UK Taxi & PHV
UK Taxi & Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) Driver Assessment
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ExploreAbout this exam
Taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) driver licensing in Great Britain is administered by individual licensing authorities - Transport for London for London PHVs, and unitary, district or county councils elsewhere in England and Wales, with a separate regime in Scotland. There is no single national knowledge examination that a driver sits once and holds everywhere. What candidates generally call the 'taxi test' is a local authority driver assessment, and most authorities combine a written or multiple-choice knowledge paper with a topographical or route-planning exercise, plus checks made before a licence is granted (an enhanced DBS check, a medical declaration, the right to work in the UK, and in many areas evidence of English speaking and listening at B1 level).
The assessment is aimed at people applying for a hackney carriage (taxi) or PHV driver licence, whether they intend to work for a fleet, an app-based operator, or as an owner-driver. Preparation is mostly self-directed: study your own authority's licensing policy and conditions, learn the local street pattern and principal destinations, revise the Highway Code and road traffic law, and rehearse the practical side of the job - vehicle checks, fares and meter rules, assisting passengers with disabilities, and handling difficult situations calmly. Because content, structure and booking arrangements are set locally, always download the current driver licensing pack from your council or Transport for London before you start revising.
What you'll study
About UK Taxi & PHV preparation
Is there one national taxi and PHV driver exam I can sit anywhere in the UK?
No. Driver licensing is a local function. Transport for London runs the London PHV driver assessment; councils across England and Wales set their own tests and conditions; Scotland has separate legislation and its own arrangements. A knowledge test passed for one authority does not automatically transfer to another, so check the policy of the authority you intend to be licensed by.
How many questions are on the test, and how long does it take?
That varies by licensing authority, and some authorities change their format periodically. Rather than rely on a figure quoted online, check the current driver licensing pages on your own council's website or Transport for London's site, which publish the present question count, time allowance, fee and pass mark for their assessment.
What score do I need to pass?
Each licensing authority sets its own pass mark, and it can differ between the written knowledge paper and any separate topographical or route-planning assessment. The official figure is published in that authority's driver licensing policy or candidate handbook. Confirm it there before you book, and don't assume a mark quoted for a neighbouring council applies to yours.
How difficult is the assessment?
Candidates generally find the road-law and licensing questions straightforward if they have read the Highway Code and their authority's conditions, and find local topographical knowledge the hardest part, because it rewards genuine familiarity with streets and landmarks rather than memorisation. Realistic difficulty depends on how well you know the area you are applying to drive in.
What happens if I fail - can I resit, and how soon?
Retake rules are set locally. Most authorities allow a resit after a stated interval or a set number of attempts, sometimes with a requirement to show further training or spend a period re-learning before the next attempt. Your authority's licensing team will confirm the current retake policy, any additional fee, and how to book again.
What are the most common reasons candidates fail?
Recurring themes are weak local geography - struggling to identify routes, landmarks and major destinations - and not reading the authority's own conditions of licence, which are examined and are easy to overlook. Others include misreading scenario questions under time pressure and inadequate preparation for the practical route-planning element.
In what order should I study?
Start with your authority's licensing policy and conditions, since that material is unique to them and can't be found in general revision guides. Then work through the Highway Code and road traffic law, and only after that build topographical knowledge using a street atlas or map work in the area you will be licensed for.
Does the process include anything beyond the written test?
Yes. A licence application normally involves an enhanced DBS check, a medical fitness declaration or examination, proof of the right to work, driving licence and DVLA checks, and often evidence of English speaking and listening at B1 level. Some authorities also require a practical driving assessment. These run alongside, or before, the knowledge test.
Can I use a commercial question bank to prepare?
Third-party practice material can help with road law and general knowledge, but it is not endorsed by any licensing authority and may not match your council's conditions or local geography. Treat the authority's own published policy, the Highway Code and real map study of your area as the primary sources and use other material only as a supplement.