Transport for LondonRequirements
| Categories | Taxi | Private Hire |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 21 | 21 |
| Character | Enhanced CRB check | Enhanced CRB check |
| Medical fitness | DVLA Group 2 | DVLA Group 2 |
| Route finding skills | Learning the 'Knowledge' | Map reading and route planning skills |
| Driving ability | Full DVLA, NI or EEA driving licence
DSA Taxi Driving Test |
Full DVLA, NI or EEA driving licence
3 years driving experience |
Age
To be a licensed driver you must be at least 21 years of age. There is no upper age limit, provided you meet the other licensing requirements.
Character
The Licensing Authority has to be satisfied that the drivers it licenses are safe, honest and trustworthy. Therefore every applicant is the subject of a criminal record check before being licensed. This is done by asking you to obtain an enhanced criminal records check from the Criminal Records Bureau, an agency of the Home Office. We will also look at your driving licence to see if you have any driving convictions.
Having a driving or criminal conviction will not necessarily prevent you from becoming licensed - it depends what the conviction was for, the sentence imposed and how long ago it was.
Medical Fitness
Taxi and private hire drivers are professional drivers carrying passengers for hire and reward. The Licensing Authority has determined that for this reason a higher standard of medical fitness is required than that needed for a standard DVLA driving licence. The standards applied, called Group 2 Standards, are those required for drivers of large goods vehicles, buses and coaches. The standards are based upon DVLA Group 2, and are similar to those required for drivers of large goods vehicles, buses and coaches.
If you apply to be licensed you will be required to prove your medical fitness by undergoing a medical examination with your GP. It is difficult to cover all possibilities, but certain conditions such as epilepsy, poor eyesight, insulin treated diabetes and serious heart problems could result in an application being refused. If you are in any doubt about a condition you have, you may wish to consult your GP before you apply.
Route finding skills for private hire drivers
Because private hire journeys are pre-booked, private hire drivers have the opportunity to plan a journey in advance. Therefore they do not need the detailed knowledge required of taxi drivers. Nevertheless, if you wish to be licensed as a private hire driver you will need to be able to demonstrate a range of route finding skills such as map reading and route selection, which allow you to plan a journey.
Route finding skills for taxi drivers
As taxis can be hailed in the street with no advance warning of where a passenger might want to go, a taxi driver must have a thorough knowledge of the capital. It is for this reason that taxi drivers have to learn the world famous 'Knowledge'.
If you want to be an All-London taxi driver you will need a detailed knowledge of all the streets and places of interest in central London with a more general knowledge of the major arterial routes throughout the rest of London.
If you choose to apply for a suburban licence you will be required to have a detailed knowledge of your chosen sector along with a more general knowledge of central London.
Once you have studied your chosen area you will be tested on your knowledge by PCO examiners in a series of examinations.
How long it takes to complete the Knowledge is dependent on your ability, effort and commitment. On average, it takes four years to be licensed as an All-London taxi driver, two years for a Suburban driver. However, many applicants complete the Knowledge much quicker than this. This may seem like a long time but the rewards to be gained once you are licensed make it worthwhile.
You can apply to start learning the All-London Knowledge from the age of 18. Suburban applicants cannot apply until they are 21.
Route finding skills for private hire drivers
- Because private hire journeys are booked, private hire drivers have the opportunity to plan a journey in advance
- They do not need the detailed knowledge required of taxi drivers
- If you wish to be licensed as a private hire driver you will need to be able to demonstrate a range of route finding skills such as map reading and route selection, which allow you to plan a journey
The PCO has accredited a number of assessors and topographical testing centres.
A licence will not be granted without proof of topographical skills.
Driving Ability
All licensed drivers must hold a full DVLA, Northern Ireland or European Economic Area (EEA) state driving licence.
The other EEA states are:
| Austria | Greece | Malta |
| Belgium | Hungary | Netherlands |
| Cyprus | Iceland | Norway |
| Czech Republic | Ireland | Poland |
| Denmark | Italy | Portugal |
| Estonia | Latvia | Slovakia |
| Finland | Liechtenstein | Slovenia |
| France | Lithuania | Spain |
| Germany | Luxembourg | Sweden |
To obtain a private hire driver's licence you will need to have held one of the above licences for at least three years.
As a taxi is a purpose built vehicle that has different driving characteristics from a standard car and has special features to assist people with disabilities, if you want to be licensed as a taxi driver you will need to take an additional driving test in a licensed taxi.
If you have a disability you can still become licensed as either a taxi or private hire driver but you may have to have your driving ability assessed independently, in a suitably modified vehicle if appropriate.
