The Oxford taxi knowledge test is officially called the Local Knowledge and Safeguarding Test, and the second half of that name matters. Oxford City Council doesn't just ask about roads and colleges. It gives safeguarding, equality and disability awareness their own sections, and it requires at least 80% in every section. With only five questions in some of them, there is almost no room for error.
This guide explains both versions of the test, the section rule and why it catches people, the local rules and fares you need, Oxford's geography and how to practise. Facts come from the council's knowledge and safeguarding test page, its supporting materials for applicants and its hackney carriage fares page, checked in October 2026. UK Driver Licence Prep is an independent study aid, not part of Oxford City Council.
The two versions of the Oxford taxi knowledge test
| Section | Hackney carriage | Private hire |
|---|---|---|
| Identification of roads and streets | 15 | 15 |
| Identification of buildings and locations | 15 | 10 |
| Correct routes | 5 | (none) |
| Conditions and regulations | 20 | 20 |
| Safeguarding and equality | 5 | 5 |
| Disability awareness | 5 | 5 |
| Total | 65 | 55 |
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Time | 90 minutes |
| Pass rule | At least 80% in each section |
| Question style | The council says some sections are multiple choice |
| Booking | Online form on the council's website |
| If you fail | The council invites you to sit again after you pay a further test fee |
| Not stated on the test page | The test fee, a limit on attempts, any waiting period between attempts |
The council's supporting materials also say the test includes Highway Code and road safety questions. Learn the basics even though they don't have a section of their own.
The 80% section rule: why it catches people
Most council tests add up your score. Oxford checks each section separately, so a strong result in one section can't rescue a weak one. Here is what 80% means in each section:
| Section size | Most you can get wrong and still pass |
|---|---|
| 20 questions (conditions and regulations) | 4 |
| 15 questions (roads; hackney buildings) | 3 |
| 10 questions (private hire buildings) | 2 |
| 5 questions (routes; safeguarding and equality; disability awareness) | 1 |
Worked example. A private hire candidate scores 15/15 on roads, 10/10 on buildings, 20/20 on conditions, 5/5 on disability awareness and 3/5 on safeguarding and equality. That is 53 out of 55, about 96% overall. But 3/5 is 60% in one section, so it is a fail.
Key fact: Safeguarding and disability awareness are only five questions each, but they can fail you on their own. Two mistakes in either section and the rest of your paper doesn't count.
This is why Oxford's test name puts safeguarding next to local knowledge. Revise those two short sections as seriously as the long ones. Our guides to safeguarding questions for taxi drivers and the Equality Act for taxi drivers go deeper on both.
What each section covers
Roads and streets (15 questions)
Where Oxford's roads are and how they connect. The council publishes a list of roads and locations to learn, including Abingdon Road, Banbury Road, Botley Road, London Road, Headley Way, Magdalen Road, Walton Street, Gipsy Lane, The Slade and Between Towns Road in Cowley. Practise in Oxford local area.
Buildings and locations (15 hackney, 10 private hire)
Where important places are: stations, hospitals, colleges, museums, hotels, leisure centres and Park and Rides. The geography section below gives a starting list.
Correct routes (hackney only, 5 questions)
The best route between two points in the city. Only hackney carriage applicants sit this section. Hackney drivers take passengers straight from ranks and street hails, often with no booking details to plan from.
Conditions and regulations (20 questions)
The council's conditions and the law behind them: badges, plates, reporting deadlines, conduct, ranks and private hire bookings. This is the biggest section. Practise in Oxford local policy.
Safeguarding and equality (5 questions)
Recognising and reporting abuse, exploitation and trafficking, and treating every passenger fairly. Practise in Oxford safeguarding.
Disability awareness (5 questions)
Your duties to disabled passengers, wheelchair users and assistance dog owners. Practise in Oxford equality.
Oxford rules you must know
Reporting deadlines
| Event | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Arrest, bail, charge, conviction, caution or fixed penalty (including speeding) | 48 hours, in writing |
| Change of address or phone number | 7 days, in writing |
| Illness or injury affecting fitness to drive | As soon as possible, within 7 days |
| Away from your home address for more than 28 days | Tell the council in advance |
| Accident (proprietor to the Licensing Officer) | 48 hours |
| Lost property you can't return | Follow the Thames Valley Police procedure within 24 hours |
| Lost badge | As soon as you know |
Conduct for every driver
- Never lend your badge or licence to anyone. Only a copy of your licence goes to your private hire operator.
- Wear your badge, and your company uniform where you have one, as identification.
- Don't sound the horn to announce your arrival.
- Respect a passenger who doesn't want to chat.
