The SERU handbook is the one book you must know to pass TfL's private hire SERU assessment. Its proper name is the PHV Driver's Handbook, and TfL says the SERU is based on the information in it. Everything the test asks about safety, equality, safeguarding, licensing and driving in London comes from its ten sections.
This page is a study guide to that book. It tells you which version to read, where to get it legally and free, what each section covers and what to note, and how to fit it into a three-week plan with practice. It does not reproduce the handbook: the handbook is TfL copyright, so we describe it in our own words and link you to TfL's copy. UK Driver Licence Prep is an independent study aid, not part of TfL.
Which SERU handbook to read in 2026
| Detail | PHV Driver's Handbook |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.0 |
| Published | 30 September 2021 |
| Length | 52 pages |
| Structure | 10 sections plus a glossary |
| Tested | The ten sections; not the glossary meanings or the website links |
| Official formats | PDF, audio, 11 video guides, online assessment guide |
| Cost | Free from TfL |
People search for a "SERU handbook 2025" or "SERU handbook 2026". As of October 2026, there is no such edition. TfL's SERU page still links version 1.0. The handbook says TfL will keep it under review and will tell drivers which version to read for the assessment. So, before you start, open the SERU page and check which version is linked. If it is still version 1.0, that is the book.
Key fact: The SERU handbook is free from TfL. You never need to pay for a "SERU handbook PDF" or "2026 edition".
Where to get the official copy
- PDF: PHV Driver's Handbook on TfL's content site.
- Audio: linked on TfL's SERU page. Useful for listening in the car between jobs or on public transport.
- Video guides: an introduction plus one video for each of the ten sections, on TfL's channel, linked from the SERU page.
- Online assessment guide: an interactive TfL course that covers every section, ends each one with a knowledge check, and shows what to expect at the test centre.
Avoid unofficial handbook PDFs
Searching "SERU handbook PDF free download" brings up file-sharing and mirror sites. Some host old copies, some add adverts or require sign-ups, and you cannot be sure the file is complete. The official copy is free and easy to find, so use it.
How the handbook is organised
Each section deals with one part of the job. Some are long and full of numbers; others are short and about attitude and judgement. The table shows what each covers, what to concentrate on, and where to practise it.
| Section | Theme | Focus on | Practise |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Driver licensing | Ages, deadlines, badge rules, medicals | Licensing |
| 2 | PHV requirements | Vehicle licence, discs, insurance | PHV requirements |
| 3 | PHV journeys | Pre-booking, touting, fares, lost property | Journeys |
| 4 | Staying safe | Conflict, warning signs, recording incidents | Staying safe |
| 5 | Driver behaviour | Conduct, data, sexual misconduct, complaints | Behaviour |
| 6 | Driving and parking in London | Where you may stop, bus lanes, ULEZ | Driving and parking |
| 7 | Safer driving | Phones, alcohol, seat belts, vulnerable road users | Safer driving |
| 8 | Equality and disability | Protected characteristics, assistance dogs, wheelchairs | Equality |
| 9 | Safeguarding | Signs of abuse and exploitation, who to call | Safeguarding |
| 10 | Ridesharing | Shared journeys, privacy | Ridesharing |
Section-by-section study guide
For each section: what to write in your notes, and the kind of detail the test likes. This is a guide to reading the book, not a replacement for it.
Section 1: Driver licensing
The densest section for numbers. Make a small table in your notes with every age, time limit and deadline you find: minimum age, how long you must have held a driving licence, how quickly you must show your licence when asked, how often medicals happen at different ages. Note who you must tell about changes (address, health, arrests) and how fast. Be aware that TfL's licence page now gives a 48-hour reporting deadline for licences granted from 1 July 2024, which is newer than the handbook. Read our free driver licensing note, which covers both.
Section 2: PHV requirements
This is about the vehicle. Note how long a vehicle licence lasts, where the licence discs go, what you must do if they are damaged, and what the insurance must cover. Note the rule that a PHV must not look like a London taxi, and the signs that must be displayed inside.
