Liverpool conditions and byelaws: questions and answers

1. You find out the police are investigating you for a criminal offence. How soon must you tell the Council?

1. Within 14 days
2. Within 7 days
3. Within 24 hours (correct answer)
4. Within 72 hours

Answer: C. Within 24 hours. You must tell the Council within 24 hours of becoming aware that you are under investigation for a criminal offence, on police bail, or facing court proceedings. Condition 2 also requires written notice within 5 working days. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 1

2. You receive penalty points on your driving licence. How soon must you tell the Council in writing?

1. Within 21 days
2. Within 5 working days (correct answer)
3. At your next renewal
4. Within 24 hours

Answer: B. Within 5 working days. Motoring offences, penalty points, convictions, fixed penalty notices and cautions must be reported in writing within 5 working days. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 2

3. You move to a new home. How soon must you tell the Council your new address?

1. Within 21 days
2. Within 28 days
3. Within 72 hours
4. Within 7 days (correct answer)

Answer: D. Within 7 days. The conditions give you 7 days to tell the Council about a change of address. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 3

4. You stop taking bookings from one operator and move to another. How soon must you tell the Council?

1. Within 72 hours (correct answer)
2. Within 28 days
3. Within 7 days
4. Within 24 hours

Answer: A. Within 72 hours. The Council must know which operator you take bookings from, and you must tell it within 72 hours of a change. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 4

5. Your private hire vehicle plate is stolen. Who must you tell?

1. Your insurer only
2. The Council and Merseyside Police (correct answer)
3. The Council at your next renewal
4. Your operator only

Answer: B. The Council and Merseyside Police. Report a lost or stolen plate to the Council as soon as you find out. A stolen plate must also be reported to Merseyside Police. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 5

6. Your doctor gives you a new medicine that may affect your driving. What must you do?

1. Ask your operator if you can carry on
2. Stop driving only at night
3. Stop driving and contact the Council at once (correct answer)
4. Keep driving and tell the Council at renewal

Answer: C. Stop driving and contact the Council at once. You must stop driving private hire vehicles and contact the Council straight away if a medical condition or medicine may affect your driving. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 8

7. Which medical standard does Liverpool use for licensed drivers?

1. Group 1, the car driver standard
2. An eyesight check only
3. A standard set by your operator
4. Group 2, the lorry and bus driver standard (correct answer)

Answer: D. Group 2, the lorry and bus driver standard. The Council has adopted the higher Group 2 standard, the one used for lorry and bus drivers. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 7 and 8

8. An authorised officer asks to see your insurance certificate, but you do not have it with you. How long do you have to show it to the Council?

1. 72 hours (correct answer)
2. 7 days
3. 24 hours
4. 5 working days

Answer: A. 72 hours. If you cannot show the certificate when asked, you must present it to Liverpool City Council within 72 hours. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 18

9. Where must the front interior licence plate go on a private hire vehicle?

1. On the inside of the rear window
2. On the dashboard, facing the passengers
3. Bottom right corner of the windscreen
4. Top left corner of the windscreen (correct answer)

Answer: D. Top left corner of the windscreen. The conditions say the front interior plate must be fixed to the top left corner of the windscreen. The other licence plate goes securely on the rear of the vehicle. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 10

10. You are waiting for a passenger. Are you allowed to use an e-cigarette in your vehicle?

1. Yes, if no passenger is in the vehicle
2. Yes, if the passenger agrees
3. No, not at any time (correct answer)
4. Yes, if the windows are open

Answer: C. No, not at any time. You must not smoke in the vehicle at any time, and this includes any electronic smoking device while you are inside it. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 12

11. A person on the street waves you down and asks for a ride. They have not booked. What must you do?

1. Refuse and tell them to book through an operator (correct answer)
2. Take them, then tell your operator
3. Take them if they agree a fare first
4. Take them if your vehicle is empty

Answer: A. Refuse and tell them to book through an operator. A private hire driver must not offer a vehicle for hire to people who have not booked, and must not tout for passengers. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 14

12. A family is getting in your vehicle. How old must a child appear to be before they may sit beside you in the front?

1. At least 14 years old
2. At least 10 years old (correct answer)
3. At least 8 years old
4. At least 12 years old

Answer: B. At least 10 years old. You must not let a child who appears to be under 10 travel in the front beside you. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 23

