Taxi SERU: plying for hire, fares and payments

Sections 1 and 2 of the London taxi driver handbook cover how you do your job and how you take payment, and most of their content can be tested in the taxi SERU. The rules govern plying for hire, the taximeter, extra charges, refusals and Heathrow Airport. They also cover card payments, deposits, receipts and unpaid fares.

Plying for hire

There are two ways to ply for hire: driving along the streets, or waiting on a taxi rank. Strictly speaking, a taxi can only be hired when it is stationary. If you are moving with the "taxi" light on, you are available for hire, but you do not have to stop when someone hails you.

The public expect a taxi with its light on to stop for them. If you drive past, the person may complain, or may think you refused because of who they are. If you are not available for hire, switch your light off.

• Once you stop for a hailing passenger, with your light on or off, you must accept the fare unless there are legal reasons to refuse.
• If you are stationary in traffic or at traffic lights, you do not have to accept a hiring unless you have made clear that you are willing.
• Never approach people to ask if they want a taxi. This can be treated as touting, which is illegal.
• You cannot ply for hire, pick up or set down passengers on motorways.
• Suburban (yellow badge) drivers must not ply for hire outside their licensed sectors.

Key fact: A taxi can only be hired when it is stationary, and once you stop for a hailing passenger you must accept the fare unless there is a legal reason to refuse.