How do I become a taxi driver in the UK?

Find out which authority licenses drivers where you want to work: TfL in London or the local council elsewhere. Decide between a hackney carriage and a private hire licence, then apply and complete that authority's checks and tests, such as the DBS check, medical, safeguarding course and knowledge test.

How old do you have to be to be a taxi driver in the UK?

Each authority sets its own minimum age. TfL and some councils such as Sheffield and Reigate & Banstead require you to be 21, while others such as Nottingham and Stroud accept applicants from 18. You must also have held a full driving licence for at least 12 months by law, and some authorities ask for longer.

What qualifications do you need to be a taxi driver?

You don't need school qualifications, but you need a full driving licence and the right to work in the UK, and you must pass the authority's checks. Many councils ask for proof of English, such as a GCSE or an English test, and some require a Level 2 certificate for taxi and private hire drivers, as Sheffield does.

How long does it take to get a taxi licence?

Usually weeks to a few months. York says applications normally take 4 to 8 weeks once you have applied, mainly because of the DBS check, and TfL gives no fixed time. Booking the knowledge test, medical and training can add more time before you apply.

Can I use my taxi licence anywhere in the UK?

No. A licence only works with the authority that issued it. A hackney carriage can only ply for hire in its own council area, and a private hire driver must work for an operator licensed by the same authority, in a vehicle licensed by that authority, though pre-booked journeys can go anywhere.

Do I need a knowledge test to be a taxi driver?

Almost always. TfL private hire drivers take the SERU and Topographical skills assessments, and most councils have their own knowledge test on local law, the Highway Code and the area. A few use a different format, such as Milton Keynes' mainly verbal assessment or Kirklees' theory course.

How to Become a Taxi Driver in the UK (2026 Guide)

Q: How much does it cost to become a taxi driver?

It depends on the authority. Council driver licence fees we have checked range from about £148 for one year in Nottingham to £445 for three years in North Yorkshire, and a TfL private hire licence costs £138 to apply plus £205 when granted. Add the DBS check, a medical, any training and the knowledge test, so many drivers spend several hundred pounds before their first fare.

How to become a taxi driver in the UK depends first on where you will work. There is no single national taxi licence. Each licensing authority, TfL in London or the local council elsewhere in England and Wales, sets its own tests, fees and rules within a national legal framework. This guide walks you through the decisions and steps in order, shows typical ages, costs and timescales from the councils we cover, and points you to the detailed guide for your area.

UK Driver Licence Prep is an independent study aid. We are not part of TfL or any council. Facts here come from the DfT's statutory standards, legislation.gov.uk and the councils' own pages, checked in October 2026. Fees change every April, so confirm with your authority before you pay.

Step 1: find your licensing authority

You must be licensed by the authority for the area where you plan to work.

London: Transport for London (TfL) licenses all taxi and private hire drivers in Greater London. A London private hire licence is often called a "PCO licence", after TfL's old Public Carriage Office. Our PCO licence guide covers the London process step by step, and TfL's private hire driver licence page is the official source.
The rest of England and Wales: your district, borough, city or unitary council licenses drivers under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
Scotland and Northern Ireland: separate systems apply (licensing by Scottish councils under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, and by the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland). This guide does not cover them.

A licence from one authority does not let you work everywhere. If you want to drive for a particular operator, check which council licenses that operator first. Stroud District Council, for example, tells applicants who want to work for Uber to apply to a neighbouring council, because Uber holds no operator licence in Stroud.

Step 2: choose taxi or private hire

There are two trades, and you need a licence for the one you choose:

	Hackney carriage (taxi)	Private hire (minicab)
How you get work	Street hails, ranks and bookings	Only bookings through a licensed operator
Licences	Driver and vehicle	Driver, vehicle and operator
Test	Usually longer, with more routes	Usually shorter
Typical work	Rank work, local journeys	App and phone bookings, airport runs, contracts

Many councils issue a dual or combined licence that covers both. Our page on private hire vs hackney carriage explains every difference, and the plying for hire guide explains the rule that private hire drivers must never take unbooked passengers.

