Explained
How Chauffeur Licensing Actually Works in London
What TfL private hire licensing actually covers — driver checks, vehicle checks, insurance — and why it matters when you're choosing who picks you up.
Published 19 Aug 2026Updated 7 Oct 20262 min read
Every driver and vehicle we put on the road operates under Transport for London's private hire licensing regime — a system most passengers have heard of but few understand in detail. It's worth knowing what it actually checks, because it's the difference between booking a licensed chauffeur and stepping into an unlicensed car outside a nightclub at 2am.
TfL private hire licensing has two separate strands: the driver and the vehicle. Both have to be licensed independently, and both licences have to be current for a journey to be legal. A licensed driver in an unlicensed car is still operating illegally, and vice versa — the two aren't interchangeable.
What Gets Checked on the Driver Side
Private hire drivers go through an enhanced DBS (criminal records) check, a review of their driving history, and an identity verification process before TfL issues a licence. Licences aren't permanent — they're renewed periodically, which means the checks happen again, not just once at the start of a driver's career.
What Gets Checked on the Vehicle Side
Licensed private hire vehicles have to pass a specific inspection covering roadworthiness, and they carry private hire insurance — a different (and more expensive) category of cover than a standard private car policy, because it covers carrying fee-paying passengers. An MOT alone doesn't cover this; a vehicle needs the private hire-specific checks on top.
Why This Matters When You're Booking
Unlicensed minicabs still operate in London, usually touting for business outside stations and venues rather than taking pre-booked jobs. They may have none of the above in place. With P5 Chauffeurs every driver and vehicle is licensed, DBS-checked, and insured for private hire, and journeys are agreed and confirmed before you travel rather than hailed on the street. A transfer within London starts at the £47 Saloon minimum (£98 in an Executive), with the exact price set by distance and time. Call 020 8742 2888 if you'd like to check a fare or ask about our licensing directly.
Questions, answered.
How do I know a driver is actually licensed?
Licensed TfL private hire vehicles display a licence plate on the rear of the vehicle, and drivers carry an ID badge with their photo and licence number. You can ask to see it before you get in.
Is a black cab the same as a licensed private hire car?
No — black cabs (hackney carriages) operate under a separate licensing system that allows them to be hailed on the street. Private hire vehicles like ours must be pre-booked and can't legally pick up a street hail.
Does P5 Chauffeurs check drivers regularly, or just once?
Licences require periodic renewal, and we don't put a vehicle or driver on a job without a current, valid licence on both counts.
Get your fixed price
Enter the journey and you see the full price before you book — airport fee, tolls and any supplement included.
Rather talk it through? Call 020 8742 2888, 24 hours a day.
P5 Chauffeurs is a TfL-licensed private hire operator (licence no. 11928). Every journey is pre-booked at a fixed price with a licensed driver in a licensed vehicle. Written by Faraz, Operations Manager, who runs our day-to-day operations.