The SERU test explained — and how to pass it

If you want to drive a private hire vehicle (PHV) in London, you will need to pass the SERU assessment. SERU stands for Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding, and it is run by Transport for London (TfL). It is part of TfL's English language requirement — SERU covers reading and writing, while a separate speaking and listening test covers the rest — and it is a core part of getting your PHV licence in the capital. This guide explains exactly what SERU is, who has to take it, how it is structured, what it costs and how to prepare so you pass first time. For the full reference version — topic areas, format, booking and retake rules — see our SERU assessment hub page.

What is the SERU assessment?

SERU is a computer-based assessment that checks whether you understand your obligations as a London private hire driver. It is not a driving test and it is not the same as the topographical test. Instead, it focuses on the rules, responsibilities and safety standards you must follow once you are licensed. The whole assessment is built around the Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Handbook, a document published by TfL that every applicant should read carefully before booking.

Free official resources: TfL publishes the PHV Driver's Handbook (PDF), an audio version and section videos on its SERU page, and a free online assessment guide with knowledge checks and screenshots of the assessment day. Start there. Private Hire Hub is independent and not affiliated with TfL; our practice questions are original, not the official ones.

Crucially, SERU is London-only. This guide covers the private hire SERU; since 1 October 2025 London taxi drivers also sit a separate taxi driver SERU. If you are licensing with a council outside London, you will not sit SERU — but you may have your own local requirements, so always check with your council.

Who has to take SERU?

SERU applies to new applicants for a TfL private hire driver's licence and to drivers renewing, unless you have already passed on the current version of the handbook. Some applicants may be exempt, so the safest approach is to read TfL's current guidance and confirm your personal requirement before paying any fees. If you are still weighing up the whole process, our guide on how to become a private hire driver walks through every step, and our London PHV licence guide covers the TfL application specifically.

The format: what to expect on the day

SERU is taken on a computer at a TfL assessment centre. TfL says it involves:

• Multiple-choice questions, where you pick the correct answer from several options.
• Completing sentences by adding missing words.

TfL does not publish the number of questions, the time allowed or the pass mark on its SERU page; it says further information on what to expect is provided once your booking is confirmed. In TPH Notice 01/24 TfL said it intended to trial an open-book SERU, but its current SERU page does not confirm this, so check when you book. Either way, prepare as if you need to know the material well.

The topic areas

SERU is drawn directly from the PHV Driver's Handbook and covers, broadly:

• Your obligations as a driver under the PHV (London) Act 1998 and associated regulations, including duties under the Equality Act 2010.
• Relevant TfL policies and guidance for London private hire drivers.
• The particular needs of passengers with a protected characteristic — for example disabled passengers and assistance dogs.
• Protecting children and adults at risk from harm and abuse, including safeguarding awareness.
• Passenger and driver safety.
• Road and vehicle safety.

You will notice equality and safeguarding run through several of these areas. You need to understand not just the letter of the rules but how to treat passengers fairly and keep vulnerable people safe.

How much does SERU cost?

TfL charges £40 for the SERU assessment and £30 for a re-sit — the same as its topographical and speaking and listening assessments. Fees are reviewed periodically, so confirm the current figure on the TfL website before you book. Treat the re-sit fee as motivation to prepare properly the first time — repeated attempts add up. Our SERU assessment page sets out the full cost picture alongside the retake limits.

How to prepare and pass first time

The single most important step is to read the PHV Driver's Handbook from cover to cover, because SERU is based on it, and to work through TfL's free online assessment guide. Beyond that:

1. Test yourself regularly. Answering questions shows you what you have not yet learned. Our free SERU practice uses original questions based on the handbook — mostly multiple choice, with some fill-the-blank style questions answered from options. It is revision practice, not a copy of the real assessment.
2. Drill the equality and safeguarding sections. These come up repeatedly, so make sure you can explain your duties around protected characteristics, assistance dogs and reporting concerns.
3. Learn the key legislation by name. Being able to connect a rule to the PHV (London) Act 1998 or the Equality Act 2010 helps the regulatory questions stick.
4. Build wider road-safety knowledge. Solid familiarity with the Highway Code supports the road and vehicle safety topics — try our Highway Code practice alongside your SERU revision.
5. Don't cram. Spread your revision over several short sessions and review weak areas before booking.

When you feel ready, take a full set of practice tests to check you are scoring consistently well. If you are heading for a London PHV licence, you will likely sit the topographical test too, so read our topographical test guide next.