- Tell passengers your route if they ask, and never make a journey longer without good reason.
- Children aged 1 to 14 travel in the rear with the correct restraint. Animals other than assistance dogs go in the rear.
- If asked, wait until a passenger is safely inside their destination.
- Don't stop at bus stops or in bus lay-bys. On double yellow lines, stop only to set down or pick up. Use bus lanes and restricted roads only where the signs allow.
- Enrol with the DBS Update Service.
Private hire drivers
- Never ply for hire, tout or park on a taxi rank. If someone approaches you, don't ask your operator to create a booking for them.
- Don't wait without a booking in a prominent position, such as where crowds gather or near a rank.
- Record every hiring in a bound book, including the fare charged, and keep it for at least 12 months.
Hackney carriage drivers
- The first taxi on a rank must stay with it, ready to be hired. If the rank is full, go to another stand rather than queue on the road.
- You must accept a hiring that starts and ends within the city unless you have a reasonable excuse. You don't have to accept journeys ending outside the city.
- The plate goes securely on the rear bumper or rear bodywork unless the council has granted an exemption notice.
- Keep copies of the insurance, compliance certificate and V5 logbook in the vehicle.
Exam tip: Two rules are easy to mix up. A hackney driver must accept a journey within the city; a private hire driver must never accept any journey that isn't booked through the operator. The question usually tells you which kind of driver it means.
Oxford hackney carriage fares and a worked example
Oxford's hackney carriage fares have been operative since 22 February 2024:
| Tariff | When | Starting fare |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6am to 10pm Monday to Friday; 6am to 6pm Saturday | £2.80 |
| 2 | 10pm to 2am Monday to Friday; 6pm to 2am Saturday; public holidays (outside Tariff 3 times) | £3.00 |
| 3 | 2am to 6am every day; 8pm on 24 December to 6am on 27 December; 8pm on 31 December to 6am on 2 January | £3.00 |
Waiting time on Tariff 1 is £20 an hour. Extras include £2.00 for each uncaged animal (never for an assistance dog) and £1.00 for each trunk (£1.50 on Tariff 3).
Worked example. On Tariff 1 the meter shows £9.70, and the passenger has two trunks. Add £1.00 per trunk: £9.70 + (2 × £1.00) = £11.70.
A Tariff 3 variation. The same journey at 3am on Tariff 3, meter £9.70, two trunks at £1.50: £9.70 + £3.00 = £12.70.
Private hire fares are agreed through the operator, not set by the council's table.
Learning Oxford's geography
Start from Carfax
Carfax, the crossroads at the centre of the city, is the reference point. From there:
- St Giles' runs north and splits into Woodstock Road and Banbury Road.
- The Plain, east of Magdalen Bridge, is where Cowley Road and Iffley Road begin, with St Clement's leading to Headington Hill and London Road.
- Botley Road runs west past the railway station.
- Abingdon Road runs south over Folly Bridge.
Places to know
| Place | Where |
|---|---|
| Oxford railway station | Park End Street / Botley Road |
| Gloucester Green Bus Station | City centre, north-west |
| New Theatre | George Street |
| Ashmolean Museum | Beaumont Street |
| Sheldonian Theatre | Broad Street |
| Westgate Centre | South-west of Carfax |
| John Radcliffe Hospital | Headley Way, Headington |
| Churchill Hospital | Old Road, Headington |
| Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre | Headington |
| St Aldate's Police Station | St Aldate's |
| Kassam Stadium | Grenoble Road |
Park and Rides
Seacourt (west), Thornhill (east), Redbridge (south), Peartree (north) and Water Eaton by Oxford Parkway station (north). Passengers often ask for these by name.
Key fact: All three main hospitals (the John Radcliffe, the Churchill and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre) are in Headington, east of the centre. Know which road each is on, because a wrong hospital costs a patient time.
Safeguarding and equality in Oxford
The council's materials give specific points worth knowing for the five-question sections.
Safeguarding. Human trafficking has three elements: the movement of a person, control over them, and the purpose (exploitation). One warning sign alone isn't proof, but several together should concern you. Report to Thames Valley Police on 101, or 999 in an emergency, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Seat lone passengers in the back unless agreed otherwise, never double up bookings, and explain before using central locking.
Equality and disability. In practice every Oxford hackney carriage is treated as a designated wheelchair accessible vehicle. You can't refuse a wheelchair user your vehicle can safely carry, and you can't charge a disabled passenger more. A wheelchair must never travel sideways: secure the restraints to the rear frame uprights and use the passenger's seat belt too. The legal duties come from sections 165 to 171 of the Equality Act 2010, which you can read on legislation.gov.uk.
