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SERU vehicle licensing: questions and answers

22 practice questions for the TfL SERU assessment, with answers and explanations at the end.

Free from taxiknowledgetest.co.uk. Not an official council or TfL document: check the current official guidance.

Questions

Licences and discs

  1. A PHV licence lasts for .

    • A. six months
    • B. one year
    • C. two years
    • D. three years

  2. PHV licence discs are fixed to .

    • A. the rear windscreen only
    • B. the front windscreen only
    • C. both front side windows
    • D. the front and rear windscreens

  3. A PHV licence is about to end. What must happen before TfL can issue a new one?

    • A. The vehicle must have another inspection
    • B. The driver must take another medical
    • C. The operator must send TfL a letter
    • D. The discs must be sent back to TfL first

  4. Who is given the vehicle licence when a PHV is licensed?

    • A. The operator
    • B. The insurer
    • C. The registered keeper
    • D. The local police

  5. You are taking your family out for the day in your licensed PHV. What should you do with the discs?

    • A. Cover them with a sun shade
    • B. Leave them where they are
    • C. Take them off for the day
    • D. Move them to the glovebox

  6. The security features mean a disc will be if you try to remove it.

    • A. reported to TfL
    • B. sent to your operator
    • C. replaced for free
    • D. permanently damaged

  7. A licence disc on your PHV is badly damaged. Can you use the vehicle for private hire?

    • A. Yes, if your operator says it is fine
    • B. Yes, until the next inspection
    • C. No, not until the discs are replaced
    • D. Yes, if you carry a photo of the disc

  8. If the licence discs are lost or stolen, should contact TfL immediately.

    • A. the vehicle owner
    • B. the last passenger
    • C. the local police
    • D. the insurance company

  9. A vehicle has an exemption from showing licence discs. What must the driver do?

    • A. Show a note from the operator on the dashboard
    • B. Carry the exemption notice when it is used as a PHV
    • C. Tell each passenger about it before the journey
    • D. Keep the exemption notice at home in a safe place

Insurance

  1. Every PHV must have insurance.

    • A. breakdown
    • B. social and domestic
    • C. hire or reward
    • D. commuting only

  2. When must a PHV's insurance be valid?

    • A. When licensed and whenever used as a PHV
    • B. Only on the day it is inspected
    • C. Only when a passenger is on board
    • D. Only when driving in central London

  3. You can carry the insurance details with you or .

    • A. leave them with your operator
    • B. send them to TfL each month
    • C. keep them at your home
    • D. display them in the vehicle

  4. A police officer asks for your insurance details. What must you do?

    • A. Tell the officer to ask your operator
    • B. Ask TfL for permission first
    • C. Make the details available to the officer
    • D. Give them only after a collision

  5. Your operator insures the vehicle you drive. What does TfL encourage you to carry?

    • A. Your last three payslips from the operator
    • B. Policy details and proof it covers you to drive
    • C. A signed letter from your vehicle's last owner
    • D. Copies of the operator's other drivers' policies

  6. Your PHV is in a collision. Besides the police, who must you give your insurance details to?

    • A. A passenger or member of the public
    • B. Only the other driver
    • C. Only a TfL officer
    • D. Only your operator

Collisions, faults and signs

  1. If you own your PHV, you must tell TfL about a collision that affects its safety within .

    • A. 24 hours
    • B. 48 hours
    • C. 72 hours
    • D. seven days

  2. A collision leaves a large dent in the door of your own PHV. It still drives well. Must you tell TfL?

    • A. No, because it is still safe to drive
    • B. No, unless a passenger was hurt
    • C. Only if the insurer will not pay
    • D. Yes, because it affects its appearance

  3. After a collision, a PHV may need to be before it can be used as a PHV again.

    • A. re-examined
    • B. re-registered
    • C. re-sprayed
    • D. re-insured

  4. You are the registered keeper of a PHV. A letter tells you the vehicle has a fault to fix. What should you do?

    • A. Follow the instructions in the letter
    • B. Wait until the next licence inspection
    • C. Ask your passengers if they noticed it
    • D. Ignore it if the vehicle drives well

