Taxi Knowledge Test
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Customer care, conflict and personal safety: questions and answers

46 practice questions for UK taxi and private hire knowledge tests, with answers and explanations at the end.

Free from taxiknowledgetest.co.uk. Not an official council document: check your council's current guidance.

Questions

Professional conduct and customer care

  1. A passenger has heavy shopping bags. What is good customer care?

    • A. Wait in the car until they have finished
    • B. Offer to help load them into the vehicle
    • C. Open the boot from inside and stay seated
    • D. Tell them to be quick because you are busy

  2. A passenger gets in. What is the best way to start the journey?

    • A. Start driving and ask them for the address later on
    • B. Ask them how much money they have
    • C. Keep talking on your phone
    • D. Greet them politely and confirm the destination

  3. Why is it a good idea to make eye contact when a passenger gets in?

    • A. It lets you decide what fare to charge
    • B. It is a legal duty for all licensed drivers in the UK
    • C. It builds trust and shows you could identify them
    • D. It helps you see if they have luggage

  4. A passenger asks you to turn off the radio. What should you do?

    • A. Turn it off politely
    • B. Turn it down a little only
    • C. Explain that it is your car
    • D. Ask them to pay extra for silence

  5. Which of these shows a professional appearance?

    • A. Any clothes you like, as long as the car is clean
    • B. Sports kit, so you are comfortable
    • C. A badge kept in the glovebox
    • D. Clean, tidy clothes and your badge as required

  6. A passenger says they want to complain about you. What should you do?

    • A. Stay calm and tell them how to complain
    • B. Argue until they agree with you
    • C. Refuse to give them your details
    • D. Ask them to leave the vehicle at once

  7. A passenger asks you to take a longer, scenic route. What should you do?

    • A. Refuse and take the quickest way
    • B. Agree it and explain the fare may be higher
    • C. Take it, but do not mention the higher fare to them
    • D. Ask them to pay the whole fare now

  8. You are running late for a booked pick-up. What should you do?

    • A. Say nothing and hope they still wait
    • B. Cancel the booking without telling anyone
    • C. Let the operator or passenger know
    • D. Drive faster than the speed limit

  9. A journey has ended. What should you do before you drive away?

    • A. Check they have all their belongings
    • B. Start the meter ready for the next fare
    • C. Lock the doors at once
    • D. Switch off your safety light

Conflict and difficult passengers

  1. A passenger starts shouting at you. What should you do first?

    • A. Shout back so they know you are in charge
    • B. Stay calm and keep your voice level
    • C. Stop the car and get out to face them
    • D. Turn the music up loudly

  2. Which body language helps to calm an angry passenger?

    • A. Arms folded tightly and looking away from them
    • B. Pointing your finger at them
    • C. Open hands and steady eye contact
    • D. Standing very close to them

  3. What is a pre-arranged code word used for?

    • A. Unlocking the card machine at the end of a fare
    • B. Telling the passenger the fare
    • C. Logging off at the end of a shift
    • D. Getting help from your control room secretly

  4. A passenger becomes violent and you feel in immediate danger. What should you do?

    • A. Park, use your horn and lights, and call 999
    • B. Keep driving to the destination
    • C. Drive faster to scare them
    • D. Wait until the end of your shift to report it

  5. If you feel in danger while driving, where is the best place to go?

    • A. A quiet country lane
    • B. A brightly lit, busy place
    • C. An empty car park
    • D. Your own home

  6. A passenger is rude and refuses to pay. Can you lock them in and drive to a police station?

    • A. Yes, if the fare is over £20
    • B. Yes, if you tell them first
    • C. No, you must never lock a passenger in
    • D. Yes, if the police station is close

  7. You drive a purpose-built taxi with a screen. A group outside is threatening you. What is usually safer?

    • A. Get out to protect the paintwork
    • B. Open the doors to talk to them
    • C. Get out and lock the doors behind you
    • D. Stay inside your cab and call for help