13. A friend asks you for a lift while you have a passenger on board. When may your friend travel with you?

1. Only if your operator agrees
2. Only if the hirer agrees (correct answer)
3. Only if the journey is short
4. Only if your friend pays part of the fare

Answer: B. Only if the hirer agrees. You must not carry any person in the vehicle without the consent of the hirer. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 24

14. A passenger disagrees with you about a fare and becomes angry. What do the conditions tell you to do?

1. Drive them back to where you started
2. Keep their belongings until they pay
3. Avoid confrontation and use the proper legal channels (correct answer)
4. Tell them firmly that they must pay now

Answer: C. Avoid confrontation and use the proper legal channels. Condition 27 says disputes should go through appropriate legal channels, and you must avoid confrontation. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 27

15. A passenger gives you a destination but no directions. Which way must you go?

1. The fastest route, even if it is longer
2. Whichever route your operator prefers
3. The route with the fewest traffic lights
4. The shortest practicable route (correct answer)

Answer: D. The shortest practicable route. Unless the hirer gives other directions, you must go to the destination by the shortest practicable route. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 33

16. A passenger leaves an expensive laptop on the back seat. What must you do?

1. Report it to the operator and take it to the nearest police station (correct answer)
2. Leave it at the Council's licensing office
3. Keep it safe at home for 28 days
4. Report it to the operator and keep it in the vehicle

Answer: A. Report it to the operator and take it to the nearest police station. Report found property to the operator. If the item has significant value, it must also go to the nearest police station. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 34

17. You have a medical condition that dogs make worse. How can you avoid carrying assistance dogs?

1. Tell the passenger when they book
2. Apply for an exemption, with medical evidence (correct answer)
3. You only need to tell your operator
4. Ask your operator to send another driver

Answer: B. Apply for an exemption, with medical evidence. Drivers must carry assistance dogs. You may apply for an exemption certificate if you can give suitable medical evidence. Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 35

18. You are driving a hackney carriage that is not hired. You reach a stand, but it is full. What must you do?

1. Stop behind the stand on double yellow lines
2. Wait beside the stand until a space opens
3. Go on to another stand (correct answer)
4. Park on a nearby side road and wait

Answer: C. Go on to another stand. Byelaw 8 says that if a stand is already full, you must go on to another stand. Hackney Carriage Byelaws, byelaw 8

19. You arrive at a stand with a free space. Where do you place your hackney carriage?

1. Behind the last carriage, facing the same way (correct answer)
2. At the far end, facing the traffic
3. In any free space, facing either way
4. In front of the first carriage, ready to leave

Answer: A. Behind the last carriage, facing the same way. You must stop immediately behind the carriages already on the stand, facing the same direction, and move up as those in front drive off. Hackney Carriage Byelaws, byelaw 8

20. A passenger gets in and you start a metered journey. What must the meter show before you set off?

1. The word FREE
2. The time of day
3. The word FARE only
4. The word HIRED (correct answer)

Answer: D. The word HIRED. Before the journey you must bring the meter into action so that the word HIRED can be read on it, and keep it running until the hiring ends. Hackney Carriage Byelaws, byelaw 6

21. At what times must you keep the meter dial lit during a hiring?

1. Only when a passenger asks
2. From one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise
3. Only between midnight and 6am
4. From half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise (correct answer)

Answer: D. From half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise. The dial must be lit between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise, and at any other time if the hirer asks. Hackney Carriage Byelaws, byelaw 6

22. A passenger asks to go to an address inside the district. When may you take the money?

1. Half at the start, half at the end
2. Only at the end of the journey (correct answer)
3. Before you set off, if they agree
4. Any time during the journey

Answer: B. Only at the end of the journey. For a journey that ends in the district you may only take payment at the end. You must not ask for a deposit or part payment in advance. Hackney Carriage Byelaws, byelaw 20

23. Your hackney carriage has a working card terminal. A passenger wants to pay by card. What must you do?

1. Use the terminal to take the payment (correct answer)
2. Drive them to a cash machine
3. Add a charge for using the card
4. Ask them to pay cash if the fare is small

Answer: A. Use the terminal to take the payment. If your card terminal works and the passenger wants to pay by card, the byelaw says you must use it. Hackney Carriage Byelaws, byelaw 22

24. A passenger asks you for a receipt. What do the byelaws say?

1. You need only give one for card payments
2. You need only give one if the fare is over £10
3. You must give one, and keep blank receipts in the cab (correct answer)
4. You may tell them to contact the Council

