UBER surge heat map

For those who are looking for a new job alternative, making extra money or even start a new career, becoming an Uber driver can be a good choice.  The purpose of using your own car on a taxi mode is spreading around the world and evolving to a popular and attractive way of earning money.

Considered to be a flexible type of work, the driver is the one who chooses when and how much time he wants to drive, is paid weekly or you can cash out daily if you wish to do so and you can even choose which direction you want to drive and what time you would like to arrive there, that is called destination drip where you choose your preferred destination in your Uber drivers app and that will allow you to only receive trips going along or near the route to your chosen destination.

Multicultural and touristic, the largest and most populated (with over 8 million people) London is possibly the best place to become an UBER driver. However, to become a Uber driver in London, there are a series of requirements and a process to be followed through before you can log on to your drivers app and start accepting jobs.

Everything You Need To Get Started To Drive With Uber

1. Be eligible to drive in the UK

Firstly, it is indispensable to meet the requirements to drive

• Be over 21 years old
• Have a valid UK or EU driver’s license for at least 3 years

2. Get a private hire license

Uber provides a free and helpful information programme, known as Uber Ignition, that orientates the drivers to get licensed. In this session, you will be guided on how to get your medical checkup and insurance, training for the map reading test and how to apply for your private hire license.

You can make an appointment and bring the following documentation to one of the Uber greenlight hubs in London

• Passport
• UK Driving License
• National Insurance Number
• Proof of Address

Uber team will be able to explain in details the requirements and process to be licensed. Basically, here is what you will need to provide

• A Medical declaration from your general practitioner
• A police check (or DBS –  Disclosure and Barring Service)
• A certificate of good conduct (necessary if you have lived outside the UK for more than 3 consecutive months, in the past three years)
• A topographical skills certificate, that will show your abilities on map reading, route selection in local and long distances
• An English language test proving a satisfactory level – English Language courses for Uber drivers
• Some extra application forms

The license will be obtained from Transport Of London (TFL). For London, currently the license cost is as follows:

• TFL Application PHV/230 – Cost £250
• Medical Declaration TPH/204 – Cost £60-110
• CRB Check – Cost £60
• Topographical Skill Certificate – Cost £50
• TFL Englis Language Requirement – Cost £200   

3. Have an eligible vehicle

More than private hire license, you will need a qualified vehicle that obeys minimum Uber parameters. They are:

• Must be 2008 (58 / 08) plates or newer
• 4-door car with a minimum of 5 seats
• Good condition with no cosmetic damage
• No commercial branding

Uber classifies vehicles in types, each one with specific requirements and different range of service prices: uberX, uberXL, uberEXEC, uberLUX and uberACCESS. For more information, please check it at  List Of Allowed Cars For Uber

Nevertheless, if you don’t have your own vehicle, you can also rent a car from Uber partners or privately as long as the car is PCO registered and has up to date PCO licence. You can find a good selection of Uber ready PCO cars on Gumtree. PCO car rents start from £80 a week up to £250 a week depending on the car and whether the insurance is included or not. Cars that are suitable for uberEXEC or uberLUX can even set you back around £500 a week.

Don’t want to rent? Uber also has financial deals to buy or lease a car from selected third party partners or you can just buy your own car and take it to one of the TFL inspection test centres where you will be issued a PCO licence for your car which is valid for one year and will cost £100 for that period.

After signing up online and creating an Uber partners account on Uber website, downloading an uber app to your phone and  attending to their induction session where you can submit all the required documents: Insurance, MOT test certificate, V5C Vehicle log book (2page) or new keeper slip, private hire license, PCO licence for a car, DVLA plastic licence, DVLA electronic counterpart check code and then you have officially become an Uber driver in London or an UBER partner as they will like to call you.