  8. A passenger is sick in your vehicle. What should you do about a soiling charge?

    • A. Charge whatever amount you think is fair for the clean
    • B. Only charge what your council's rules allow
    • C. Keep the passenger's phone until they pay
    • D. Add it to the next passenger's fare

  9. Why does working at night carry more risk?

    • A. Fares are higher, so passengers complain more
    • B. The roads are busier than in the day
    • C. Many passengers have been drinking
    • D. Councils do not check drivers at night

  10. After a threatening incident, what should you do?

    • A. Write it down and report it to the police
    • B. Forget about it if nobody was hurt this time
    • C. Post about it on social media
    • D. Look for the person yourself later

Personal safety

  1. How can you reduce the amount of cash in your vehicle?

    • A. Keep all your takings in one bag on the seat
    • B. Only accept cash so you are paid at once
    • C. Count your money where passengers can see
    • D. Take card payments and drop off cash often

  2. A passenger asks, "Busy night?" What is the safest answer?

    • A. Say yes, and that you have taken a lot of money
    • B. Show them your takings
    • C. Say you have only just started your shift
    • D. Tell them where you keep your money

  3. Where is the best place to keep cash in your vehicle?

    • A. In the door pocket next to you
    • B. On the dashboard
    • C. In a bag on the front seat
    • D. Hidden in a secure box

  4. A fare makes you feel unsafe. What does the safety advice say?

    • A. Always accept it, as refusing is never allowed
    • B. Trust your instincts and refuse it
    • C. Accept it but charge a higher fare
    • D. Ask another passenger to come with you

  5. You arrive to collect a fare. How far should you open your window to talk?

    • A. Just enough to speak to them
    • B. All the way down
    • C. Not at all; shout through the glass
    • D. Open the door instead

  6. Should your doors be locked while you drive around between fares?

    • A. Yes, until you are ready to accept the fare
    • B. No, passengers need to be able to get in quickly
    • C. Only when it is raining
    • D. Only after midnight

  7. As a private hire driver, what should you check before a passenger gets in?

    • A. That they have the right money in cash
    • B. That they will give you a good rating
    • C. That they live in your area
    • D. That they are the booked passenger

  8. Which item should you not keep in the passenger area of your vehicle?

    • A. A spare phone charger
    • B. A wheel brace
    • C. A torch
    • D. A notepad and pen

  9. Why is it useful to carry a spare vehicle key?

    • A. So passengers can open the boot themselves
    • B. So you can lend the car to friends
    • C. In case an attacker throws your keys away
    • D. So you never need to lock the car

  10. How can CCTV in your vehicle help you?

    • A. It lets you watch passengers at home later
    • B. It can deter violence and give evidence
    • C. It means you no longer need insurance
    • D. It allows you to charge higher fares

Fare disputes and lost property

  1. You are taking a passenger far into the countryside. What can help prevent a fare dispute?

    • A. Agree the fare before you set off
    • B. Turn the meter off to keep it cheap
    • C. Ask for payment only at the end
    • D. Choose the longest route

  2. You need to change route because of road works. What should you do?

    • A. Change route and say nothing
    • B. Charge extra for the new route
    • C. Ask them to get out and walk the rest of the way
    • D. Tell the passenger and check they agree

  3. A passenger runs off without paying. What should you do?

    • A. Run after them to get the money
    • B. Drive after them on the pavement
    • C. Let them go and report it to the police
    • D. Wait outside their house until they come back

  4. Many violent incidents with drivers start from what?

    • A. Fare disputes
    • B. Music choices
    • C. Seat belt checks
    • D. Air conditioning

  5. You find a phone left on the back seat. What should you do?

    • A. Keep it for yourself if nobody calls within an hour
    • B. Sell it to cover your time
    • C. Give it to the next passenger
    • D. Follow your council's lost property rules

  6. True or false: you may keep lost property if the owner does not contact you within one day.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  7. A passenger says the fare is too high. What should you do first?