Key fact: Most new drivers who want app-based work need a private hire licence from the authority where that app's operator is licensed, not just any council.

Step 3: check you meet the basic requirements

The law sets a floor and each authority builds on it. Under sections 51 and 59 of the 1976 Act, a council can only license a driver who is "fit and proper", meaning safe and trustworthy to carry the public, who is not disqualified by immigration status, and who has held a full driving licence for at least 12 months.

Minimum age and driving experience

Authorities set their own minimums. Examples from those we cover:

Authority	Minimum age	Driving licence held
TfL (London private hire)	21	3 years
Sheffield	21	12 months, with the test guidance asking for a driving test pass at least 2 years old
Reigate & Banstead	21	12 months
Birmingham	Not stated as an age	More than 2 years
Kirklees	19 in practice	2 years
Nottingham	18	12 months
Stroud	18	12 months
Milton Keynes	Check the council's policy	12 months
York	Check the council's policy	12 months

What you will be asked to prove

A full UK driving licence (or one the authority accepts), and a DVLA record check.
The right to work in the UK.
An English level the authority accepts. The DfT standards say a council's test should cover both spoken and written English.
For anyone who has lived abroad for a period set by the authority, a criminal record certificate or certificate of good conduct from each country.
A tax check code if you have held a taxi or private hire licence in the last 12 months, under rules in force since April 2022.

Step 4: pass the safety checks

The DfT's statutory taxi and private hire vehicle standards set out what councils in England are expected to require. Most now ask for all of these:

Enhanced DBS check with both barred lists. Councils then expect you to join the DBS Update Service so they can check your record every six months. The subscription is a yearly fee you pay yourself, and letting it lapse can mean a suspended licence.
DVLA Group 2 medical. The same standard as lorry and bus drivers, done by a doctor with access to your records. Repeat medicals follow at set ages.
Safeguarding training. A course on spotting and reporting abuse and exploitation of children and vulnerable adults. TfL requires its free online Safeguarding Awareness course; councils use approved providers.
A register check. Councils in England search the national register of refusals, suspensions and revocations (NR3S).
A commitment to self-report. The standards say licensed drivers should report any arrest, charge or conviction for a sexual, dishonesty, violence or motoring offence within 48 hours.

Some councils add a practical driving assessment, such as Birmingham's own driving test, York's assessment with Blue Lamp Trust, Green Penny or AA Drivetech, and Wolverhampton's practical drive for hackney applicants.

Step 5: pass the knowledge test

Nearly every authority tests what you know before it licenses you. The content is similar across the country: licensing law and the council's own conditions, the Highway Code, safeguarding, equality duties to disabled passengers, basic fares maths, and the local area and routes. The format, length and pass mark differ a lot.

In London, private hire applicants take TfL's SERU assessment, the Topographical skills assessment and an English speaking and listening assessment. See the SERU test guide.

The 15 council tests we cover

Council	Test in brief
Birmingham	Private hire 18-question suitability test run by TTC; hackney topographical test
Bristol	100 questions; 75% for private hire, 90% for hackney
Cambridge	100 questions online, 80% in every section
Kirklees	English test, then a theory course with a theory test
Liverpool	Street Knowledge Test of 110 questions
Milton Keynes	Mainly verbal Driver Assessment with a council officer
North Yorkshire	Written test, 60 questions, 80% to pass
Nottingham	Electronic topography test, 45 minutes
Oxford	Local Knowledge and Safeguarding Test, 80% in each section
Reigate & Banstead	Private hire 20 questions online, 90%; written hackney test
Sevenoaks	58 or 56 questions, compulsory section at 100%
Sheffield	40 questions, 80% in each of five sections
Stroud	Dual badge only, 85 questions
Wolverhampton	Private hire one-day course ending in a 28-question test
York	Training day ending in a written test, 26 correct to pass

Our council taxi knowledge test guide compares them in more depth, and taxi knowledge test questions and answers shows the kinds of questions they ask. Read the free council exam guide before you start studying.

