The SERU test is a short computer-based assessment that Transport for London (TfL) uses to check that London's private hire and taxi drivers know the rules of the job. SERU stands for Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding. If you are applying for a London private hire licence to drive for Uber, Bolt or a minicab firm, renewing one, or driving a black cab, you will have to pass a SERU assessment before TfL grants or renews your licence.
This hub explains what the SERU test is, who needs which version, what it covers, how it is run, what it costs and how to prepare. UK Driver Licence Prep is an independent study aid, not part of TfL. We link the official TfL pages throughout, and every practice question we offer is our own, written from the handbooks.
What is the SERU test?
TfL introduced the SERU assessment on 1 October 2021 under the Private Hire Vehicles (London PHV Driver's Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2021. It checks six areas, in TfL's own framing:
- your obligations under the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, its regulations and the Equality Act 2010
- TfL's policies and guidance
- the needs of passengers with protected characteristics, including disabled passengers
- protecting children and adults at risk
- passenger and driver safety
- road and vehicle safety
The SERU also does a second job. TfL uses it as the reading and writing part of its English language requirement at CEFR B1 level. The speaking and listening part is a separate assessment. That is why the SERU includes sentence-completion and short reading questions, not just multiple choice.
Key fact: The SERU is a knowledge and English test in one. Passing it covers TfL's reading and writing requirement, but you still need the separate speaking and listening assessment.
The two SERU tests: private hire and taxi
There are now two SERU assessments. They look similar but they are based on different handbooks, and one does not count for the other.
| PHV SERU (private hire) | Taxi SERU (black cab) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | New and renewing London private hire drivers | New and renewing London taxi drivers, including Knowledge of London students |
| Since | 1 October 2021 | 1 October 2025 |
| Syllabus | PHV Driver's Handbook (10 sections) | Taxi Driver Handbook |
| Questions | Not published by TfL; most candidates report 36 | 36 |
| Pass mark | Not published by TfL; most candidates report 60% | 60% |
| Time | Session lasts 50 minutes, including a short video | About one hour |
| Open book | Not confirmed by TfL (a trial was announced in 2024) | Yes, a copy of the handbook is provided |
| Fee | £40, re-sit £30 | £40, re-sit £30 |
| Our practice | SERU mock test | Taxi SERU |
The question count and pass mark for the private hire SERU are the most searched facts and the least clearly published. TfL's taxi SERU notice gives 36 questions and 60% for the taxi version and says the two assessments are similar. Our SERU test format guide goes through every published figure and what is only reported by candidates.
The PHV SERU for private hire drivers
This is the test most people mean by "SERU". You need it for a London private hire driver's licence, often called a PCO licence after TfL's old Public Carriage Office. It is one of three assessments for new applicants, alongside the Topographical skills assessment and the speaking and listening test. Our PCO licence guide puts it in the order of the whole application.
The taxi SERU for black cab drivers
From 1 October 2025, every new London taxi driver must pass the taxi SERU before being licensed, and existing taxi drivers must pass it when their licence comes up for renewal. TfL recommends that Knowledge of London students take it by the end of Knowledge Stage 5. It focuses on taxi fares and payments, stopping and ranks, equality and disability, safeguarding, driver safety and licensing. See our taxi SERU guide.
What the SERU covers
The private hire SERU is based only on the PHV Driver's Handbook (version 1.0, September 2021), which TfL publishes as a free PDF and in audio. It has ten sections. The glossary is not tested, and neither are the website links inside the handbook.
