Expired PCO plate
Plate lapsed. Still saleable.
An expired TfL licence does not make your vehicle worthless. We buy lapsed-plate private-hire cars and black cabs every working day. Specialist offer in 2 hours. Cash on collection, same day.
Start now
Get a real valuation
Reg + mileage. We come back within 2 hours.
Common scenarios
Four ways drivers end up here.
The advice and the offer changes a little for each. Find yours below, then start a valuation. We will tailor the conversation to your situation.
Licence lapsed but vehicle still eligible
You forgot to renew, or the renewal slipped during a busy quarter. The vehicle is under TfL age limits and otherwise meets private-hire standards. Option A: renew the licence and carry on. Option B: sell it now without renewing. Both are sensible. We will value it either way.
Past the 15-year age limit
TfL caps private-hire vehicles at 15 years from date of first registration (12 years if first licensed after 1 April 2023). Once you cross that line the vehicle cannot be relicensed in London. Resale options shift to: PCO markets in other regions, export, or onward private use.
Failed inspection or compliance
Plate pulled at a TfL inspection. Emissions, brake, or bodywork failure not economic to fix. You can sell the vehicle to us as it stands. We assess the cost of return-to-service and quote accordingly. No need to remediate first.
Just done with cab work
Plate still valid but you are leaving the trade. Many drivers in this situation try to sell privately to other drivers and lose six weeks to no-shows. We buy in 2 hours with the plate live, which usually beats the private-sale outcome once you factor in the lost earnings.
What we handle
The TfL admin you do not want to do.
Selling an expired-plate vehicle privately means doing the paperwork yourself. We take that off your hands.
- TfL deplating and roundel removal
- Licence surrender (any refund routes to you)
- DVLA V5C change of keeper notification
- Outstanding finance settled direct with lender
- Free collection across mainland UK
- Faster Payment cleared before keys change hands
FAQ
Common questions
Will I get less because the plate has expired?+
Sometimes, depending on resale route. A vehicle with a live PCO plate is worth more to a buyer reselling it back into the licensed market. An expired-plate vehicle goes either to other regions, to export, or private resale. The gap is usually £500 to £2,000 on a typical PCO Prius. We will tell you the number both ways if it helps your decision.
What about the surrendered TfL licence and roundels?+
We handle TfL deplating on collection day. Roundels are removed, the licence is surrendered, and any partial-year refund TfL issues goes to you. You do not need to visit a TfL office.
My vehicle is past the 15-year limit. Is it scrap?+
Usually no. PCO age limits only apply in London. Other licensing authorities have different ceilings and the export market for ex-London PCO vehicles is active, especially Ireland and parts of Eastern Europe. If the vehicle is genuinely end-of-life, see /scrap-my-cab.
Can you settle outstanding finance on an expired-plate vehicle?+
Yes. The plate status does not affect finance settlement. We pay your lender direct, positive equity to you, negative equity handled by negotiation. Detail on /finance-settlement.
How quickly can you collect?+
Same day in most cases for London. 24 to 72 hours for the rest of mainland UK. Collection is free, Faster Payment clears on the kerb.
Ready to start?
Reg + mileage. Offer back in 2h.
The plate status does not block the form. Enter the reg as it stands. We will work the rest out.
Prefer to talk first? Call 0207 8717 671.