    • A. Tell them to pay or you will call your friends
    • B. Refuse to let them leave
    • C. Calmly explain how the fare was worked out
    • D. Double the fare to teach them a lesson

  8. There are several routes to a passenger's destination. What should you do?

    • A. Take the longest one
    • B. Ask which route they prefer
    • C. Take the one that passes your home
    • D. Take any road and say nothing

Data protection, CCTV and child seats

  1. A man phones and asks where you dropped off a woman last night. He says he is her partner. What should you do?

    • A. Tell him, as he says he is her partner and is worried
    • B. Do not give out any passenger information
    • C. Give him the street but not the number
    • D. Ask him to pay first, then tell him

  2. Is it OK to share a passenger's details or photo on social media?

    • A. Yes, if they are famous
    • B. Yes, if you blur the number plate
    • C. No, keep passenger information private
    • D. Yes, if you do not say their name in the post

  3. CCTV is fitted in your vehicle. What must passengers be told?

    • A. Nothing, as it is your vehicle
    • B. Only if they ask you directly
    • C. Only if it records sound
    • D. That CCTV is in use

  4. When should a taxi CCTV system record sound?

    • A. Only when someone switches it on
    • B. All the time, on every journey
    • C. Only when the driver is out of the car
    • D. Only on journeys after dark

  5. Who can normally view recordings from a council-approved taxi CCTV system?

    • A. Any other driver who shares the vehicle with you
    • B. The police or the council, for a proper reason
    • C. Anyone who asks the operator
    • D. The driver's friends and family

  6. A parent with a 2-year-old hires your taxi. There is no child seat. Where must the child sit?

    • A. In the front seat, with an adult belt
    • B. On the parent's lap in the front
    • C. In the front seat, without a seat belt
    • D. In a rear seat, without a seat belt

  7. A 6-year-old is travelling in your PHV and there is no child seat. Where must they sit?

    • A. A rear seat, with an adult seat belt
    • B. Any seat, without a seat belt
    • C. The front seat, with an adult seat belt
    • D. They cannot travel in the vehicle at all

  8. True or false: in a taxi with no child seat, a child under 3 may sit in the front seat.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  9. A parent brings their own rear-facing baby seat and wants it in the front. What must happen first?

    • A. The seat must face forwards instead
    • B. The parent must sign a form
    • C. The front airbag must be switched off
    • D. The driver must move the seat back fully

