PHV SERU exam guide: format, booking and on the day
1,638 words · checked 2026-10-03 · Free
The Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding (SERU) assessment is a TfL test for private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers in London. It checks that you know the rules on safety, equality and safeguarding, and that your reading and writing English is good enough for the job. This note explains the format, the fees, how to book, and what happens on the day.
What the SERU is and why it exists
TfL introduced the SERU assessment on 1 October 2021. Since that date it applies to all new PHV driver applicants and to existing drivers when they renew their licence. The legal basis is the Private Hire Vehicles (London PHV Driver's Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2021.
The assessment tests six broad areas:
- Your obligations under the PHV (London) Act 1998, its regulations, and the Equality Act 2010
- TfL policies and guidance for private hire
- The needs of passengers with protected characteristics
- Protecting children and adults at risk
- Passenger and driver safety
- Road and vehicle safety
Passing the SERU also shows that you have the required English reading and writing skills at CEFR B1 level. TfL reserves the right to ask drivers to take the SERU again if there is a significant change in the regulatory landscape, so the rules can change over time.
The syllabus: the PHV Driver's Handbook
Everything in the SERU comes from the PHV Driver's Handbook version 1.0 (published 30 September 2021). The handbook has 10 sections plus a glossary.
| Section | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Driver licensing |
| 2 | PHV requirements |
| 3 | PHV journeys |
| 4 | Staying safe |
| 5 | Driver behaviour |
| 6 | Driving and parking in London |
| 7 | Safer driving |
| 8 | Equality and disability |
| 9 | Safeguarding |
| 10 | Ridesharing |
You will not be tested on the meanings of words in the glossary, and website links inside the handbook are not tested either.
Key fact: The SERU is based only on the PHV Driver's Handbook. Glossary definitions and web links are not part of the test.
Question types and timing
The SERU is done on a computer at a TfL assessment centre, and a member of TfL staff invigilates. TfL describes the question styles as multiple choice questions and completing sentences by adding missing words. For the similar taxi SERU, TfL lists four styles, which give a good picture of what to expect:
- Multiple choice with one correct answer
- Multiple choice where you must select all the correct answers
- A short reading passage from the handbook, followed by questions about it
- A text with missing words, which you complete from a list of words
Questions are selected at random from a question database. TfL says this makes it unlikely you will see the same question again if you re-sit, although similar questions may appear. TfL reviews the question database continually.
According to TfL's On Route magazine (Winter 2024), SERU assessments last 50 minutes. This includes a brief instructional video at the start of the session.
Key fact: The SERU session lasts 50 minutes, and it begins with a short instructional video.
Number of questions and the pass mark
TfL has not published the PHV figures; the taxi SERU has 36 questions and a 60% pass mark and TfL says the two are similar; most candidates report 36 questions and 60% for PHV. TfL's free online assessment guide contains over 36 knowledge check questions, which gives you an idea of the volume of practice material available.
The SERU is marked automatically by the assessment software. The marking then goes through a two-tier quality assurance process before results are issued.
Is it open book?
In TPH Notice 01/24, published on 17 January 2024, TfL announced a trial of an open-book SERU, where the handbook is available to consult during the assessment. The taxi SERU, introduced from 1 October 2025, is openly described as open book. However, TfL has not published a notice that says the PHV SERU is now permanently open book. Do not rely on looking things up: prepare as if the handbook may not be available.
The English language requirement
The SERU covers the reading and writing part of TfL's English language requirement at B1 level. The speaking and listening part is a separate assessment. For that test, you have a conversation of about 15 to 20 minutes with a remote examiner through a secure video or phone link, while you sit at a TfL centre wearing a headset.
Key fact: Since 1 April 2023, new applicants must pass both the SERU and the separate speaking and listening assessment.
Fees and attempts
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| SERU first attempt (from 9 March 2026) | £40 |
| SERU re-sit (from 9 March 2026) | £30 |
| Fee before 9 March 2026 | £36 first attempt, £16 re-sit |
You pay on the day of the assessment by card, and American Express cards are not accepted. The new fees came out of TfL's first review of taxi and private hire licence fees since 2017.
There is no fixed limit on the number of attempts in the published rules. TfL says the assessment can be taken multiple times, but a new licence will not be granted until you pass. If you fail, book a re-sit and pay the re-sit fee.
