to work — headlights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, number plate lights. This is the most common failure point. Check every light before you go, including the ones you can't easily see yourself.

Tyres: Minimum 1.6mm tread depth across the central three-quarters of the tyre. No cuts, bulges, or damage. Tyres that look fine to the eye can still measure under the limit, so if yours are getting worn, replace them before the inspection rather than risk it.

Brakes: Effective and balanced. They'll test stopping power and check for pulling to one side.

Bodywork: No significant dents, rust, or damage. The car doesn't need to be showroom-perfect, but it needs to look presentable and professional.

Windscreen: No cracks in the driver's line of sight. Small chips elsewhere might be acceptable, but anything in the swept area of the wipers is likely to fail.

Interior: Seatbelts all working, seats secure, no warning lights on the dashboard, general cleanliness. Give the car a proper clean inside — first impressions matter.

Emissions: The vehicle needs to meet current standards. If you're driving an EV, this isn't a concern. For petrol or diesel, make sure the car is serviced and running cleanly.

New signage requirements

From July 2024, TfL introduced new compliance rules for private hire vehicles. All PHVs must now display signage containing information for passengers on how to lodge a complaint to TfL.

TfL began affixing this signage during vehicle inspections from July 1, 2024. All PHVs must have the signage on display by July 1, 2025. If you're going through an inspection now, the signage will be fitted as part of the process.

Vehicle requirements

Beyond the inspection itself, your car needs to meet TfL's baseline requirements to be licensed:

•        Less than 10 years old

•        Four doors minimum

•        Space for at least four passengers (not counting the driver)

•        Meets ULEZ emissions standards

Since January 2023, any vehicle being licensed for the first time must be Zero Emission Capable — meaning fully electric, or a plug-in hybrid meeting specific criteria. If you're looking at vehicles, our guide to EVs vs hybrids covers what qualifies and what doesn't.

What if you fail?

Failing isn't the end of the world, but it is frustrating — especially if it's something minor you could have spotted yourself.

You'll get a report listing exactly what failed. You then have 21 days to fix the issues and book a free re-inspection. The re-inspection only checks the items that failed, so it's usually quicker.

If you don't complete the re-inspection within 21 days, or if the vehicle fails again on the same issues, you'll need to pay £140 for a new full inspection.

Common failure reasons: Blown bulbs (especially number plate lights and rear fog lights that drivers rarely check), tyres just under the tread limit, windscreen chips in the wrong place, missing documents, and dashboard warning lights. Most of these are cheap and easy to fix — the frustration is having to come back.

If your vehicle fails on something major — structural issues, serious mechanical problems, emissions failures — you'll need to weigh up whether it's worth repairing or whether it's time for a different vehicle.

How often do you need an inspection?

Your vehicle licence is valid for 12 months, so you'll go through this annually. Book your renewal inspection well before your licence expires — if there's a problem, you want time to fix it without a gap in your ability to work.

The vehicle inspection is separate from your PCO driver licence renewal, which is every three years. They're on different cycles, so keep track of both.

If you're a Splend customer

If you're driving with Splend, we handle the vehicle inspection and licensing for you. It's included in your FlexiOwn plan — along with insurance, servicing, and maintenance. You don't need to book appointments, chase paperwork, or worry about whether the car will pass.

Your vehicle comes fully licensed and ready to drive. When the licence is due for renewal, we take care of it at our London Hub. One less thing to think about.

How to pass first time

Most failures are avoidable. Here's the pre-inspection checklist:

A week before: Get your MOT done (needs to be within 14 days of inspection). If the MOT flags any advisories, consider fixing them — they might not fail the MOT but could fail the PCO inspection.

A few days before: Gather all your documents. V5C, MOT certificate, insurance certificate, insurance permission letter. Check the dates and make sure everything matches the vehicle.

The night before: Check every light on the car. Get someone to help — they can watch the brake lights and reversing lights while you operate the controls. Check your tyre tread with a gauge if you're not sure. Clean the interior properly.

On the day: Give the exterior a wash. Make sure there's nothing on the dashboard triggering warning lights. Arrive on time with all your documents.

It's not complicated. The drivers who fail are usually the ones who assumed everything would be fine without actually checking.