Section 3: PHV journeys
The heart of private hire work. Write down, in your own words, the difference between a pre-booked journey and plying for hire, what touting is, who agrees the fare, what records the operator keeps, and what to do with lost property. Many questions describe a person who approaches without a booking. Make sure you know exactly what you may and may not do.
Section 4: Staying safe
Less about numbers, more about sensible steps. Note the warning signs that a passenger may become aggressive, the ways to calm a situation, when to stop the vehicle and leave, and what to record afterwards. Think through each step as a short story; that helps with scenario questions.
Section 5: Driver behaviour
Note the standards TfL expects: professional conduct, no personal contact using booking details, no sexual comments or contact of any kind, and what happens to complaints. This section explains that consent from the passenger does not make sexual activity acceptable. Questions here often have one clearly professional answer.
Section 6: Driving and parking in London
Draw two columns: "may stop briefly" and "never stop". Fill them from the section: red and yellow lines, parking bays, bus lanes, zig-zags, clearways, taxi ranks. Note the difference between stopping to pick up and waiting. Add the Congestion Charge and ULEZ points, and the one late-night red route exception.
Section 7: Safer driving
Note the phone rules (hand-held use is illegal even in queues), the cradle position, alcohol, drugs and medicine, tiredness, and who is responsible for seat belts for adults and children. Note how to look out for cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, including before opening doors.
Section 8: Equality and disability
Learn the nine protected characteristics as a list. Then note your duties to wheelchair users and assistance dog owners, what you may never charge for, and the only ground for an exemption. Also note the practical tips for helping passengers with different disabilities, because scenario questions draw on them.
Section 9: Safeguarding
Write down who counts as a child and who counts as an adult at risk. List the warning signs of exploitation and county lines that the section describes, and the reporting steps: who you tell and which number you call. Complete TfL's free Safeguarding Awareness course at the same time; TfL expects you to do it before the SERU. Our free safeguarding note summarises the section.
Section 10: Ridesharing
Short. Note the definition (strangers, separate fares, one vehicle), that ridesharing must still be booked through a licensed operator, the good-practice steps at pick-up, and the privacy rule.
Exam tip: As you read, turn every rule into a question. "The badge must be worn when working" becomes "When must the badge be worn?" Then answer it a day later without looking. This is how you find out what you have really learned.
How to read the handbook: three readings
Reading 52 pages once is not enough. Most people who fail the SERU say they "read the handbook", but they read it once, quickly. Use three different readings instead.
- First reading: understanding. Read a section, then close the book and say out loud what it was about in two or three sentences. Do not take detailed notes yet.
- Second reading: details. Read again with a pen. Write down every number, deadline, age, and every word like must, must not, never and only. These are what questions are built on.
- Third reading: checking. After practice questions, go back only to the parts where you made mistakes. This is fast and targeted.
If English is your second language, listen to the audio version while you read the PDF. Hearing and seeing the words together helps with the reading and sentence-completion questions. Our free SERU exam guide explains the rest of the test.
Three-week reading and practice schedule
| Week | Read | Practise |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sections 1 to 3: first and second reading. Complete the Safeguarding Awareness course. | Free SERU diagnostic; licensing and journeys questions |
| 2 | Sections 4 to 7. Watch the matching TfL videos. | Section practice for 4 to 7; ten sentence-completion questions a day |
| 3 | Sections 8 to 10, then a third reading of your weak areas | Free SERU mock 1 under the timer; review every mistake against the handbook |
If you work full time, stretch this to four or five weeks. The order matters less than reading every section twice and practising after each one.
Where the handbook and newer TfL rules differ
Version 1.0 dates from 2021, and some TfL rules have changed since. The SERU is based on the handbook, but your licence is governed by the current rules, so it helps to know both.
| Topic | In the handbook | Since then |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting arrests, charges, cautions and convictions | Report to TfL | 48 hours for licences granted from 1 July 2024 (TfL licence page) |
| Assessment fees | Not covered | £40 first attempt, £30 re-sit from 9 March 2026 |
| Taxi drivers | Not covered | Separate taxi SERU since 1 October 2025 |
If a practice question seems to disagree with the handbook, read its explanation: good explanations say which source a rule comes from and when it changed.
