A SERU mock test is the closest you can get to the real assessment before you sit it. Reading the PHV Driver's Handbook tells you the rules; a timed mock shows whether you can recall them, read tricky wording and finish in time. This page is the place to start a free SERU mock test, and it explains how to use mock tests well: how they are built, how to review your mistakes, what score means you are ready and which mistakes cost the most marks in each section.
UK Driver Licence Prep is an independent study aid, not part of TfL. Every question in our bank is our own, written from the handbook. For the full background to the assessment itself, see our SERU test guide.
Start your free SERU mock test
| Free SERU mock 1 | |
|---|---|
| Questions | 36 |
| Time | 50 minutes |
| Pass line | 22 correct (just over 60%) |
| Question styles | Multiple choice, sentence completion, reading passages |
| Topics | All 10 sections of the PHV Driver's Handbook |
| After the test | Score, section breakdown, explanation and handbook section for every answer |
| Start | SERU mock 1 |
If you have not studied yet, start with the free SERU diagnostic instead: 20 questions across every section in 20 minutes. It shows your weak sections so your reading time goes where it is needed. The free 20-question quick practice is good for a short daily session.
Key fact: TfL has not published the question count or pass mark for the private hire SERU. Most candidates report 36 questions and 60%, which matches the published taxi SERU format, so our mocks use 36 questions and a 22-correct pass line.
How our SERU mock tests are built
The same format every time
Each mock is a fixed paper of 36 questions. We publish ten mocks, the same ten papers as in our app, so you can repeat a paper later and see whether you have really fixed a weak area. The 50-minute timer matches the session length TfL gives in its On Route magazine (Winter 2024). TfL's 50 minutes includes a short instruction video, so on the day you have slightly less than 50 minutes for the questions. If you finish our mocks with ten minutes to spare, you are on track.
Questions from every handbook section
The SERU is based on the PHV Driver's Handbook, and each of our mocks samples all ten sections in roughly the same proportions:
| Handbook section | Questions per mock (about) | Section practice |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Driver licensing | 4 | Licensing |
| 2 PHV requirements | 3 | PHV requirements |
| 3 PHV journeys | 4 | Journeys |
| 4 Staying safe | 4 | Staying safe |
| 5 Driver behaviour | 4 | Driver behaviour |
| 6 Driving and parking in London | 4 | Driving and parking |
| 7 Safer driving | 4 | Safer driving |
| 8 Equality and disability | 4 | Equality |
| 9 Safeguarding | 4 | Safeguarding |
| 10 Ridesharing | 2 | Ridesharing |
TfL does not publish how its own questions are spread across the sections. Our weighting is an assumption based on how much testable detail each section contains.
Three question styles
Out of every 36 questions, about 25 are knowledge questions with four options, about eight are sentence completion (choose the word that fills the gap) and about three are reading questions on a short passage. TfL's notice for the taxi SERU, which it describes as similar, lists four styles: single-answer multiple choice, select-all multiple choice, a handbook passage with questions, and missing words from a list. One honest difference: the real test includes "select all the correct answers" questions, and our bank uses single-answer questions only for now. When you meet a select-all question on the day, check every option on its own merits. For the gap-fill style, our SERU fill in the blanks guide shows a step-by-step method.
Exam tip: Treat the sentence-completion questions as an English test as well as a rules test. The right word must fit the grammar of the sentence, not just sound like something from the handbook.
How to take a SERU mock test properly
A mock only tells you the truth if you take it under test conditions.
- Pick a quiet 50 minutes. No phone, no handbook open, no breaks. If TfL lets you consult the handbook on the day, that is a bonus; prepare as if it will not.
- Answer every question. There is no published penalty for a wrong answer, so a blank is a wasted mark.
- Flag, don't freeze. If a question stops you for more than a minute, choose your best answer, flag it and move on. Come back at the end.
- Read every option. Many wrong options are true statements that do not answer the question asked.
- Submit, then stop. Don't retake the same paper straight away. Review first.
