TfL PCO Licence Delays and Updates 2025: What London PCO Drivers Need to Know

If you’re a PCO driver in London, you’ve probably felt the impact of TfL’s growing licence delays. Whether you’re applying for the first time or renewing an existing licence, the process is taking longer and for many drivers, that delay could affect your ability to earn. 

We recently spoke directly with a representative from TfL to better understand the current licensing delays, upcoming system changes, and what it means for drivers. Here’s what’s happening, what your options are if your licence is close to expiry, and how Splend can help you stay on the road. 

How long is the TfL PCO Licence process taking in 2025? 

TfL is currently reporting the following average wait times: 

• New applications: 15–20 weeks 

• Renewals: 8–10 weeks 

These delays are being caused by: 

• A recent cyber incident that disrupted licensing systems 

• A new platform rollout that’s still stabilising 

• External checks (like DBS and medical) creating bottlenecks 

• A backlog of unprocessed applications 

Compared to pre-pandemic processing times (4–6 weeks for new and 2–4 weeks for renewals), this is a significant increase.

What happens if your PCO Licence is about to expire? 

If your renewal is still being processed and your licence has expired - don’t panic. TfL is currently allowing drivers to continue working, provided: 

• You submitted your renewal application before your expiry date 

• You carry proof of submission (like a printed confirmation email from TfL) 

• There are no major medical or background check concerns 

Important: Driving with an expired licence and no proof of renewal is an offence and may invalidate your insurance. 

To avoid this, apply for your renewal at least 10–12 weeks before your licence expires. 

Understanding TfL’s Short-Term Licences 

To help with the delays, TfL has introduced 3-month short-term licences for eligible drivers. These are temporary PCO licences given to: 

• Drivers with complete renewal applications 

• Drivers who’ve passed all mandatory assessments (e.g. ELR, SERU) 

• Drivers with no medical or DBS concerns 

While this is only a short-term measure, it helps ensure eligible drivers can stay on the road while waiting for full licence processing. 

How you can avoid common application delays 

TfL has highlighted a few common issues that slow things down: 

• Incomplete paperwork or missing documents 

• Incorrect photo size or poor quality 

• Delays in booking topographical and English tests 

• Waiting too long to submit your application 

To make your process smoother, always: 

• Double-check every form and photo before submission 

• Book and complete your DBS, medical, and topographical assessments early 

• Respond quickly to TfL requests 

How Splend helps you stay compliant 

At Splend, we understand how TfL delays can affect your livelihood, and we’re here to help. 

We make it easier for PCO drivers to stay compliant with: 

• PHV-licensed vehicles ready to drive with Uber and other platforms 

• Expert advice on licensing and renewals 

• Dedicated Customer Specialists to support you through the process 

All-inclusive plans that take care of Car tax & MOT, servicing, maintenance, and more are your flexible PCO option that keeps you working. 

About Splend

At Splend, we believe in drivers. We know their vehicles need to work harder than most; that they drive more miles than most; that their insurance is hefty; their maintenance costs high and that they can face unreasonable finance rates – which is a heavy load to carry on their own.

That’s why at Splend, we exist to support rideshare drivers with a new model, that takes all those car ownership costs, and provides them for less, with lower purchase prices, better rates, lower servicing and insurance costs – all for one weekly repayment, all in one place.