UK Taxi & PHV exam-day guide
UK Taxi & PHV · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Booking confirmation or appointment letter
Bring a printed or downloaded copy showing your name, date, time and test centre address. Check the address the day before, as test centres and council offices sometimes share buildings or move rooms.
Photo ID
Usually a current passport or photocard driving licence. The name must match your booking exactly. Confirm with the provider which specific ID they accept before the day.
Driving licence (photocard, plus any paper counterpart if still issued)
Required where the assessment includes a driving element. Some providers also ask for a DVLA check code so they can view your endorsements online. Confirm with the provider what they need.
Right to work / identity documents requested by the licensing authority
Many councils ask for proof of entitlement to work in the UK and proof of address as part of the same process. Check your provider's list and bring originals, not photocopies.
DBS certificate or update service details, if already requested
Bring whatever the provider told you to bring. Do not assume a certificate you hold for another purpose will be accepted - confirm with the provider.
Glasses or contact lenses if you wear them
If you need corrective lenses to meet the driving vision standard, wear them. Turning up without them can end a driving assessment before it starts.
Any reading or hearing aids you normally use
Bring them and tell staff at sign-in so reasonable adjustments can be made for written or spoken sections.
Comfortable clothing and sensible driving footwear
You may be in the vehicle for a long period. Avoid thick-soled or slip-on footwear that affects pedal feel.
Travel and parking plan with a time buffer
Know the entrance, the car park or nearest public transport, and aim to arrive well before your slot. Late arrival can mean you are turned away - confirm the provider's cut-off time.
Any fee payable on the day
Some centres take card only, some cash only. Ask in advance rather than relying on what a colleague told you.
Medical or GP evidence for any declared condition
If you have declared a condition or medication, bring the letter or report the provider asked for. If unsure, contact them before the day.
Charged phone on silent, plus water and a snack
You will usually have to switch the phone off or store it during the assessment. Bring it for travel and emergencies only.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's joining instructions line by line and list every document named. Check the exact test centre address and the arrival time, not just the start time. Confirm whether you are doing a knowledge/written element, a driving element, or both, and what vehicle is used.
Check your documents are originals, in date, and show the same name in the same spelling. Report any lost licence or expired ID to the provider immediately rather than on the day.
If you have a medical condition, medication change or eyesight change since you applied, tell the provider now and ask whether you need to bring evidence.
Do light revision only: local area knowledge, the Highway Code, and the safety and equality themes commonly assessed. Stop heavy cramming the night before.
Pack the document folder and leave it by the door. Check your route and parking, and plan a backup way to travel in case of delays.
Avoid alcohol, get a normal night's sleep, and do not start any new medication that could make you drowsy.
Confirm the provider has not changed the time or venue - check email and phone messages once more.
Eat properly and take water. Wear your glasses or lenses if you need them for driving. Leave earlier than you think necessary so that traffic or a cancelled bus does not cost you the slot.
Arrive early, sign in as instructed, and hand over documents when asked. Use the waiting time to settle, not to quiz other candidates about the questions.
Listen to every instruction in full before responding. If you mishear something, ask for it to be repeated - that is normal and is not a mark against you.
On the driving element, drive to the standard you would use on a real fare: observations, signalling, speed limits, mirrors, and courtesy to passengers and other road users. Narrate only if the examiner invites it.
If you think you have made an error, keep going calmly. One mistake does not decide the outcome, and dwelling on it causes the next one.
Ask for the result and any feedback in writing, and find out what the next step is - licence application, further checks, or a resit. If you disagree with a decision, ask about the appeals or complaints route before you leave.
Rules to check
Bring original documents. Photocopies, screenshots and expired documents are normally refused, and the name on each document should match your booking.
Arrive before the stated arrival time. Late arrival can result in refusal of the test and loss of the fee - confirm the provider's specific cut-off and refund policy in advance.
Follow all staff and examiner instructions. If you do not understand an instruction, ask for clarification rather than guessing.
Phones, smart watches and notes must be off and out of reach during any written or knowledge element. Do not attempt to record or photograph test materials.
Do not discuss the content of the assessment with other candidates during breaks or afterwards; providers treat this as misconduct.
Breaks during timed sections are usually limited or not permitted. Ask about break arrangements and any reasonable adjustments at the start, not halfway through.
Pass marks, penalty points and disqualifying faults are set by the assessing provider and vary between them. Ask before you begin how the scoring works so you know what you are being measured against.
Declare any change in medical fitness, medication or eyesight before the test starts. Driving while unfit ends the assessment and can affect your licence application.