The PHV handbook and the taxi handbook
London now has two SERU tests, based on two different books.
| PHV Driver's Handbook | Taxi Driver Handbook | |
|---|---|---|
| For | Private hire drivers | Taxi (black cab) drivers |
| Used in | Private hire SERU (since 1 October 2021) | Taxi SERU (since 1 October 2025) |
| Focus | Pre-booking, operators, PHV vehicle rules | Fares and meters, ranks and stopping, taxi licensing |
| In the test | Open book not confirmed by TfL | A copy is provided (open book) |
| Link | PHV handbook PDF | Taxi handbook PDF |
Some topics overlap, such as equality, safeguarding and safe driving, but the rules on fares, stopping and plying for hire are very different. Use the right book for your test. If you drive a black cab, see our taxi SERU guide.
From reading to practice
Reading teaches you the rules. Questions teach you to recognise them under time pressure and in unfamiliar wording. Our SERU practice is written from the handbook, and every explanation names the section it comes from, so you can go straight back to the right page.
- Free: the 20-question diagnostic, a 20-question quick practice, the full mock 1 and a printable worksheet.
- Pro: mocks 2 to 10 and practice by section across our 3,701-question bank, for £6.99 a week, £11.99 a month or £22.99 for three months. See pricing.
There is no pass guarantee. For examples of how each section is asked, see SERU questions and answers, and for how the mocks work, the SERU mock test page. The fill in the blanks guide covers the sentence-completion style that reading alone does not prepare you for.
Your study plan
- Today: check TfL's SERU page for the current handbook version and download the official PDF and audio.
- Today: take the free SERU diagnostic before reading, so you know which sections need most time.
- Weeks 1 to 3: follow the reading schedule above, with practice after each section.
- End of week 3: sit SERU mock 1 without the handbook, with the timer on.
- Before booking: score 85% on three mocks in a row, then read the SERU test hub for booking and the day itself.
10 free PHV SERU practice questions with answers
Try each one, then open the answer. For a timed experience use the free mock exam.
1. You must not park partially or wholly on the ___ in London.
- A. motorway
- B. roundabout
- C. bridge
- D. pavement
Show answer
D. pavement
The Highway Code says you must not park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, except in limited circumstances. Pavement parking blocks pedestrians and wheelchair users. Park at the kerb.
2. You do not own a licensed PHV. Should you still know the licensing rules for PHVs?
- A. Yes, every PHV driver should know them
- B. No, they are only for vehicle owners
- C. Only if you plan to buy a car
- D. No, they are only for operators
Show answer
A. Yes, every PHV driver should know them
The handbook says that even if you do not own a licensed vehicle, you should know about the PHV licensing requirements.
3. A passenger with a guide dog wants to sit in the front. Where should the dog go?
- A. In the footwell with the passenger
- B. On the back seat, on its own
- C. In the boot, with the luggage
- D. In the driver's footwell
Show answer
A. In the footwell with the passenger
The assistance dog should stay with the passenger, in the footwell.
4. A bus stop by the kerb has no wide yellow or red line. Should you use it to pick up?
- A. Only if you are a taxi
- B. Avoid it if you can, as it may delay buses
- C. Yes, and you may wait there
- D. Yes, bus stops are the best pick-up points
Show answer
B. Avoid it if you can, as it may delay buses
You should avoid picking up or dropping off at bus stops, as this can delay buses and may not be allowed. Where there is a wide yellow or red line, you must not stop at all. Choose another place.
5. Having a CCTV camera may reduce your insurance ___.
- A. premiums
- B. journeys
- C. claims only
- D. licences
Show answer
A. premiums
Having CCTV may reduce insurance premiums because recordings can be useful evidence in a dispute. A premium is the amount you pay for insurance. The camera itself is an extra cost.
6. A passenger with a visual impairment needs to find the building entrance. What is good practice?
- A. Drive off quickly
- B. Ask someone passing to help
- C. Offer to guide them to a safe place
- D. Point and say 'over there'
Show answer
C. Offer to guide them to a safe place
On arrival, offer to help them out and guide them to a safe place before leaving.
