London as the capital of UK is a 21st-century city dating back to Roman times.This metropolis is recognized all around the world by its historical landmarks like Big Ben and Houses of Parliament. London is called a global city because people from different nations and cultures live and work there and that is why multinational companies such as Microsoft, Google, Uber and so forth have offices in London.
With population of more than 9 million people and over 2.5 million cars which are driven in London, this city could have been one of the busiest city in the world. However, thanks to Traffic for London department or TfL which is responsible for running day-to-day operation of public transport network and managing the main roads, traffic in London is under control.
Taxis, as a part of public transportation system, have always played a remarkable role in London traffic. Moreover, ridesharing platforms such as Uber and Lyft are nowadays very popular and many people especially the youth much prefer to use these services. Such applications not only reduce traffic congestion but also help many individuals to earn more when they are free.
In this post, we will explain the terms PCO license and PCO car for rent which every driver must know in order to drive for Uber or similar platforms. Furthermore, you will learn more about the best PCO cars in London. But first, we need to know more about ridesharing companies and the best ones in London.
What are ridesharing platforms?
A ridesharing platform is a mobile app that matches you with a within-reach driver who is ready to pick up and take you to your destination. These vehicles are called Internet taxis or app taxis and need a special license because private cars are not allowed to pick up passengers from the street.
Uber
Uber is well known all over the world and it seems that this brand is synonymous with ridesharing for many people! Today, this market-leading company not only connects drivers with passengers but also those who deliver with eaters and restaurants. However, there are some benefits and drawbacks in working for Uber that are as follows:
Benefits
The most important advantage of working for Uber is its large customer base which means that drivers will have no time down; as soon as a journey is finished, another one may start. In addition, due to large number of riders opting for Uber, drivers have the chance to choose the destination they prefer. On the other hand, the application is easy-to-use and those drivers who enter congestion charge zone will receive £1 extra.
Drawbacks
Uber compared with other ridesharing platforms has a high commission rate (25%). Furthermore, because many drivers would like to work for Uber, the competition is strong. Besides, surge pricing features are not reliable.
Bolt
Taxify, the owner of Bolt, waited 2 years to get TfL license. However, since launching the platform, they have offered attractive promotions in order to increase the number of drivers. In the following, some benefits and drawbacks of this platform are reviewed.
Benefits
The commission rate is 10-20% which is relatively competitive. For those who drive EVs the commission is 10%. Moreover, all drivers can enjoy 50% off for the first 8 weeks driving in Bolt.
Radius feature is another advantage that shows pickup requests which are between .6 to 5.3 miles. Besides, passengers must pay a penalty for any delay at pickup spot. Finally, those drivers who enter congestion charge zone will receive £1.5 extra.
Drawbacks
Unfortunately, Bolt now operates within the M25. Additionally, the application sometimes is not stable because it is being developed.
Free Now (Kapten)
In June 2019, a French company used to call Kapten and now is called Free Now was established in London. The prices are fixed in Free Now and zones 1 to 6 plus London City Airport, Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted and surroundings are covered. Interestingly, you can hire private vehicles or black cabs in Free Now’s application. In the following, some advantages and disadvantages are reviewed.
Benefits
The company appreciates high-rated drivers by weekly prizes. This policy has attracted many PCO driversover the past years. If you are a new driver,during the peak hours, up to £20 extrayou canearn. Besides, just like other ridesharing platforms, the company will pay the motorists £1 extra for any journey entering congestion charge zone.
However, the most important benefit of working for Free Now is coverage for any damage that passengers may cause. If the driver can prove that a rider has damaged the car, the company will compensate him.
Drawbacks
The commission is 15% which is a bit high compared with limited customer base leading to small number of passengers. Nonetheless, we should consider that Kapten is a new-comer in this field and can develop in future.
Ola
Just like Kapten, Ola is a new-comer amongst ridesharing platforms in London. The company launched in 2020 and offers licensed taxis and private cars. There are two types of earnings in Ola: commission-based and guaranteed income plans.
In guaranteed income plan, the driver pays a fixed fee per week and will have a minimum income even if he can’t hit the weekly target. This plan could be more suitable if you are a full-time driver. Other pros and cons are as follows:
Benefits
For the first 6 weeks, you do not need to pay any commission. Moreover, for any journey through congestion charge zone, you will receive £1 extra. Daily payouts is another option which is very attractive for PCO drivers.
