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 replaced the older English language requirement for most applicants and is now 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, pass mark, 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.

Crucially, SERU is London-only. It applies to people applying to TfL for a private hire driver's licence. 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 in many cases to existing drivers renewing or upgrading where TfL requires it. Some applicants may be exempt or may have already met an equivalent standard, 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 an assessment centre. It uses two question styles:

• Multiple-choice questions, where you pick the correct answer from several options.
• Short-answer or "fill-the-blank" questions, where you complete a sentence by typing the missing word or words.

Because part of the assessment asks you to supply your own words, you cannot rely purely on recognising answers — you need to genuinely know the material. The paper contains around 36 questions and the pass mark is 60%, which works out at roughly 23 correct answers, in a session of about 45 minutes to an hour. TfL has also moved SERU to an open-book format, providing a copy of the handbook at the centre — but there is nowhere near enough time to look up every answer, so treat it as a safety net rather than a shortcut. Question counts and formats have changed before, so check the current detail on our SERU assessment page and in TfL's own guidance before you book.

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. Examiners want to see that you 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 £36 for the SERU assessment, with re-sits charged at a lower rate (£16 at the time of writing, in line with TfL's other driver 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 pass mark and 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 every question comes from it. Beyond that:

1. Practise under exam conditions. Work through realistic questions in both formats, including the fill-the-blank style. Our free SERU practice mirrors the real structure so there are no surprises on the day.
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 confirm you are scoring consistently above the pass standard. If you are heading for a London PHV licence, you will likely sit the topographical test too, so read our topographical test guide next.