Answer: C. You must give one, and keep blank receipts in the cab. You must give a receipt when the hirer asks, and keep a reasonable number of blank receipt forms in the carriage. Hackney Carriage Byelaws, byelaw 19

25. You find a wallet in your hackney carriage after a journey. How soon must you tell the Council?

1. Within 72 hours (correct answer)
2. Within 48 hours
3. Within 24 hours
4. Within 7 days

Answer: A. Within 72 hours. You must tell the Council within 72 hours. You must also try to return the property to its owner within 48 hours. Hackney Carriage Byelaws, byelaw 26

26. You found a passenger's mobile phone and could not return it within 48 hours. Where must it go?

1. The Council's licensing office
2. A Merseyside Police enquiry office (correct answer)
3. The nearest post office
4. Your taxi association's office

Answer: B. A Merseyside Police enquiry office. If you cannot return it within 48 hours, valuable items such as phones, cash and laptops must be handed in promptly to a Merseyside Police enquiry office. Hackney Carriage Byelaws, byelaw 26

27. What must a hackney carriage carry for use in a fire?

1. A sand bucket in the luggage space
2. A fire blanket under the driver's seat
3. A smoke alarm fitted to the roof
4. An efficient fire extinguisher, easy to reach (correct answer)

Answer: D. An efficient fire extinguisher, easy to reach. The proprietor must provide an efficient fire extinguisher, carried where it is ready for use. Hackney Carriage Byelaws, byelaw 3(h)

28. Before someone drives your hackney carriage, what must you make sure they can do, as proprietor?

1. Read the fare table in two languages
2. Repair the taximeter if it fails
3. Use the wheelchair ramp, anchor straps and swivel seat (correct answer)
4. Change a wheel at the roadside

Answer: C. Use the wheelchair ramp, anchor straps and swivel seat. Byelaw 18 says the proprietor must make sure the driver knows these facilities and is fully competent to use them. Hackney Carriage Byelaws, byelaw 18

29. How long do you have to pass the Liverpool Standard Part 2 after you get your first licence?

1. 12 months (correct answer)
2. 6 months
3. 24 months
4. 36 months

Answer: A. 12 months. The Council says all drivers must pass Part 2 within 12 months of being granted their first taxi licence, and it will not renew a licence without it. Liverpool City Council, renewing a licence page and Guidance, Appendix C

30. You want to renew your licence. How long before it expires must you apply?

1. 10 working days
2. 21 days (correct answer)
3. 6 months
4. 7 days

Answer: B. 21 days. The Council says you must apply 21 days before your old licence expires. It does not issue temporary licences. Liverpool City Council, renewing a licence page

31. Your licence expires before you renew it. How will the Council treat you?

1. As a temporary licence holder
2. As a renewal, if you still have your old badge
3. As a new applicant (correct answer)
4. As a renewal, if you pay a late fee

Answer: C. As a new applicant. If you do not renew before your licence expires, you must be treated as a new applicant. Liverpool City Council, renewing a licence page

32. You are over 65. How often must you renew your driver licence?

1. Every three years
2. Every five years
3. Every two years
4. Every year (correct answer)

Answer: D. Every year. Drivers over 65 must renew every year. Younger drivers get a three-year licence. Liverpool City Council, renewing a licence page

33. You have been in a collision. How soon must the proprietor report it to the Council?

1. Within 72 hours (correct answer)
2. Within 7 days
3. Within 24 hours
4. Within 5 working days

Answer: A. Within 72 hours. The Council says proprietors of licensed hackney carriages and private hire vehicles must report an accident within 72 hours of it happening. Liverpool City Council, report an offence or accident page

34. Your application is refused and you want to appeal. How long do you have to lodge the appeal?

1. 28 days from the written notice
2. 21 days from the written notice (correct answer)
3. 14 days from the written notice
4. 3 months from the written notice

Answer: B. 21 days from the written notice. An appeal must be lodged within 21 days of receiving written notice of the decision. The Guidance says this deadline cannot be extended. Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licensing Guidance, section 5

35. An old conviction is shown as spent. Must you still declare it on your application?

1. No, spent convictions never count
2. Only if it was a driving offence
3. Only if the Council asks at interview
4. Yes, you must declare all convictions and cautions (correct answer)

Answer: D. Yes, you must declare all convictions and cautions. The Guidance says every applicant must disclose all convictions and cautions, because offences are never treated as spent for these licences. Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licensing Guidance, section 3