Furthermore, a feature called “Go to” makes this application different from its competitors. Thanks to this feature, many drivers who work part time for this company can pick up passengers when coming back home from workplace.
Drawbacks
Unfortunately, some features in this application are not stable. In addition, people are not much familiar with this new ridesharing platform which means that the driver’s earnings are limited.
What are PCO license and PCO car?
Getting PCO license to hire a PCO car is essential andTransport for London is the department which is responsible to issue it. Remember that before applying for the license, you have to meet a few requirements like having no criminal record and being more than 21 years old. For more information and submitting the application, refer TfL official website.
On the other hand, having a PCO license is not enough to pick up passengers from streets. In fact, you need another license for the vehicle you drive.PCO car is the vehicle approved by TfL for private hire use. There are some car rental companies in London providing ready licensed cars for drivers.
Best PCO cars in London
The factors that play role in choosing a suitable PCO car are different. Some drivers are willing to drive fuel-efficient vehicles to reduce costs as much as possible and save more while some others may prefer luxury cars because they feel that working for UberLUX can bring them more money. In the following, we are going to review such factors.
Fuel efficiency
The best options in terms of efficiency are electric vehicles or EVs. They run on electricity meaning that fuel costs are removed. Moreover, maintenance costs dramatically drop because the car has no liquid fuel components such as fuel line, fuel pump and fuel tank. Among the full electric cars in London, Tesla, Nissan Leaf and Kia e-Niro are the most popular ones.
Tesla model S
Tesla model S is very comfortable for both drivers and passengers featuring 360° cameras improving safety.The car can also assist the driver for a perfect park. Drivers can drive more than 400 miles of range on a single charge and this could be very helpful for PCO motorists in London who need to drive long distances for a long time.
Kia e-Niro PCO car
When it comes to efficiency, Kia e-Niropco car which is a full electric car with a range of 280 miles must also be taken into account. Thisis a high demand PCO car in London and its battery is guaranteed by Kia Motors for 7 years or 100,000 miles. This car is a front-wheel drive and no gearbox choice is available because it uses electric motor.
Nissan Leaf
It is not a complete guide about fuel-efficient cars in London if Nissan Leaf is not studied. Nissan Leaf is one of the most popular vehicles for PCO drivers in London having a range of 188 miles.Besides, straightforward information system, standard safety features and offering comfortable driving experience as well as no fuel costs have put it amongst the top 5 PCO cars.
Luxury cars
Some drivers tend to for work UberLUX or similar platforms. It is a premium service offering high-end options as well as luxury cars such as Rolls Royce and Lexus LS.As a result, there are some requirements that must be met in order to be eligible to for work this expensive Uber service.
Experienced drivers with minimum rating of 4.85 whose car manufactured date is 2012 or newer will be approved. Additionally, vegan or leather car interior is necessary. Finally, pricing is 3 to 5 times the ordinary fare which makes the service very attractive to many drivers.
Rolls Royce
Rolls Royce is a British luxury car-manufacturing companywhich is well known across the world. This amazing car looks very classy and comfort is wonderful but only 4-door Rolls Royce are allowed to work in UberLUX service. If you want to drive for UberLUX, you should know that politicians, musicians, actors and famous businessmen are likely to be your passengers.
Lexus LS
Another luxury car that is mostly used in UberLUX service is Lexus LS. The car has a spacious and high-end interior with an energetic V6 engine. Moreover, this car is comfortable to drive and jam-packed with safety features which seem to be essential when the rich are your passengers.
Final word
Ridesharing applications match the riders with Internet taxis to pick up and take them to destination. Uber, Bolt, Ola and Free Now are some of ridesharing platforms in London. In addition to drivers, cars also need special license for private hire use which are issued by TfL. The license a motorist must get is called PCO license and the cars meeting the requirements are called PCO cars.
The most popular PCO cars in London are Tesla model S, Kia e-Niro and Nissan Leaf which are fuel-efficient. Amongst popular luxury PCO cars,Rolls Royce and Lexus LS are the vehicles mostly driven.