Answers

  1. B. Offer to help load them into the vehicle. Helping with luggage is good service, and councils' conditions expect it: Nottingham, Sefton and Wolverhampton all tell drivers to give reasonable help with luggage.
  2. D. Greet them politely and confirm the destination. A polite greeting and confirming the destination prevents mistakes and disputes later.
  3. C. It builds trust and shows you could identify them. The Wolverhampton safety booklet says eye contact helps build a relationship and tells the passenger you could identify them.
  4. A. Turn it off politely. The journey is for the passenger. Councils' conditions, such as Nottingham's and Sefton's, say you may not play a radio or music without the passenger's consent.
  5. D. Clean, tidy clothes and your badge as required. Councils expect drivers to be clean and tidy (Nottingham: "clean and respectable" in dress) and to wear or display their badge as their licence conditions say.
  6. A. Stay calm and tell them how to complain. Stay calm and do not raise your voice. Passengers can complain to the operator or the council: Wolverhampton publishes a taxi complaints line, and Sefton operators must tell complainants they can take it to the council.
  7. B. Agree it and explain the fare may be higher. Agree the route and explain the cost before you set off, so there is no dispute at the end.
  8. C. Let the operator or passenger know. Councils require drivers to attend bookings punctually (Leicester, Wolverhampton). If you are delayed, telling the operator or passenger is the professional step. Never speed to make up time.
  9. A. Check they have all their belongings. Wolverhampton's conditions say to make sure passengers leave with their belongings and to search for lost property after each journey. Sefton also requires a search after every hiring.
  10. B. Stay calm and keep your voice level. The safety booklet says stay professional and calm, and do not raise your voice. This can stop things getting worse.
  11. C. Open hands and steady eye contact. Keeping your hands visible and open and keeping eye contact is non-threatening and can defuse a situation.
  12. D. Getting help from your control room secretly. Agree a code word with your control room so you can call for help without making a threatening passenger suspicious.
  13. A. Park, use your horn and lights, and call 999. If in danger, park and use your horn and lights to attract attention, and get help by calling 999.
  14. B. A brightly lit, busy place. Busy, well-lit places are safer and are often covered by CCTV.
  15. C. No, you must never lock a passenger in. Locking passengers in your vehicle can lead to arrest and a charge of false imprisonment.
  16. D. Stay inside your cab and call for help. In a purpose-built taxi with a screen you are likely to be safer staying in the cab. Never risk your safety to protect the vehicle.
  17. B. Only charge what your council's rules allow. For hackney carriages, the council can fix "all other charges in connection with the hire" in its table of fares. Hertsmere's 2025 table, for example, sets £50 for soiling. Only charge what your council allows.
  18. C. Many passengers have been drinking. The booklet says night work carries the most risk of violence, as many passengers have been drinking. Make sure you are not tired.
  19. A. Write it down and report it to the police. Note descriptions such as clothes and accent, and report it even if the police cannot act at once. It helps them plan.
  20. D. Take card payments and drop off cash often. The booklet says carry as little cash as you can, use contactless payments, and drop off cash during your shift.
  21. C. Say you have only just started your shift. Never say business is good. This could tell someone you have a lot of cash. You could say you have just started.
  22. D. Hidden in a secure box. Keep cash hidden from view in a secure box, and try to hide it in several places until you can bank it.
  23. B. Trust your instincts and refuse it. The booklet says always trust your instincts and refuse a fare if you have doubts about your safety. Never refuse for a discriminatory reason.
  24. A. Just enough to speak to them. Only open the window enough to speak without people being able to reach inside.
  25. A. Yes, until you are ready to accept the fare. Keep the doors locked while driving around. Unlock them when you have checked the passenger and are ready to accept the fare.
  26. D. That they are the booked passenger. Confirm it is the correct booked passenger and the destination. This protects them and you.
  27. B. A wheel brace. Items like wheel jacks could be used against you, and could be illegal. Keep tools secure in the boot.
  28. C. In case an attacker throws your keys away. The Wolverhampton booklet says carry a spare key in case an attacker throws your keys away. It also suggests a phone and charger, a torch, a notepad and a personal alarm.
  29. B. It can deter violence and give evidence. CCTV has been shown to reduce threats against drivers and means it is not just your word against theirs.
  30. A. Agree the fare before you set off. Agreeing the fare first reduces the risk of a dispute later, when you may be in an isolated place.
  31. D. Tell the passenger and check they agree. If you need to change route on the way, explain why and confirm the passenger agrees.
  32. C. Let them go and report it to the police. Do not chase a passenger who owes you a fare. Your safety is more important than the money. Report it on 101.
  33. A. Fare disputes. The booklet says many violent incidents arise from fare disputes, so be ready to explain how the fare is worked out.
  34. D. Follow your council's lost property rules. Councils set their own lost property rules. Nottingham and Leicester say take it to the police within 24 hours; Sefton says 48 hours; Wolverhampton says report it to the operator.
  35. B. False. False. Lost property is not yours. Councils' rules say to hand it in, for example to the police within 24 hours in Nottingham or 48 hours in Sefton.
  36. C. Calmly explain how the fare was worked out. Be ready to explain the fare structure. Staying calm and clear often ends the dispute.
  37. B. Ask which route they prefer. If there are several routes, confirm which one the passenger would like. This avoids complaints about the fare.
  38. B. Do not give out any passenger information. Where a passenger went is personal data. It must only be used for the purpose it was collected for and kept secure. Wolverhampton's CCTV policy, for example, shares data only for a lawful reason such as a formal police request.
  39. C. No, keep passenger information private. Passenger details and images are personal data and must be kept secure. Wolverhampton's CCTV policy bans uploading CCTV or dashcam footage to social media and calls it a breach of data protection law.
  40. D. That CCTV is in use. The DfT standards say all passengers must be made fully aware if CCTV is operating in a vehicle.
  41. A. Only when someone switches it on. The DfT says audio recording must not be continuously active by default and should be started by a switch or button. Check your council's CCTV policy too.
  42. B. The police or the council, for a proper reason. Recordings should be secure and only seen by those with a legitimate reason, such as the police investigating a crime or the council investigating a complaint.
  43. D. In a rear seat, without a seat belt. In a taxi or PHV with no correct child seat, a child under 3 can travel without one, but only in a rear seat and without a seat belt.
  44. A. A rear seat, with an adult seat belt. If the driver does not provide the right child seat, a child aged 3 or over must travel in a rear seat wearing an adult seat belt.
  45. B. False. False. Without the correct child seat, children can travel only in a rear seat.
  46. C. The front airbag must be switched off. GOV.UK says you must deactivate any front airbags before fitting a rear-facing baby seat in a front seat.