  5. A letter from TfL may say that a vehicle cannot be used for private hire until .

    • A. the next licence begins
    • B. the operator agrees
    • C. it has been fixed
    • D. the owner pays a fine

  6. Your licence was granted on or after 1 July 2025. Which sign must you make sure the vehicle displays?

    • A. A list of the operator's prices
    • B. The new complaints signage
    • C. The driver's home address
    • D. A notice of the driver's hours

  7. If your licence was granted on or after 1 July 2025, must make sure the PHV being driven displays the complaints signage.

    • A. only vehicle owners
    • B. only the operators
    • C. you, the driver,
    • D. only TfL inspectors

Answers

  1. B. one year. A PHV licence lasts for one year. Do not mix this up with a driver's licence, which normally lasts for three years.
  2. D. the front and rear windscreens. Once a vehicle is licensed, discs are fixed to both the front and rear windscreens.
  3. A. The vehicle must have another inspection. A new licence needs another licensing inspection of the vehicle first.
  4. C. The registered keeper. The registered keeper gets the vehicle licence, along with a leaflet that briefly explains the conditions.
  5. B. Leave them where they are. Do not remove the discs, even when you use the vehicle for private purposes.
  6. D. permanently damaged. The security features in a disc mean it is permanently damaged if someone tries to remove it.
  7. C. No, not until the discs are replaced. You cannot use a vehicle for private hire if a disc is missing or badly damaged. The vehicle owner should contact TfL for new discs.
  8. A. the vehicle owner. The vehicle owner should contact TfL immediately so that new discs can be issued.
  9. B. Carry the exemption notice when it is used as a PHV. In these rare cases, the driver must carry the exemption notice at all times when the vehicle is being used as a PHV.
  10. C. hire or reward. Every PHV must have hire or reward insurance.
  11. A. When licensed and whenever used as a PHV. Cover must be in place when the vehicle is licensed, and every time it is used as a PHV.
  12. D. display them in the vehicle. You can carry the details or display them in the vehicle. TfL encourages you to have them with you when you work.
  13. C. Make the details available to the officer. You must make your insurance details available to the police when they ask.
  14. B. Policy details and proof it covers you to drive. TfL encourages you to carry the policy details and evidence that you are insured to drive under that policy.
  15. A. A passenger or member of the public. After a collision, you must also give your insurance details to a passenger or member of the public.
  16. C. 72 hours. Vehicle owners must tell TfL within 72 hours. This covers a collision that affects the vehicle's safety, performance, appearance or comfort.
  17. D. Yes, because it affects its appearance. The rule is not only about safety. It also covers a collision that affects the vehicle's appearance, performance or comfort.
  18. A. re-examined. After a collision, the vehicle may need another examination before it can go back into use as a PHV.
  19. A. Follow the instructions in the letter. A manufacturer may report a fault to TfL. Read any letter from TfL or the manufacturer carefully and always follow its instructions.
  20. C. it has been fixed. If a vehicle has a fault, a letter from TfL may tell you not to use it for private hire until it has been repaired.
  21. B. The new complaints signage. The Handbook does not cover this, because the rule is newer. The signage tells passengers how to complain to TfL. TfL's Driver Policy applies it to all PHVs from 4 January 2027.
  22. C. you, the driver,. TfL's Driver Policy puts this duty on the driver, even one who does not own the vehicle, and applies it to all PHVs from 4 January 2027. The Handbook does not cover this newer rule.

Sources

  • Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Handbook, version 1.0, Transport for London, published 30 September 2021. Checked 1 November 2026. https://content.tfl.gov.uk/phv-driver-handbook-v1.pdf
  • Apply for a private hire driver licence, Transport for London, Undated web page.. Checked 1 November 2026. https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing/private-hire-driver-licence
  • London taxi and PHV driver policy, version 6.0, Transport for London, published 1 September 2026. Checked 1 November 2026. https://tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/taxi-and-private-hire-driver-policy.pdf