| Section | What it covers | Practise it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Driver licensing | Who can be licensed, the badge, DBS, medicals, reporting changes and convictions | Licensing |
| 2 PHV requirements | Vehicle licences, discs, insurance, collision damage, operators | PHV requirements |
| 3 Private hire journeys | Pre-booking only, no plying for hire, fares, lost property, airports | Journeys |
| 4 Staying safe | Personal safety, aggressive passengers, reporting incidents | Staying safe |
| 5 Driver behaviour | Professional conduct, complaints, sexual misconduct rules | Behaviour |
| 6 Driving and parking in London | Red routes, bus lanes, ranks, the Congestion Charge and ULEZ | Driving and parking |
| 7 Safer driving | Speed, phones, alcohol and drugs, fatigue, vulnerable road users | Safer driving |
| 8 Equality and disability | The Equality Act, assistance dogs, wheelchair users, exemptions | Equality |
| 9 Safeguarding | Spotting and reporting abuse, exploitation and county lines | Safeguarding |
| 10 Ridesharing | Shared journeys | Ridesharing |
Licensing, safer driving, and driving and parking are the biggest sections of our bank because they carry the most rules, numbers and deadlines. For section-by-section examples of how questions are asked, see SERU questions and answers.
The question types
TfL describes the SERU as multiple-choice questions plus sentences you complete by adding missing words. For the taxi SERU it lists four styles, and candidates report the same mix in the private hire test:
- Multiple choice with one correct answer.
- Multiple choice where you select all the correct answers.
- A short passage from the handbook followed by questions about it.
- A text with missing words that you fill in from a list of words.
The sentence-completion questions are where many drivers lose marks, because they test grammar and vocabulary as well as rules. Our SERU fill in the blanks guide shows how to approach them, and our mocks include both sentence-completion and reading questions.
Exam tip: In a sentence-completion question, read the whole sentence with your chosen word in place before you move on. If it is not a natural English sentence, it is probably the wrong word, even if the word itself sounds like a rule from the handbook.
How the SERU test works on the day
Booking
New applicants apply through the TfL taxi and private hire portal. TfL then invites you to book your assessments, and many people sit the SERU, the Topographical and the speaking and listening test on the same visit. Before the SERU, TfL expects you to complete its free online Safeguarding Awareness course. If you need reasonable adjustments, ask when you book by emailing assessments@tph.tfl.gov.uk with a short outline of your condition and professional evidence. Our SERU booking guide covers the portal, rescheduling and what to do if you are waiting a long time for a slot.
At the assessment centre
The SERU takes place at the TfL Driver Assessment Centre, 14 Pier Walk, London SE10 0ES, a short walk from North Greenwich Tube station. Bring original photo ID and a payment card (TfL does not accept American Express). If you arrive late or without acceptable ID, you will not be allowed to sit and will have to book again. The session starts with a short instruction video, and TfL staff invigilate.
Marking and results
The software marks the SERU automatically, and the results go through a quality assurance check before TfL sends them. TfL selects questions at random from a database it keeps reviewing, so a re-sit is unlikely to repeat the same questions, though similar ones may appear. If you fail, you can ask for a breakdown of your results, then book a re-sit. The published rules set no limit on attempts, but TfL will not grant a new licence until you pass.
Key fact: TfL's published SERU pass rate is 73%: 55,874 passes from 76,965 assessments up to 29 April 2024, according to a Freedom of Information response.
SERU fees and costs
| Item | Fee (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| SERU first attempt | £40 | TfL SERU page |
| SERU re-sit | £30 | TfL SERU page |
| Before 9 March 2026 | £36 first attempt, £16 re-sit | TfL Taxi and Private Hire Notice 05/26 |
| Safeguarding Awareness course | Free | TfL |
| Handbook, audio and video guides | Free | TfL |
The new fees came from TfL's 2026 review of licence fees. Some practice websites still show the old £36 and £16 figures or an old "two attempts" rule, so check the TfL page before you pay.
How to prepare for the SERU test
Use TfL's free materials
Read the PHV Driver's Handbook at least twice: once for understanding and once for the detail, such as deadlines, ages and fines. TfL also provides an audio version, video guides for every section and an online assessment guide with a knowledge check at the end of each section. Our SERU handbook guide explains what to focus on in each section.
Practise in the real format
Reading is not the same as answering under time pressure. Start with the free SERU diagnostic, which covers every section in 20 questions and shows your weakest areas. Then sit SERU mock 1, a full 36-question paper with a 50-minute timer. Every answer has an explanation and the handbook section it comes from, so you can go back to the right page.
