Equality and disability duties: questions and answers
51 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
Wheelchair users and designated vehicles
What is a "designated" vehicle under the Equality Act 2010?
A wheelchair user hires your designated vehicle. Which is one of your legal duties?
Can you charge extra for carrying a wheelchair user in a designated vehicle?
Under the Equality Act, what does "mobility assistance" include?
A wheelchair user prefers to sit in a passenger seat. What must you do with the wheelchair?
What is the maximum fine for failing a duty under section 165?
Before a wheelchair user goes up the ramp, what should you check?
How should a wheelchair be secured in a wheelchair-accessible vehicle?
When does a driver have a defence for not carrying a wheelchair in a designated vehicle?
True or false: councils must keep and publish a list of their wheelchair-accessible taxis and PHVs.
Assistance dogs
A blind passenger with a guide dog hires your vehicle. What must you do?
Can a taxi driver refuse an assistance dog because they do not like dogs?
On what grounds can the council give a driver an exemption from carrying assistance dogs?
You have an assistance dog exemption certificate. What else must you do?
Where should a guide dog travel in your vehicle?
A PHV operator refuses a booking because the passenger has an assistance dog. Is this an offence?
Which of these is an assistance dog under the Equality Act 2010?
Can you tell a passenger their assistance dog must go in the boot?
You have a medical exemption, and a guide dog owner asks you for a ride. What should you do?
How should you behave towards a working guide dog?
All disabled passengers: the 2022 changes
Since 28 June 2022, which drivers have legal duties to disabled passengers?
Which law made these changes to the Equality Act in 2022?
When did the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 come into force?
A passenger with sight loss books a car and asks for help to find it when you arrive. What must you do?
A disabled passenger has a walking frame. What must you do?
Is there a defence if a driver did not carry a disabled passenger properly?
A PHV operator refuses a booking because the passenger is disabled. What is this?
When can a PHV operator lawfully turn down a disabled passenger's booking?
A driver has a mobility exemption certificate under section 166. What does it cover?
On what grounds can a council exempt a driver from the mobility assistance duties?
Equality, discrimination and hate crime
How many protected characteristics are there under the Equality Act 2010?
Which of these is a protected characteristic?
A driver refuses a fare because the passenger wears a hijab. What is this?
Two men holding hands want to hire your taxi. Another driver tells you to refuse them. What is right?
Which of these is a hate crime?
A passenger shouts racist abuse at you and kicks your car door. What should you do?
A firm has a "no dogs in any car" rule. Why could this be unlawful?
A heavily pregnant woman asks for a taxi to hospital. Can you refuse her because she is pregnant?
A passenger says they were attacked because of their disability. How can they report it?
A passenger makes jokes about another person's race during the journey. What should you do?
Disability awareness in practice
Some disabilities cannot be seen, such as autism or chronic pain. What are these called?
A passenger wears a lanyard with sunflowers on it. What does this usually mean?
What is the best way to help a disabled passenger?
A deaf passenger lip-reads. What helps them most?
How should you guide a blind passenger to a door?
You arrive to collect a blind passenger. How should you let them know you are there?
A passenger with sight loss cannot find your car. What is the best way to describe where you are?
A passenger with sight loss pays in cash. What should you do?
When should the taxi meter start for a disabled passenger?
A wheelchair user is travelling with a carer. Who should you speak to about the journey?
You have helped a blind passenger to the door of a building. What should you do before you leave?
Answers
- B. A listed wheelchair-accessible vehicle. A taxi or PHV is designated if it is on the list of wheelchair-accessible vehicles that the council keeps under s.167.
- D. To carry them in their wheelchair. Section 165 says the driver of a designated vehicle must carry the passenger while in the wheelchair.
- A. No, no extra charge is allowed. The driver must not make, or propose to make, any additional charge for any of the s.165 duties.
- C. Help getting in and out, and loading luggage. Mobility assistance means help to get in and out of the vehicle, and to load luggage, mobility aids or the wheelchair.
- A. Carry the wheelchair in the vehicle. If the passenger chooses to sit in a passenger seat, the driver must carry the wheelchair.
- D. Up to £1,000. The offence carries a fine of up to level 3 on the standard scale, which is £1,000. The council may also act against your licence.
- B. That the ramp is locked securely in place. The driver must take the steps needed to carry the passenger in safety. A ramp that is not secure can slip and cause injury.
- C. With the restraints, brakes on and passenger belted. Use the vehicle's wheelchair restraint system as the maker says, put the wheelchair brakes on and fit the passenger's seat belt.
- B. If that wheelchair cannot be carried safely. It is a defence if the vehicle met its accessibility requirements but it was not possible to carry that wheelchair safely.
- A. True. True. Since the 2022 Act, a licensing authority must maintain and publish its list of designated vehicles.
- D. Carry them and the dog, with no extra charge. Taxi and PHV drivers must carry an assistance dog with its owner and must not charge extra for it.
- A. No, only a medical exemption allows this. Not liking dogs is not a reason. Only a driver with a medical exemption certificate, with the notice displayed, is exempt.
- C. Medical grounds. The council must issue an exemption certificate only if it is satisfied that it is right to do so on medical grounds.
- D. Display the exemption notice in the vehicle. The exemption only applies if the certificate is in force and the prescribed notice is displayed in the vehicle.
- A. Ask the owner; usually the footwell. Guide Dogs advises asking the owner. Most will want the dog in the footwell beside them. Guide dogs are trained not to climb on seats.
- B. Yes, it is a criminal offence. An operator commits an offence by refusing a booking because the disabled person will have an assistance dog with them.
- C. A dog trained to help a deaf person. The Act covers dogs trained to guide a blind person, assist a deaf person, and some other trained dogs for disabled people.