Booking your assessment
New applicants apply through the TfL Taxi and Private Hire online portal at tph.tfl.gov.uk. After you apply, TfL invites you to book your assessments. The SERU, the topographical skills assessment and the speaking and listening assessment are often booked together.
Before you sit the SERU, TfL expects you to complete the free online Safeguarding Awareness training course. It is short, available online, and it also helps you prepare for the safeguarding questions.
Reasonable adjustments
If you have a disability or a condition that could affect your performance, you can ask for reasonable adjustments. Email assessments@tph.tfl.gov.uk with an outline of your condition and supporting evidence from a relevant professional. Do this when you book, not on the day.
On the day
The SERU takes place at the TfL Driver Assessment Centre, 14 Pier Walk, London SE10 0ES, in North Greenwich near The O2. The nearest Tube station is North Greenwich.
| Checklist | Details |
|---|---|
| Arrival time | Arrive at the time shown in your booking letter |
| Photo ID | Bring original photo ID, not a photocopy |
| If you are late | You will not be allowed to sit the assessment |
| If you forget ID | You will not be allowed to sit the assessment |
| Payment | Card only on the day, no American Express |
| Mobile phone | Switch it off; assessments run under exam conditions |
When you arrive, you check in at reception. Staff escort you to the assessment floor, confirm which assessments you are sitting, take the payment, give you an identification number and take your photo. A short instructional video starts the session. If you are sitting more than one assessment, there is a short break between sessions.
Key fact: Late arrival or missing ID means you cannot sit the assessment, and you will need to book again.
Results
Once your paper is marked and has passed quality assurance, TfL sends you a results letter. If you sit more than one assessment on the day, you receive one report showing the score for each assessment. You can ask TfL for a breakdown of your results. If you fail, the team arranges a re-sit.
TfL's published overall pass rate for the SERU is 73%. This figure comes from a Freedom of Information response: 76,965 SERU assessments were delivered up to 29 April 2024, with 55,874 passes.
Key fact: Around 73% of SERU assessments result in a pass, so most people who prepare properly succeed.
Official preparation materials
TfL provides several free resources:
- The PHV Driver's Handbook as a PDF and as an audio version
- A set of YouTube video guides covering the introduction and all 10 sections
- An online assessment guide, which covers every section of the handbook and includes knowledge check questions plus a "what to expect" section with pictures of the assessment centre
- A "what to expect on the day" video
Use all of them. The online assessment guide is the closest thing to the real test experience.
A four-week study plan
| Week | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sections 1-3 | Read the handbook sections on licensing, PHV requirements and journeys; complete the Safeguarding Awareness course |
| 2 | Sections 4-7 | Read the safety, behaviour and driving sections; watch the matching videos; write short notes |
| 3 | Sections 8-10 | Read equality, safeguarding and ridesharing; listen to the audio handbook; answer the knowledge check questions |
| 4 | Practice and admin | Re-read your weak areas; work through the online assessment guide; confirm your booking, travel plan, ID and payment card |
Quick check
- Since what date has the SERU applied to new applicants and renewals? (1 October 2021)
- How long does a SERU session last? (50 minutes, including the instructional video)
- Which free course does TfL expect you to complete before the SERU? (The online Safeguarding Awareness training course)
- How do you request reasonable adjustments? (Email assessments@tph.tfl.gov.uk with an outline of your condition and professional evidence)
- What happens if you arrive late or have no photo ID? (You cannot sit the assessment)
Exam tips
- Read the handbook at least twice: once for understanding, once for detail.
- Do not memorise the glossary or web links; they are not tested.
- Practise sentence-completion questions, not just multiple choice.
- Answer every question; there is no published penalty for a wrong answer, so an unanswered question is a wasted question.
- Book the SERU after you have finished studying, not before.
- Plan your journey to North Greenwich so you arrive early and calm.
- If you fail, read the breakdown of your results before you re-book, so your revision targets the right sections.
Official sources
- TfL - SERU for private hire drivers
- TfL On Route magazine, Winter 2024 (issue 36) - what happens at the Driver Assessment Centre
- TfL TPH Notice 05/26 - Taxi and private hire licence fees
- TfL TPH Notice 06/25 - Introduction of the SERU assessment for taxi drivers
- TfL Driver Assessment Centre at Pier Walk