UK Taxi & PHV cheat sheet

Hackney carriage licences are issued by the local authority; licence holders may ply for hire and wait at ranks.

Private hire vehicles must be pre-booked through a licensed operator; hailing or rank work is prohibited.

In London, Transport for London licenses taxis, PHVs, drivers and operators; outside London, district councils do.

Driver applicants generally need an enhanced DBS check, medical, right to work, knowledge test and driving assessment.

Operators must keep booking records and provide them to the licensing authority on request.

Vehicle licences can impose conditions on age, emissions, signage, CCTV and accessibility.

Driving without the correct licence or insurance is a criminal offence.

Appeals against many licensing decisions lie to the magistrates' court, generally within 21 days.

Built-up roads with street lighting default to 30 mph unless signs show 20, 40 or another limit.

Single carriageway national limit is 60 mph; dual carriageway and motorway limit is 70 mph for cars.

Handheld phone use while driving is illegal; hands-free use can still amount to careless driving.

Drivers must wear seat belts and ensure passengers under 14 use the correct restraint.

Taxi and PHV use of bus lanes, ranks and restricted streets depends on local traffic orders and signs.

England and Wales drink-drive limit: 35 micrograms per 100 ml breath, 80 mg per 100 ml blood.

Collisions involving injury or failure to exchange details must be reported to police promptly.

Convictions, fixed penalties and endorsements must be notified to the licensing authority.

Local knowledge includes principal roads, one-way systems, no-entry points, bus gates and weight limits.

Major destinations include stations, hospitals, airports, stadiums, hotels and council offices.

Satnav is an aid only; road signs and traffic orders override outdated mapping.

Route choice considers time of day, roadworks, events, school runs and charging zones.

Shortest distance is not always fastest; licensed routes may follow signed major roads.

Station and airport pick-up points are controlled; drivers must use authorised feeder or drop-off areas.

Postcode sectors, street numbering and junction names help confirm destinations.

London taxi drivers must pass the Knowledge; PHV drivers face local authority knowledge tests.

Legal car tyre tread is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters around the full circumference.

Daily walkaround checks cover tyres, lights, fluids, brakes, mirrors, wipers and bodywork.

Red dashboard warnings mean stop safely; amber warnings mean check or repair soon.

Cars need an MOT at three years old and then annually; licensed vehicles may need extra tests.

Defects must be recorded and repaired before the vehicle carries passengers.

Roof signs, ramps, restraints and CCTV must be secure and working.

Insurance must cover hire and reward; vehicle licence and plates must match records.

Loads and luggage must not obstruct lights, plates, mirrors or passenger space.

English language competence is a licensing requirement for taxi and PHV drivers in England.

Confirm the destination and route by repeating details back before moving.

Use plain language and short sentences; avoid jargon and slang.

Provide safety information such as seat belt use and door operation.

Offer help with luggage and doors only where it is safe to do so.

Provide a receipt and operator contact details when requested.

Keep the vehicle clean and free from smoke and strong odours.

Complaints should be recorded and passed to the operator or licensing authority.

Safeguarding covers children and vulnerable adults; concerns must be reported, not investigated by the driver.

Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle; use child locks only when safe.

The Equality Act 2010 protects disability, race, sex, religion, age and other characteristics.

Assistance dogs must be carried free; refusal requires a valid medical exemption.

Wheelchair users must not be charged extra; ramps and restraints should be offered.

Secure wheelchairs and occupants; do not carry an unsecured wheelchair standing in the aisle.

Refuse a journey if passenger safety cannot be assured, and call emergency services if needed.

Drop vulnerable passengers at a safe, well-lit point and confirm they are okay.

Fatigue signs include yawning, poor concentration and lane drift; stop safely and rest.

Working Time Regulations cap average weekly working at 48 hours unless the driver has opted out.

Rest breaks and adequate daily rest reduce driver fatigue and error.

Eyesight and medical conditions must be declared and reported to the licensing authority.

Lone-worker controls include radio contact, tracking, cash limits and panic alarms.

Assaults and threats should be reported to police and the operator.

Manual handling of luggage should use safe lifting technique.

First aid and fire extinguisher knowledge support emergency response.

Hackney carriages with meters must charge the approved tariff shown on the fare table.

PHV fares are agreed at booking or set by the operator, not by hailing.

Extras and charges are lawful only if published by the licensing authority or operator.

Receipts should show fare, date, vehicle details and operator contact.

Card payment may be a licence condition; refusal can breach the licence.

No extra charge may be made for wheelchairs or assistance dogs.

Tipping is optional and must not be demanded.

Fare disputes should be referred to the operator or licensing authority with journey details.