Become a private hire or taxi driver — the clear, council-by-council guide
Plain-English guidance on licensing, fees and the tests you need to pass — for every UK council, plus free practice for the SERU, Highway Code, topographical and Level 2 (BTEC) tests.
Under the Equality Act, PHV drivers must carry assistance dogs:
- For a small extra cleaning fee
- Free, in the passenger's footwell
- Only in the boot, at no extra charge
- Only if the dog is muzzled throughout
Equality Act s170 — no extra charge, footwell with the passenger.
Written against the handbook the real assessment is based on.
Grid reference of the hospital? ····
Easting first, then northing
Real map sheets, not a list of street names to memorise.
Typical overall stopping distance
23 mrule 126
The figures councils ask for, with the rule number behind each one.
How to get licensed, step by step
Check your council
Every council sets its own fees, DBS, medical and test requirements. Start with your local authority's exact rules.
Pass the assessments
Most councils require a knowledge or topographical test; London PHV drivers must pass SERU. Practice before you book.
Apply & get on the road
Submit your DBS, medical and documents, pay the licence fee, and you're ready to drive for Uber, Bolt or a local firm.
Applying to TfL? You'll need to pass SERU
London is licensed differently from the rest of the UK. New and renewing private hire drivers must pass Transport for London's SERU assessment — a written test on safety, equality and regulatory understanding, based on the PHV Driver's Handbook. TfL publishes the handbook and a free online assessment guide. Our guide covers the topics, format, fees and retake rules and links to TfL's free resources, and our SERU practice test lets you test yourself on original questions before you book.
Licensing by council
Search your council or town for fees, requirements and how to apply.
Prepare for your licensing test with confidence
Practise the knowledge behind the common licensing tests — original multiple-choice and fill-the-blank style questions with an explanation for every answer. Try a free sample of each, then unlock the full bank.
Browse free practice testsLicensing with TfL? Start with the SERU assessment guide — what it covers, the pass mark and how to prepare.
- ✓SERU — London private hire drivers (TfL)
- ✓Highway Code & road law — The core of most council knowledge tests
- ✓Topographical — Map reading & route planning
- ✓Level 2 (BTEC) — Practice for the recognised driver qualification
Free tools for drivers
Quick calculators to understand your costs, earnings and tax.
Take-home earnings estimator
Your weekly and yearly take-home after commission and running costs.
Self-employed tax estimator
Income tax and National Insurance you'll owe on your driving profit.
Licensing cost calculator
The upfront cost of getting licensed, with known council fees.
Fuel & journey cost calculator
A journey's fuel cost, the cost per mile, and take-home after fees.
EV vs petrol comparison
Compare the energy cost per mile of electric vs petrol or diesel.
Kit for the job
Our pick of dash cams, sat navs, phone mounts and safety essentials for taxi and private hire drivers — with honest reviews and price guides.
What drivers say
Comments sent to us by drivers who used the site. We publish them unedited apart from length.
“It's very good service”