Focus on the sections that cost marks
From the questions drivers get wrong most often in our bank, the traps are:
- Reporting deadlines. Licences granted from 1 July 2024 must report arrests, charges, cautions and convictions within 48 hours. Mixing this up with older deadlines is common.
- Plying for hire. A private hire driver may only carry passengers booked through a licensed operator, even if someone offers to pay up front.
- Equality duties. You must carry an assistance dog at no extra charge unless you hold a valid medical exemption certificate.
- Safeguarding. Know who to call: 999 when someone is in immediate danger, 101 for non-emergencies.
Read the free SERU exam guide and the free driver licensing note before your first mock.
Exam tip: Aim for 85% on three different mocks before you book. A margin above the 60% line covers nerves and unfamiliar wording on the day.
SERU practice on UK Driver Licence Prep
| Practice | PHV SERU | Taxi SERU |
|---|---|---|
| Free diagnostic | 20 questions | 20 questions |
| Free full mock | Mock 1: 36 questions, 50 minutes | Mock 1: 36 questions, 60 minutes |
| Question bank | 3,701 | 844 |
| Pro | Mocks 2 to 10, every section, every note | Mocks 2 to 10, every section, every note |
Our mocks use 36 questions and a pass line of 22 correct, which is just above 60%. Pro costs £6.99 per week, £11.99 per month or £22.99 for three months and covers every test on the site, including the Topographical. See pricing. There is no pass guarantee: practice prepares you, and the result is yours.
You can also print a page of free SERU questions with an answer key from the SERU worksheet.
Your study plan
- Today: take the free SERU diagnostic (or the taxi SERU diagnostic) and note your two weakest sections.
- This week: read those handbook sections, complete TfL's Safeguarding Awareness course and read our free SERU exam guide.
- Next week: do 20 questions a day and read every explanation. Practise sentence completion on purpose, not just multiple choice.
- Before booking: sit the free SERU mock 1 in one go with the timer on.
- Then: if you want more full papers, Pro gives you mocks 2 to 10. Book when you reach 85% on three mocks.
If you are a new applicant, plan the Topographical skills assessment alongside the SERU, and check every step of the PCO licence application.
Frequently asked questions
+What does SERU stand for?
SERU stands for Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding. It is the TfL assessment that checks London private hire and taxi drivers know the rules on licensing, passenger safety, equality and disability, safeguarding and driving in London.
+Who has to take the SERU test?
All new London private hire (PCO) driver applicants, and existing private hire drivers at renewal if they have not passed it. Since 1 October 2025 new London taxi drivers and taxi drivers renewing must pass the separate taxi SERU.
+How much does the SERU test cost?
From 9 March 2026 the SERU costs £40 for the first attempt and £30 for a re-sit, paid by card on the day. Before that date the fees were £36 and £16.
+Where do you take the SERU test?
At TfL's Driver Assessment Centre, 14 Pier Walk, London SE10 0ES, near North Greenwich station and The O2. It is taken on a computer and invigilated by TfL staff.
+How many questions are in the SERU test?
TfL has not published the private hire figure. The taxi SERU has 36 questions and a 60% pass mark, TfL says the two are similar, and most private hire candidates report 36 questions and 60%.
+Is the SERU test hard?
TfL's published pass rate is 73%, so most candidates pass, but about one in four does not. The sentence-completion questions and the detailed rules on reporting deadlines catch people who only skim the handbook.
+Can I take the SERU test online?
No. TfL runs the SERU on computers at its own assessment centre. You book a slot through the TfL taxi and private hire portal after TfL invites you.
+Does passing the PHV SERU count for the taxi SERU?
No. The taxi SERU is based on the Taxi Driver Handbook and TfL says passing the private hire SERU does not exempt a taxi driver from it.
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
- 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 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.
- 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.
- How to Get a PCO Licence in LondonHow to get a PCO licence in London in 2026: eligibility, every step in order, the TfL tests, fees from June 2026, renewal and scams to avoid.
- TfL Topographical Test: The Complete GuideThe TfL Topographical test explained: 7 sections, 66 route marks, 60% pass mark, 90 minutes, £40 fee, exemptions and free practice.