Stage 3: skills and knowledge test, stage 4: licence review, stage 5: licence issued
Stage 3 - Skills and knowledge test
Once you reach this stage we will send an email to you with the training material you will need.
Stage 3 - Skills Assessment: this is completed on a computer at our test centre and will take about 20 minutes. It is designed to assess your literacy, comprehension, numeracy skills and understanding of the Highway Code. You must pass the assessment, answering all questions correctly, before you can move onto your knowledge test.
We will:
- email you and ask you to pay for your skills test;
- once you pay we will send you an appointment. At your appointment you will be told about the knowledge test.
Stage 3 - Knowledge Test: For Hackney Carriage applicants the knowledge test comprises of 3 tests
- Section 1 – A-Z (this test has 3 parts, each of which must be passed to pass Section 1). There are 25 questions in total and the time available is 30 minutes. Part 1 involves the use of the A-Z to answer the questions - the pass mark is 4. Part 2 is about locations of places - the pass mark is 8 and Part 3 is about Byelaws - pass mark is 8. All 3 parts must be passed to pass Section 1.
- Section 2 - Routes - you will have 40 minutes to answer a total of 25 questions. The test is in 4 Parts - Part 1 is with regard to routes; you should choose the shortest route rather than the fastest route and this part has a pass mark of 8. Part 2 relates to motorways and has a pass mark of 4. Part 3 relates to districts with a pass mark of 8 and Part 4 is in regard to Compellable areas with a pass mark of 4. You must pass all parts to pass Section 2.
- Section 3 - Safeguarding section and has 10 questions and the time allowed is 20 minutes. This test has a pass mark of 8.
For Private Hire applicants the knowledge test comprises of 2 tests and you pick whether you want to be tested in Area 1 - North, Area 2 - Central or Area 3 - South
- Section 1 – A-Z - (this test has 3 parts, each of which must be passed to pass Section 1). There are 25 questions in total and the time available is 30 minutes. Part 1 involves the use of the A-Z to answer the questions - the pass mark is 4. Part 2 is about locations of places - the pass mark is 8 and Part 3 is about Byelaws - pass mark is 8. All 3 parts must be passed to pass Section 1.
- Section 3 - Safeguarding section - Safeguarding section and has 10 questions and the time allowed is 20 minutes. This test has a pass mark of 8.
Please read the driver training and safeguarding section.
Once you have passed your knowledge test, your application will progress to Stage 4.
Stage 4 - Application review
All your documents will be reviewed and we will let you know if any are missing or need to be updated (completed within 4 working days of completion of skills and tests).
Stage 5 - Licence issued and administration
Your licence will be issued immediately after completion of stage 4. This stage includes ongoing administration of the licence, including checks that are carried out over the duration of the licence. By applying to us either as a new applicant or for a renewal of your licence for either a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Driver's Licence you are agreeing to:
- remain subscribed to the DBS Update Service (to enable periodic checks of your DBS status)
- to submit an annual DVLA summary
- to provide a medical at application, age 50, age 55, age 60, age 65 and then annually from the age of 66 (or at such frequency as stipulated by a GP)
- to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK as required
- provide any other information as reasonably requested by the Licensing Authority