You will not be tested on this information.
You may be tested on this information.
Introduction
Transport for London (TfL) is responsible for the licensing and regulation
of London’s taxi (black cab) and private hire vehicle (PHV) industry
TfL are responsible for licensing all of London’s taxi drivers and taxi vehicles.
Taxis play an important role in delivering passenger transport services in London.
Licensed taxis are also called ‘hackney carriages’, ‘black cabs’ and ‘cabs’. The word ‘taxi’ is used in this handbook.
TfL expect all licensed taxi drivers to offer a high level of customer service, use licensed vehicles, which are clean and in good condition, and to fully obey the law.
This handbook provides essential information to help you give your passengers the safe and professional service they expect. It also includes information on your responsibilities as a taxi driver.
This handbook is not a complete statement of the laws or policies that London taxi drivers must follow and should be used for general guidance only. Some of the laws and policies in this handbook are the responsibility of TfL, some are the responsibility of other authorities, and some are laws of the road. You must comply with them all and TfL encourage applicants and licensees to read these laws and policies and to take independent legal advice where appropriate. This handbook should be read together with the Abstract of Laws which gives full details of hackney carriage laws and regulations.
TfL also publish news and updates that give up-to-date information about issues that may affect you. Many of these notices are also reported in the trade press.
Although TfL may inform drivers of points of particular importance, TfL are not experts in motoring law, taxation or other matters that might be relevant to you. You should keep yourself informed on these other aspects of law and regulation.
Safety, equality and regulatory understanding assessment
In July 2020, the Department for Transport (DfT) published its Statutory taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) standards.
These standards state that licensing authorities should require taxi and PHV drivers to do safeguarding training. This is to ensure that drivers understand that they have a responsibility for protecting children and adults at risk (sometimes called vulnerable adults). Being able to identify and do something when you see signs of exploitation means that you must be able to communicate with passengers and understand how they communicate with others. Taxi drivers should therefore have excellent spoken and written English language skills.
To meet these standards and to match the PHV driver requirements, TfL have introduced a safety, equality and regulatory understanding (SERU) assessment for all taxi drivers and applicants.
The SERU assessment is based on information in this handbook. Applicants for taxi driver licences will be invited to take the SERU assessment towards the end of the Knowledge of London process.
You will need to pass this assessment when you apply for a taxi driver’s licence. Passing the SERU assessment will also mean that you have the required English language reading and writing skills to be a London taxi driver.