Getting licensed in Oxford
The knowledge and safeguarding test is one step. You also need the council's other checks, including an enhanced DBS check with the Update Service and a Group 2 medical, as set out in its driver application pack. As of October 2026, the council's fees page shows the hackney carriage driver licence at £433.10, new or renewal. Check the current fee and the test fee when you book, because the council reviews fees every year.
Not your council?
Oxford City Council licenses drivers for the city only. If you live or plan to work in South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire or Cherwell, those councils license their own drivers with their own tests and fees. For the national picture, see our council taxi knowledge test guide.
How our Oxford practice matches the real test
Our Oxford route has 2,258 questions: about 2,000 shared council questions plus questions written for Oxford's conditions, fares, roads and places. The ten Oxford mocks follow the private hire version: 55 questions in 90 minutes, with 44 correct needed and at least 80% required in each scored section. A mock with a weak section shows as a fail, just as the real test would.
One difference to know: our mocks score roads and buildings together as one local area section of 25 questions, while the real test scores them as two sections (15 and 10). Aim higher than 80% in local area practice so you are safe in both. Hackney applicants should add route practice on a city map, since our mocks don't include the correct routes section.
The free Oxford note summarises the local rules, and the free printable Oxford sheet gives you questions with an answer key on paper. If you are comparing with a neighbour, Cambridge also requires a pass in every section: see the Cambridge taxi knowledge test.
Your study plan
- Today: take the free Oxford diagnostic.
- This week: read the council's supporting materials and the free Oxford note. Learn the reporting deadlines and the hackney versus private hire rules.
- Next week: drill safeguarding and equality until you score 100%, because those five-question sections allow only one mistake.
- Before booking: sit the free Oxford mock 1 under the 90-minute timer and aim for three mocks in a row at 85% or more with no weak section.
- Then: if you want more papers, Pro unlocks mocks 2 to 10 and section practice for £6.99 a week. See pricing.
15 free Oxford practice questions with answers
Try each one, then open the answer. For a timed experience use the free mock exam.
1. What should an Oxford driver be wearing as ID, according to the safeguarding good practice?
- A. Their licence badge and company uniform
- B. A hat
- C. Nothing special
- D. A visitor lanyard
Show answer
A. Their licence badge and company uniform
Make sure you wear ID: your licence badge and your company uniform.
2. Under Oxford conditions, may a licensed vehicle stop in a bus lay-by to drop off a passenger?
- A. No - not at any bus stop or bus lay-by
- B. Yes, briefly
- C. Yes, at night
- D. Yes, for disabled passengers only
Show answer
A. No - not at any bus stop or bus lay-by
Drivers must not cause or permit the vehicle to stand at any bus stop or in any bus lay-by.
3. Within how many days must an Oxford driver tell the council about an illness affecting fitness to drive?
- A. 48 hours
- B. 7 days
- C. 28 days
- D. At renewal
Show answer
B. 7 days
Illness or injury affecting fitness must be notified in writing as soon as possible and within 7 days.
4. When taking a wheelchair up a kerb, what does Oxford's guidance say you should press with your foot?
- A. The front wheel
- B. The footplate
- C. A tipping lever at the back of the chair
- D. The brake
Show answer
C. A tipping lever at the back of the chair
Place your foot on a tipping lever, tilt the chair onto its back wheels, and lift the front wheels onto the kerb.
5. Where is Thornhill Park and Ride in relation to Oxford city centre?
- A. West, on Botley Road
- B. South, on Abingdon Road
- C. North, on Woodstock Road
- D. East, by the A40
Show answer
D. East, by the A40
Thornhill Park and Ride is east, by the A40.
6. What will the Oxford test also include questions about, according to the supporting materials?
- A. Car mechanics
- B. Oxford University history
- C. Foreign languages
- D. The Highway Code and road safety
Show answer
D. The Highway Code and road safety
Applicants must know the Highway Code and road safety; the test includes questions on these.
7. Must an Oxford hackney driver accept a hiring that starts and ends inside the city?
- A. Yes, unless they have a reasonable excuse
- B. No, never
- C. Only in the daytime
- D. Only if the fare is over £10
Show answer
A. Yes, unless they have a reasonable excuse
The driver must accept any hiring within the city boundary if the destination is also within the boundary, unless there is a reasonable excuse.
8. When may an Oxford licensed vehicle stop on double yellow lines?
- A. To wait for a booking
- B. Only to let passengers get in or out
- C. To take a break
- D. Never
Show answer
B. Only to let passengers get in or out
Stopping on double yellow lines is only allowed to let passengers board or alight.