Exam tip: Read your council's licence conditions before anything else. Local rules, like reporting deadlines and plate rules, are where most marks are lost, because they differ from council to council.

Step 6: apply and get licensed

The order varies. Some councils, such as Sevenoaks and York, want you to pass the knowledge test before you apply. Others, such as Reigate & Banstead and Bristol, only let you book the test after you apply. Read your council's process page and follow its steps in order, because a missing document can mean rejection and a lost fee.

Once licensed, you receive a badge to wear while working. Driver licences normally last three years under the 1976 Act, though councils can issue shorter ones in particular cases.

How much does it cost to become a taxi driver in the UK?

Costs fall into four groups: the licence, checks, training and tests.

Driver licence fees we have checked (as of October 2026)

Authority	Driver licence fee
TfL private hire	£138 application plus £205 grant
Nottingham	£148 for 1 year, £260 for 3 years
Liverpool	£180 for 3 years (under 65)
York	£190 application plus £190 grant, 3 years
Bristol	£251 for 3 years
Sevenoaks	£280 for 3 years
Cambridge	£300 new licence
Milton Keynes	£305 combined licence
Reigate & Banstead	£317 for 3 years
Stroud	£324 for 3 years
Kirklees	£329.50 for a 3-year dual licence
North Yorkshire	£445 for 3 years

A worked example: Nottingham

Using Nottingham's published fees: licence £148 for one year, knowledge test £50, driving test £60, medical with the council's provider £75, safeguarding e-learning £20. Total: £148 + £50 + £60 + £75 + £20 = £353, plus the DBS check and any English test. A failed knowledge test adds another £50.

Elsewhere, the knowledge test alone ranges from £50 (Nottingham) to £105 (Cambridge), and some councils charge for a training course as well. Then add your working costs: a licensed vehicle, insurance that covers hire and reward, and for private hire, any operator fees. If you rent a licensed car rather than buy one, weekly rental and insurance often cost more than all the licensing fees put together, so plan for them before you give up other work. The DfT's best practice guidance explains how councils are expected to set and review licence fees.

How long does it take?

There is no national timescale. York says applications normally take 4 to 8 weeks, mostly because of DBS processing. Reigate & Banstead asks applicants to allow at least six weeks before chasing. TfL publishes no fixed time and says it handles applications within a reasonable period. Add the time you need to study, book the knowledge test, get a medical appointment and complete training, and two to four months from start to first fare is common.

Things that cause delays:

Missing or out-of-date documents, such as a medical form older than the council allows.
A DBS certificate with the wrong job type, or not joining the Update Service.
Failing the knowledge test, especially where councils limit attempts (York allows six, Wolverhampton three before a 12-month wait).
Undeclared convictions. Taxi drivers are not covered by the usual rules on spent convictions, so declare everything the form asks for.

Can you work anywhere with your licence?

Your licence works with the authority that issued it.

Hackney carriage: you can only ply for hire, from ranks and street hails, in the area of the council that licensed you. Pre-booked jobs can take you elsewhere.
Private hire: every booking must come through an operator licensed by the same authority that licensed you and your vehicle. The DfT calls this the triple licensing lock. The journey itself can start or end outside that area if it is properly booked.

So if you move, or want to work for an operator licensed somewhere else, you usually need a new licence from that authority, with its own test.

Your study plan

Today: find your authority and read its process page. If it is one of our 15 councils or TfL, open the matching guide from the table above.
This week: take the free diagnostic for your test from the practice page to see where you stand.
Next two weeks: read your council's conditions and the free council exam guide, then drill weak sections.
Before booking: sit your test's free mock 1 under the timer. Aim for three mocks in a row at 85% or more.
Then: if you want more papers, Pro unlocks all ten mocks and section practice for every test from £6.99 a week; see pricing.

How to Become a Taxi Driver in the UK