- A. No, it must stay with its owner. The driver must carry the disabled person's dog and allow it to remain with that person.
- D. Show your exemption and help them find another car. Guide Dogs says a driver with a genuine exemption, or their company, should help the passenger find another taxi or minicab.
- C. Do not distract it; speak to the owner. Guide Dogs says do not interfere with the dog and only give instructions to its owner.
- B. All taxi and PHV drivers. Section 164A puts duties on the driver of any taxi or PHV hired by or for a disabled person, not only designated vehicles.
- B. The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022. The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 inserted new sections 164A, 165A and 167A into the Equality Act 2010.
- C. 28 June 2022. The Act came into force on 28 June 2022, two months after it was passed.
- D. Help them find the vehicle, with no extra charge. If told before the journey, a PHV or pre-booked taxi driver must take reasonable steps to help the passenger identify and find the vehicle, with no extra charge.
- A. Carry the walking frame with no extra charge. All drivers must carry a disabled passenger's mobility aids, and must not charge extra for it.
- C. Yes, if they could not reasonably have known. For the duty to carry the passenger in safety and comfort, it is a defence if the driver could not reasonably have known the passenger was disabled.
- A. A criminal offence by the operator. An operator commits an offence by refusing a booking because the passenger has a disability, or to avoid the driver's duties.
- B. When no suitable vehicle is available. It is a defence for the operator to show it was reasonable not to accept the booking due to a lack of suitable vehicles.
- D. Only the physical help; you must still carry the passenger. Since 2022, a s.166 exemption covers only the mobility assistance duties. The duty to carry the passenger still applies.
- C. Medical grounds or a physical condition. The council must issue a certificate if satisfied it is right on medical grounds, or because the driver's physical condition makes the duties impossible or unreasonably difficult.
- A. 9. The nine are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
- B. Religion or belief. Religion or belief is one of the nine protected characteristics. Income, being a student or a smoker are not.
- D. Unlawful discrimination. Treating someone less favourably because of their religion is direct discrimination, which is against the law.
- C. Carry them; refusing is discrimination. Sexual orientation is a protected characteristic. Refusing or treating them worse because of it is unlawful.
- D. Attacking someone because they are disabled. A hate crime is a crime against someone because of their disability, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender identity. It should be reported to the police.
- A. Report it to the police as a hate crime. Threatening behaviour and damage linked to race can be a hate crime. Call 999 if it is happening now, or 101 if not.
- B. It unfairly disadvantages assistance dog users. A rule that applies to everyone but disadvantages people with a protected characteristic can be indirect discrimination. It also breaks the assistance dog duties.
- D. No, that would be discrimination. Pregnancy and maternity is a protected characteristic. Refusing her because she is pregnant is unlawful.
- A. To the police, by 999, 101 or online. Hate crime can be reported online or by phone. Call 999 if it is in progress or someone is in danger; otherwise call 101.
- C. Stay professional and do not join in. Joining in can be harassment and is unprofessional. Stay calm and polite, and do not take part.
- B. Hidden, or non-visible, disabilities. Many disabilities are not visible. A passenger may still need help, time or understanding.
- A. They may have a hidden disability. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a symbol for non-visible disabilities. It shows the wearer may need extra help, time or understanding.
- B. Ask them what help they would like. Guide Dogs says the most important tip is to ask the person how they would like to be helped.
- D. Face them and speak clearly. RNID says to face the person and speak clearly, without shouting or speaking too fast. Writing things down can help too.
- C. Offer your arm and let them hold your elbow. RNIB advises holding out your arm for the person to take. They hold your elbow and walk about half a pace behind you.
- A. Go to them and say who you are. Guide Dogs says do not flash your lights or beep your horn. Go to the passenger and introduce yourself.
- B. "I am on the left, outside 1 Bridge Street". Use clear language that does not need sight, such as the side of the road and the address.
- D. Say where to put the money and explain the change. Guide Dogs says give clear directions about where to place the money and explain where you have put their change.
- C. Once the passenger has got into the vehicle. Guide Dogs cites the High Court case McNutt v Transport for London (2019): the meter should start only once a disabled passenger has boarded.
- C. The passenger, directly. Speak directly to the disabled person. Guide Dogs says never channel conversation through a third person.
- D. Tell them you are leaving and check they are OK. Never leave a person with sight loss without saying so. They need to know you have gone and what to do next.
Sources
- Equality Act 2010, Part 12, Chapter 1: Taxis etc. (sections 160 to 173, revised), legislation.gov.uk, Act of 2010; read in its revised form, including the 2022 amendments.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/part/12/chapter/1
- Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022, legislation.gov.uk, In force 28 June 2022 (s.6(2)). Inserts ss.164A, 165A and 167A into the Equality Act 2010.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/29/contents
- Access for wheelchair users to taxis and private hire vehicles (statutory guidance), Department for Transport, published 20 June 2022. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-for-wheelchair-users-to-taxis-and-private-hire-vehicles
- Guidance for taxi and minicab staff, Guide Dogs, Undated web page.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/research/policy-and-guidance-for-businesses/guidance-for-taxi-staff/
- How to guide people with sight loss, RNIB, 2022 in the file name; PDF file dated June 2023.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.rnib.org.uk/documents/1137/How_to_guide_people_with_sight_loss_2022.pdf
- Discrimination: your rights, GOV.UK, Undated guide page.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/discrimination-your-rights
- Report hate crime, GOV.UK, Undated guide page.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/report-hate-crime
- Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, Undated web page.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://hdsunflower.com/uk/
- 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
- How to communicate with someone who is deaf or has hearing loss, RNID, Page last updated 2 June 2026.. Checked 29 October 2026. https://rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/deaf-awareness/how-to-communicate-with-deaf-people-hearing-loss/