9. Under Oxford conditions, where must animals (other than assistance dogs) travel?
- A. In the front footwell
- B. In the rear seating compartment
- C. In the boot
- D. On the driver's lap
Show answer
B. In the rear seating compartment
Any animals carried must be placed in the rear seating compartment.
10. How long does the Oxford Local Knowledge and Safeguarding Test last?
- A. 90 minutes
- B. 45 minutes
- C. 60 minutes
- D. 2 hours
Show answer
A. 90 minutes
The test lasts 90 minutes.
11. In which direction from Carfax is Thornhill Park and Ride?
- A. West
- B. East
- C. South
- D. North
Show answer
B. East
Thornhill Park and Ride is about 5 km east of Carfax.
12. Why does Oxford advise never to 'double up' bookings, even for passengers going the same way?
- A. One passenger may pose a risk to the other
- B. It reduces the fare
- C. It breaks the meter
- D. It is slower
Show answer
A. One passenger may pose a risk to the other
Never double up on a booking, as the passengers may pose a threat or risk to each other.
13. On which road is Oxford Town Hall in Oxford?
- A. High Street
- B. St Aldate's
- C. Broad Street
- D. Queen Street
Show answer
B. St Aldate's
Oxford Town Hall is on St Aldate's. Oxford's test asks drivers to identify buildings and locations.
14. Which number does Oxford's material give for Crimestoppers?
- A. 101
- B. 0800 555 111
- C. 01865 252565
- D. 999
Show answer
B. 0800 555 111
Crimestoppers can be called anonymously on 0800 555 111.
15. On which road is the Churchill Hospital in Oxford?
- A. Old Road
- B. Headley Way
- C. Banbury Road
- D. Botley Road
Show answer
A. Old Road
The Churchill Hospital is on Old Road. Oxford's test asks drivers to identify buildings and locations.
Frequently asked questions
+What is the Oxford Local Knowledge and Safeguarding Test?
It is Oxford City Council's knowledge test for new taxi drivers. It checks that you know Oxford's roads and buildings, the conduct and conditions expected of licensed drivers, traffic rules, and equality, safeguarding and disability awareness.
+How many questions are in the Oxford taxi test?
The hackney carriage version has 65 questions in six sections, and the private hire version has 55 questions in five sections. The extra hackney questions are five correct-route questions and five more on buildings and locations.
+What is the pass mark for the Oxford knowledge test?
You need at least 80% in each section, not just overall. In the five-question sections on safeguarding and equality and on disability awareness, one wrong answer leaves you on exactly 80%, and a second wrong answer is a fail.
+How long is the Oxford taxi knowledge test?
The test lasts 90 minutes for both the hackney carriage and private hire versions. The council's page says some sections are multiple choice.
+What is the difference between the hackney and private hire tests in Oxford?
The hackney carriage test has 65 questions, including a correct routes section and 15 buildings and locations questions. The private hire test has 55 questions, with no routes section and 10 buildings and locations questions. Both have 15 roads, 20 conditions, 5 safeguarding and equality and 5 disability questions.
+How do I book the Oxford knowledge test?
You book through an online form on Oxford City Council's knowledge and safeguarding test page. If you fail, the council invites you to sit it again after paying a further test fee; the fee itself is not stated on the test page.
+I'm in South or West Oxfordshire: is this my test?
No. Oxford City Council licenses drivers for the city only. South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire and Cherwell councils license their own drivers and set their own requirements.
Study offline on your phone too
The UK Driver Licence Prep app has the same questions, works offline, and explains every answer in Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Arabic, Pashto, Farsi, Somali, Romanian or Polish, plus a map trainer for the Topographical.
Keep reading
- Council Taxi Knowledge Tests: Formats, Pass Marks and PracticeCouncil taxi knowledge tests compared: questions, time, pass rules and fees for 15 councils, what the tests cover and free practice for each.
- Cambridge City Council Taxi Knowledge TestCambridge City Council's taxi knowledge test: 100 questions taken at home with TestReach, 80% in all 8 sections, 3 attempts, £105 fee. Free practice.
- Milton Keynes Taxi Driver AssessmentMilton Keynes has no written taxi knowledge test: it uses a mostly verbal Driver Assessment. Format, 80% pass rule, £129 re-sit, grid roads and practice.
- Safeguarding Questions for Taxi DriversSafeguarding questions for taxi drivers: signs of exploitation, county lines, who to report to, worked scenarios and how TfL and councils test it.
- Equality Act Duties for Taxi DriversEquality Act duties for taxi drivers: assistance dogs, wheelchair users, no extra charges, exemption certificates and the 2022 changes, with scenarios.