Driver Recruitment

If you have all relevant driver and vehicle documentation listed above, you are eligible to register and work with ourselves.

Crownul only engages self-employed sub-contracting drivers. For good order with our TFL licence, we expect you to be registered with the HMRC and will want your UTR (unique tax reference number) to show that you are “fit and proper”. If you don’t have an accountant, We have negotiated preferential rates from the industry specialist accountant Driver tax.

To operate and conclude journeys as a private hire driver, you will need a private hire driver license issued by Transport for London. If you do not have a PCO license yet, you will not be able to register with us and will have to obtain one first. If you are looking to register as a PCO driver, you can apply here.

To operate and conclude private hire journeys, you will need a vehicle that is licensed by Transport for London for private hire activities. If you do not have a PHV licensed vehicle yourself, you can also rent one from a company that offers such services. If you are looking to license your vehicle, you can apply here.

Yes, your vehicle will need private hire insurance that specifically covers for such activities, as this will cover you, your car, and the passenger(s) in the event of an accident. The insurance policy must contain the name of the driver and vehicle being used. If your vehicle is rented and insurance is provided by the rental company, you will have to provide the hire agreement, permission letter or the full policy schedule.

You do not necessarily need experience of driving a private hire vehicle. If you are enthusiastic, reliable, have a good knowledge of Greater London especially South and East London. You also need to be able to read, write and speak good English, Please also read our Documents Required section above.

Crownul does not provide training. We can only advise you of companies that can provide you with the private hire training, knowledge and the documents you may need to apply your licence. They will give you the opportunity to take an NVQ level 2 in Road Passenger Vehicle Driving. However, this is your choice and NOT a requirement of Crownul.

To generate a check code, you will have to visit the DVLA website and enter your driving license number, national insurance number and postcode. After entering these details, select “share your license information” to generate a DVLA check code. Once the code is generated, please forward this to us – the check code is valid for only 21 days from the date of generation. If you need to generate a check code, you can apply here.

If you own a car, you will have a V5C or log book. This is the registration form of your car and it includes all crucial details about your vehicle that are also held by DVLA. We only require the inside pages of this document. If your vehicle is rented, this document should be provided by the rental company. For more information, you can click here.

If your vehicle is new, you do not require a MOT certificate during the first year. This only becomes a requirement after 1-year passes from the vehicle registration date. You might also be exempt if your PHV license expires after the 1-year period, meaning you will require a MOT certificate at the same time you renew your PHV license. After this, a MOT certificate is required every 6 months.

Please send email us to start the registration process. Once we have processed your application, we will contact you to collect all relevant documentation and get you started.

No, joining us is completely free. You’ll only be charged for completed journeys, and all you need to get started is a smartphone (Android or iOS).

Depending on the number of applications we are currently processing, it can take up to 3 working days to process your documents and activate your profile, should you pass our internal requirements. We aim to process your application quicker than this, but please take into consideration the time frame advised before contacting us again about your registration.

Yes, you can make an appointment to meet one of our representatives at our head office in the Regus building located at Jhumat House, 160 London Road, Barking IG11 8BB (Monday – Friday between 10:00 AM and 16:00 PM). Please note that we will only be able to see you if an appointment was made prior, otherwise we cannot guarantee that someone will assist you on the spot.

We accept any vehicle that is under 5 years old, has 4 doors and accommodates a minimum of 5 people (including driver). If you have an older vehicle, we will have to inspect this in person and decide if we are able to accept you – for this you will have to schedule an appointment with us.

  We currently service the Greater London area (all M25) and offer our customers the possibility to book local journeys (within the Greater London area), airport transfers (between the London area and all London airports and major UK airports), port or cruise transfers (between the London area and all major UK ports incl. Southampton, Dover etc), long distance journeys(between the London area and pretty much any location within the UK), executive requirements and other private hire services.

Yes, but only if the pickup or drop-off are in the London area. We do not cover journeys that have both pickup and drop-off outside the London area (for example, from Birmingham to Manchester).

We have recently reduced the office commission applicable on an invoice from 25% down to 20%, but if you generate more than £500.00 (total job value) per week, the office commission will reduce further to only 16% – this will apply to the overall value generated on your weekly invoice.

Generate up to £500.00 (total job value) per week – you will pay 20% commission.
Generate more than £500.00 (total job value) per week – you will pay 16% commission.

No. There are no additional charges applicable beyond the agreed journey fare. Drivers will receive the full fare for each completed journey, without any admin or hidden fees.

Airport drop-offs:
Most airports charge a drop-off or terminal access fee. As the driver, you are responsible for paying this fee when dropping off a passenger. Each airport allows a limited timeframe (usually within 24 hours) to pay online or via the airport’s payment system.

This fee is added to the customer’s fare so you are not out of pocket, but it must be paid by you on time to avoid penalty charges. Always keep a receipt or confirmation of payment where possible.

We offer weekly payments — any journeys completed between Monday and Sunday are paid the following week. Invoices are sent each Wednesday, with payments processed by Friday at the latest. You choose when you work, and your earnings depend on you — the more journeys you complete, the more you earn.

Yes, but only in very limited situations. Cash jobs make up less than 1% of our total journeys, so you should not expect a high volume of cash work. These are mainly reserved for long-standing customers who occasionally require cash payments. Cash bookings have otherwise been discontinued to avoid issues such as “no shows.”

• Account-based bookings: We take payment directly from the customer and pay you weekly in arrears. The amount is credited and paid directly into your bank account.
   
• Cash bookings: The passenger pays you directly in cash upon completing the journey. These can help top up your immediate cash flow.
   
• Credit/Debit card bookings: Customers booking via our website ( www.crownul.com ) can register a card. Transactions appear on your Account Credit Sheet. As a self-employed driver, you may also use your own card terminal linked directly to your bank account.
   

Yes, it is your responsibility to ensure that the vehicle is always has enough fuel to complete the journey. Fuel costs are an expense that can be claimed back on your tax returns.

It is the driver’s responsibility to supply your own equipment such as any form of Sat Nav.

Our fares take into account additional costs such as the Congestion Charge (CC) and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Journeys that begin, end, or pass through these zones are priced slightly higher to reflect those charges. For example, a trip from Knightsbridge to Heathrow may cost around £40, whereas a journey from within the Congestion Charge zone (e.g. Buckingham Palace) to Heathrow may cost around £45. This structure ensures drivers are fairly compensated for the additional charges.

All our airport pickups include flight tracking, a meet & greet service, and 15 minutes of complimentary waiting and parking time.

For drivers:

• You will receive the passenger’s flight number, scheduled landing time, and the meet & greet timeframe requested.
   
• You must track the flight using both online tracking tools and updates provided by our office.
   
• To calculate your arrival time inside the terminal:
   
  1. Note the flight’s actual landing time.
      
  2. Add the meet & greet timeframe requested by the customer.
      
  3. Enter the terminal just before that time to greet the passenger.
      

Example:

• Flight lands at 12:00
   
• Customer requests 15 minutes meet & greet
   
• You should enter the terminal just before 12:30
   
• The customer then has 15 minutes of included waiting/parking from that time.