Pacing: checkpoints for a 36-question paper
Fifty minutes for 36 questions is about 80 seconds per question. Knowledge questions should take less than a minute; reading passages take longer because you read the text first. Use these checkpoints in every mock until the pace feels natural:
| Time gone | Where you should be |
|---|---|
| 12 minutes | Question 10 |
| 25 minutes | Question 20 |
| 38 minutes | Question 30 |
| 45 minutes | All answered; checking flagged questions |
If you are behind at a checkpoint, you are probably re-reading options too many times. Choose, flag and move. If you are well ahead, slow down on the questions that contain "not" or "must", because misreading costs more marks than running out of time.
For reading questions, read the question first and then the passage. You then know what you are looking for, and you can find the line that answers it instead of trying to remember the whole text. For sentence completion, read the full sentence once before looking at the word list.
How to review a mock: where the real learning happens
Most of your improvement comes from the 20 minutes after the mock, not the 50 minutes during it.
Read every explanation, including the ones you got right
Each answer has an explanation and names the handbook section it comes from. If you got a question right by guessing, it is not really right yet. Read the explanation and make sure you could explain the answer to someone else.
Sort your mistakes into three types
| Mistake type | What it looks like | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge gap | You did not know the rule or the number | Re-read that handbook section and drill it in section practice |
| Misreading | You knew the rule but missed "not", "must" or "within" | Slow down; underline key words in your head |
| English | You did not know a word, or chose a gap-fill word that did not fit | Keep a word list; practise sentence completion daily |
Keep a short error log
Write one line for every wrong answer: the rule in your own words and the section number. Before your next mock, read the log. After two or three mocks, the same sections keep appearing. Those are the ones to study.
What your mock score means
| Score on a full mock | What it means | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Under 22 (below 60%) | Below the pass line | Study your weakest three sections before another full mock |
| 22 to 26 | A narrow pass | You could fail on a bad day; keep practising by section |
| 27 to 30 | A solid pass | Work on the sections where you still drop marks |
| 31 or more (85%+) | Ready if you do it three times in a row | Book your SERU |
Our readiness rule, the same as in the app, is three mocks in a row at 85% or more. That margin covers nerves, unfamiliar wording and questions on rules you have not seen phrased that way. TfL's published SERU pass rate is 73% (FOI-0168-2425), so about one in four attempts fails. A re-sit costs £30 and another trip to North Greenwich.
Key fact: A pass on one mock is not proof of readiness. Repeat a paper only after a week or more, or you will be measuring memory, not knowledge.
Common mistakes by section
From the answers drivers get wrong most often in our bank:
- Licensing: mixing up deadlines. Licences granted from 1 July 2024 must report arrests, charges, cautions and convictions to TfL within 48 hours. A driver licence normally lasts three years; a vehicle licence lasts one.
- PHV requirements: forgetting that the licence discs must be displayed, and that you should check an operator's licence on TfL's licence checker if you are unsure.
- Journeys: any option that lets you take a passenger who has not booked through a licensed operator is wrong. That would be plying for hire.
- Staying safe: with an aggressive passenger, a PHV driver tells the operator; in an emergency, anyone calls 999.
- Driver behaviour: a passenger's phone number is for the booked journey only. Consent never makes sexual activity with a passenger acceptable.
- Driving and parking: a sign that allows "taxis" does not include private hire vehicles.
- Safer driving: holding a phone while stopped at traffic lights is still illegal. A phone cradle must not sit in the area the wipers sweep.
- Equality and disability: there are nine protected characteristics. Only a medical reason, never a religious one, can exempt you from carrying an assistance dog.
- Safeguarding: a child is anyone under 18. Use 999 for immediate danger and 101 for non-emergencies.
- Ridesharing: the passengers do not know each other and each pays a separate fare.
For more examples of how each section is asked, see SERU questions and answers. For the exact published numbers about the assessment, see the SERU test format guide.
Free and Pro SERU practice
| Free | Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic (20 questions) | Yes | Yes |
| Full mock tests | Mock 1 | Mocks 1 to 10, such as mock 2 |
| Quick practice (20 questions) | Yes | Yes |
| Practice by handbook section | No | All 10 sections |
| Study notes | SERU exam guide and the driver licensing note | Every note |
| Printable questions | SERU worksheet | Yes |
The PHV SERU bank has 3,701 questions. Pro costs £6.99 per week, £11.99 per month or £22.99 for three months, includes VAT, and can be cancelled at any time. One plan covers every test on the site, including the Topographical test practice you need for the same licence. See pricing. There is no pass guarantee.