Sources

  • Safety Tips for Taxi and Private Hire Drivers, City of Wolverhampton Council, Booklet print code "WCC 142 03.2023"; no other date.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-03/Driver%20Safety%20Advice%20A5%20Booklet.pdf
  • Child car seats: the rules, GOV.UK, Undated guide page. Section "Taxis and minicabs (private hire vehicles)".. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules
  • Statutory taxi and private hire vehicle standards, Department for Transport, Published 21 July 2020; last updated 25 November 2022. Section 7.2 and the CCTV annex.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-taxi-and-private-hire-vehicle-standards/statutory-taxi-and-private-hire-vehicle-standards
  • Taxi knowledge and practical test (course subject list), City of Wolverhampton Council, Page last updated 29 July 2026.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/licences/taxi-licences/taxi-knowledge-and-practical-test
  • Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Policy (with licence conditions, Taxi CCTV Policy and Guidelines on Fitness and Propriety), City of Wolverhampton Council, File dated 12 June 2026; approved by the Regulatory Committee on 1 October 2025; Taxi CCTV Policy revised 3 June 2026. Includes the private hire driver licence conditions.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-06/Hackney%20Carriage%20and%20Private%20Hire%20Vehicle%20Licensing%20Policy%20-%2012.06.2026.pdf
  • Conditions for combined hackney carriage and private hire driver's licence, Nottingham City Council, Undated Word document. Sections Conduct of Driver and Lost Property.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/media/0bhccc2n/conditions-of-licence-for-a-hc-phv-drivers-licence.docx
  • Hackney Carriage, Private Hire and Omnibus Licensing Scheme Handbook (version 3.3), Sefton Council, Version 3.3, revised 11 March 2024. Sections on safeguarding children and CSE, Part 2 (private hire driver conditions) and Part 10 (hackney carriage byelaws).. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.sefton.gov.uk/media/0fneszoa/handbook-33-1.docx
  • Guidance Notes: Licensing of Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Vehicle Drivers, Leicester City Council, No date in the text; the file name says November 2019.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.leicester.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-02/Driver%20guidance%20notes%20November%202019.pdf
  • Hackney Carriage Table of Fares, Hertsmere Borough Council, Effective from 20 January 2025. Lists an extra of £50.00 for soiling the inside of the vehicle.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.hertsmere.gov.uk/asset-library/Documents/02-Business/Licensing/Private-hire-Hackney-Carriage-Licensing/2025-New-HC-Fare-Table.pdf
  • Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, section 65 (fixing of fares for hackney carriages), legislation.gov.uk, Revised text, up to date to 29 October 2026.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1976/57/section/65
  • A guide to the data protection principles, Information Commissioner's Office, Date of the latest update shown on the page. Covers UK GDPR Article 5(1), including purpose limitation and integrity and confidentiality.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/data-protection-principles/a-guide-to-the-data-protection-principles/