To become a taxi or private hire driver you must:
- be able to work legally in the United Kingdom,
- hold either a full UK driving licence issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency - or a full European Union driving licence together with a UK paper counterpart
Other requirements - depending where you live - can include paying a fee and passing a:
- criminal record check
- medical
- geographical knowledge test
- Driving Standards Agency practical taxi test
The forty minute practical test is suitable for experienced motorists, so the required standard is higher than for inexperienced learners. As such you can have nine minor 'faults' and pass, compared to fifteen for the 'non-professional' assessment. However, one 'serious' or 'dangerous' mark guarantees failure. There are specific taxi elements too, possibly including: making u-turns, dropping-off passengers safely, and the wheelchair exercise. These complement the traditional eyesight check and Highway Code questions.