7. How should you treat an assistance dog?
- A. As a friendly pet that you can play with
- B. As luggage that goes in the boot
- C. As a second passenger with its own seat
- D. As a working animal; do not stroke or feed it
Show answer
D. As a working animal; do not stroke or feed it
Assistance dogs are highly trained working animals. Do not stroke, feed or distract them.
8. Two passengers of the same sex hold hands in the back of your car. What should you do?
- A. Tell them to stop holding hands
- B. Treat them with the same respect as anyone
- C. Ask them questions about their relationship
- D. Make a joke about them to lighten the mood
Show answer
B. Treat them with the same respect as anyone
You should never make comments or jokes about someone's sexual orientation. Treat all passengers with respect and professionalism. Drivers who behave unacceptably face action by TfL or the police.
9. Why must the operator be told when you do not carry out a booking?
- A. It must fine the passenger for the problem
- B. It must report every refusal to TfL
- C. It is responsible for the booking it accepted
- D. It will pay you for the time you lost
Show answer
C. It is responsible for the booking it accepted
Because the operator accepted the booking, it must arrange another driver or tell the passenger it is cancelled.
10. What is a fixed penalty notice (FPN)?
- A. A certificate showing you passed SERU
- B. A letter from your operator about a booking
- C. A permit to park in a bus lane
- D. A notice that can bring a fine and penalty points for an offence
Show answer
D. A notice that can bring a fine and penalty points for an offence
A fixed penalty notice is given for some traffic offences. It can include a fine and penalty points on your licence, as an alternative to going to court.
Frequently asked questions
+What handbook is the SERU based on?
The private hire SERU is based on TfL's PHV Driver's Handbook, version 1.0, dated 30 September 2021. The taxi SERU is based on a different book, the Taxi Driver Handbook.
+Where can I download the SERU handbook PDF?
From TfL, free, at content.tfl.gov.uk/phv-driver-handbook-v1.pdf, linked from TfL's SERU page. Download it from TfL rather than a mirror site, so you know you have the genuine, current version.
+Is there a 2026 version of the SERU handbook?
Not as of October 2026. TfL's SERU page still links version 1.0 from 2021. TfL says it will tell drivers which version to read if the handbook changes, so check the SERU page before you start studying.
+Is there an audio version of the SERU handbook?
Yes. TfL publishes an audio version of the PHV Driver's Handbook on its SERU page, alongside video guides for the introduction and each of the ten sections.
+Is the glossary tested in the SERU?
No. The handbook itself says you will not be tested on the meanings of the glossary words, and the website links in the handbook are not tested either. Knowing the words still helps you read the questions.
+How long does it take to read the SERU handbook?
It depends on your reading speed and English. At 52 pages, most people can read it once over a few days. Plan to read it at least twice: once for understanding and once for the details such as deadlines, ages and fines.
+What is the difference between the PHV and taxi handbooks?
The PHV Driver's Handbook is for private hire drivers and is the basis of the private hire SERU. The Taxi Driver Handbook covers black cab work, such as fares, meters, ranks and stopping rules, and is the basis of the taxi SERU. Passing one SERU does not count for the other.
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
- SERU Test: The TfL SERU Assessment ExplainedWhat the TfL SERU test covers, how it works for private hire and taxi drivers, fees from March 2026, and free SERU practice tests.
- SERU Questions and AnswersSERU questions and answers by handbook section, with explanations, the four question styles and a free printable PDF answer sheet. Start practising free.
- Free SERU Mock Test (TfL Private Hire)Take a free SERU mock test: 36 TfL-style questions in 50 minutes with explanations. How to use mocks, review mistakes and know when to book.
- Taxi SERU Practice Test for London Black Cab DriversFree taxi SERU mock test for London black cab drivers: 36 questions, the Taxi Driver Handbook, open-book tips, fees and who must take it.
- SERU Fill in the Blanks: How to Pass Sentence CompletionHow to pass the SERU fill in the blanks (sentence completion) questions: a six-step method, grammar points and worked examples. Practise free today.