Prefer an app? Our app has the same questions and notes, works offline and explains answers in Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Arabic, Pashto, Farsi, Somali, Romanian and Polish. The questions stay in English, as they are in the real assessment. App and web subscriptions are separate purchases.
The real SERU in brief
The assessment takes place at TfL's Driver Assessment Centre, 14 Pier Walk, London SE10 0ES. It costs £40, or £30 for a re-sit, from 9 March 2026, according to TfL's SERU page. Bring original photo ID and a card (not American Express). Complete TfL's free Safeguarding Awareness course first. If you drive a black cab, you need the separate taxi SERU instead.
Your study plan
- Day 1: take the free SERU diagnostic and note your two weakest sections.
- Week 1: read the handbook sections behind those weak areas and the free SERU exam guide. Do the free quick practice every day.
- Week 2: sit SERU mock 1 under test conditions. Spend at least 20 minutes reviewing it and start your error log.
- Weeks 3 and 4: alternate section practice on weak areas with a new full mock every two or three days.
- Book when you score 85% or more on three mocks in a row.
12 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.
11. A passenger shouted abuse about your race yesterday and nobody is in danger now. Which police number should you use to report it?
- A. 111
- B. 112
- C. 999
- D. 101
Show answer
D. 101
TfL advises drivers to report incidents to the police as soon as possible. Use 101 when it is not an emergency. Use 999 if there is an emergency, for example if someone is in danger now.
12. How can a passenger check that you are the correct driver for their booking?
- A. By comparing the details from the operator with your badge
- B. By calling the police before getting in
- C. By asking to see the driver's bank card
- D. By checking the colour of the car only
Show answer
A. By comparing the details from the operator with your badge
Your operator must give passengers your name, photograph and vehicle details. Passengers can check this information against your badge.
Frequently asked questions
+Is there a free SERU mock test?
Yes. Mock 1 on this site is a full 36-question SERU mock test with a timer, and it is free. There is also a free 20-question diagnostic and a 20-question quick practice, all with explanations.
+How many questions are in a SERU mock test?
Our SERU mock tests have 36 questions, which is the number most candidates report for the private hire SERU and the published number for the taxi SERU. TfL has not published the private hire figure, so we describe the mock as TfL-style.
+What score do I need to pass the SERU mock test?
Our mock marks 22 out of 36 as a pass, which is just above 60%. To be ready for the real assessment, aim higher: 85% or more, which is about 31 out of 36, on three mocks in a row.
+How long do I get for the SERU test?
TfL says SERU sessions last 50 minutes, including a short instruction video at the start. Our mock gives you 50 minutes for the questions, so you practise at a slightly more relaxed pace than the real session.
+Are SERU mock tests the same as the real test?
No mock test can contain the questions you will see on the day, because TfL does not publish its question database. A good mock matches the format, topics and question styles. Ours covers all ten handbook sections and includes sentence-completion and reading questions.
+How many SERU mock tests should I do before booking?
There is no official number. Our rule is to score 85% or more on three different mocks in a row before you book. Most people need four to six full mocks, plus section practice on their weak areas.
+Can I do a SERU mock test on my phone?
Yes. The mock tests work in a phone browser, and our app has the same questions and works offline. The real SERU is taken on a computer at TfL's centre, so try at least one mock on a laptop or desktop if you can.
+Do SERU mock tests include fill in the blanks?
Ours do. About eight questions in every 36-question mock are sentence-completion questions, where you choose the missing word, and about three are reading questions on a short handbook-style passage.
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.
- 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.
- How Many Questions Are in the SERU Test?How many questions are in the SERU test, the pass mark, the time limit and open book status, with every figure traced to its TfL source.
- 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.
- Free TfL Topographical Test PracticeFree TfL Topographical test practice: a 30-question mock, map scales, grid references, route rules and London places, plus how to practise routes.