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Oldham licensing policy: questions and answers

36 practice questions for the Oldham Council taxi and private hire knowledge test, 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

Applying and the knowledge test

  1. What is the minimum age to apply for an Oldham Dual Driver Licence?

    • A. 18
    • B. 21
    • C. 23
    • D. 25

  2. How long must you have held a full GB driving licence when you apply?

    • A. At least 6 months
    • B. At least 2 years
    • C. At least 12 months
    • D. At least 3 years

  3. When do you take the knowledge test?

    • A. Directly after the Driver Awareness Training
    • B. Before you apply for a licence
    • C. A week after the training
    • D. When you first renew

  4. How long does the Driver Awareness Training last?

    • A. About 30 minutes
    • B. About 60 minutes
    • C. A full day
    • D. About 90 minutes

  5. You have a test of 20 questions. How many must you get right to pass?

    • A. 12
    • B. 14
    • C. 15
    • D. 16

  6. What happens if you fail the knowledge test 6 times?

    • A. You are banned from applying again for a period of five years
    • B. An authorised officer will consider refusing your application
    • C. You must pay for a private course
    • D. Your fee goes up each time you sit it

  7. At your New Driver Appointment you cannot hold a basic conversation in English. What happens?

    • A. The application is refused on the same day and you lose the fee
    • B. An interpreter is given to you for your test
    • C. You are referred for an assessment of your speaking skills
    • D. You pass to the training regardless

  8. Your application is put on hold so you can take English lessons. How long can it stay open?

    • A. 1 month
    • B. 3 months
    • C. 6 months
    • D. 12 months

  9. You lived abroad for more than three continuous months. What might you need?

    • A. A letter from your landlord
    • B. A Certificate of Good Conduct, translated into English
    • C. A signed reference from your operator and from your last employer
    • D. A foreign driving licence, translated into English

DBS, medicals and renewals

  1. How long do you have to join the DBS Update Service?

    • A. 7 days from your licence being granted
    • B. 14 days from the day of your first booking with an operator
    • C. 30 days from the date on your DBS certificate
    • D. 6 months from your last check

  2. How often does the Council aim to check your DBS on the Update Service?

    • A. At least every week
    • B. Every 3 months
    • C. Every 6 months
    • D. Once a year

  3. A DBS check on the Update Service shows new information. What happens to your Dual Driver Licence?

    • A. It carries on until your next renewal
    • B. You get 6 months to sort it out
    • C. It is cancelled and you may not reapply
    • D. It is suspended with immediate effect

  4. Who must make sure the DBS Update Service subscription stays live?

    • A. The licence holder
    • B. The Council
    • C. The operator
    • D. The company that did the check

  5. You are 40. How often do you need a Group 2 medical?

    • A. Every year
    • B. Every 3 years
    • C. Every 5 years
    • D. Every 6 years

  6. How old can a medical be when you hand it in?

    • A. No more than 1 month
    • B. No more than 3 months
    • C. No more than 6 months
    • D. No more than 12 months

  7. How long is a standard Oldham Dual Driver Licence?

    • A. 1 year
    • B. 2 years
    • C. 3 years
    • D. 5 years

  8. How early can you apply to renew your licence?

    • A. Up to 2 weeks before it ends
    • B. Up to 4 weeks before it ends
    • C. Up to 8 weeks before it ends
    • D. Up to 6 months before it ends

  9. Your licence ended 10 days ago and you have not applied to renew. How must you apply?

    • A. As a new applicant
    • B. As a renewal, for the normal fee
    • C. As a renewal, with a late fee
    • D. You cannot apply for 12 months

  10. Your licence ended 2 years ago and you apply again. Must you retake the training and test?

    • A. No, not for a break of less than 5 years
    • B. Yes, after any break
    • C. Yes, unless you passed first time
    • D. No, because once you pass you never have to retake it

Fit and proper, and convictions

  1. What level of proof does Oldham use to decide if a person is fit and proper?

    • A. Beyond reasonable doubt
    • B. The balance of probabilities
    • C. Only a criminal conviction
    • D. A majority vote of drivers

  2. Can Oldham consider information that did not lead to a conviction?

    • A. No, the Council may consider court convictions and nothing else
    • B. Only if the driver agrees
    • C. Only if it is under 12 months old
    • D. Yes, for example from the police or other agencies

  3. You have an old conviction from 15 years ago. Do you declare it to Oldham?

    • A. Yes, you must declare all convictions, spent or not
    • B. No, because any conviction is spent after ten years have passed
    • C. Only if it was for a driving offence
    • D. Only if an officer asks you

  4. How does the fitness policy treat a caution?

    • A. It ignores it
    • B. It ignores it after 12 months
    • C. It treats it as if it were a conviction
    • D. It treats it as a warning only, with no further effect on you

  5. A person has one conviction for theft, 4 years ago. What does the policy say about a licence?

    • A. It will be granted if they apologise
    • B. It will be refused until 7 years have passed
    • C. It will be limited to private hire work only, for the first 3 years
    • D. It will be refused for life

  6. There is evidence that a licence holder is involved in child sexual exploitation. What may happen?

    • A. A written warning first
    • B. A retest on safeguarding
    • C. Nothing can happen to the licence unless there is a conviction
    • D. The licence may be revoked with immediate effect

  7. You get six penalty points in a 3-year period for minor offences. What does Oldham say?

    • A. The Council will consider if a hearing is needed
    • B. Nothing, because points do not matter until you reach 12 of them
    • C. Your licence ends on that day
    • D. You must retake the knowledge test

  8. Your licence was revoked 6 months ago. You apply again and nothing has changed. What normally happens?

    • A. It is granted after a new test
    • B. It is refused, as it is within 12 months
    • C. It is granted for one year only, after you take a new test
    • D. It is sent to the police to decide

  9. You disagree with a decision to refuse your licence. Where can you appeal, and how long do you have?

    • A. To the Licensing Committee, within 7 days
    • B. To the DVLA, within 14 days
    • C. To the Magistrates' Court, within 21 days
    • D. To the Crown Court, within 6 months of the decision in writing

Dress code

  1. What does the dress code say about clothing in general?

    • A. It must be a company uniform, worn on every shift
    • B. It must be in good condition
    • C. It must be black or dark blue
    • D. It must be new each year

  2. A driver wants to work in a football team shirt. What does the dress code say?

    • A. It is not acceptable
    • B. It is acceptable if it is clean
    • C. It is acceptable at weekends
    • D. It is acceptable on match days

  3. Which of these is acceptable under the dress code?

    • A. A team rugby shirt
    • B. Beachwear
    • C. A tracksuit
    • D. Sandals with no heel strap

  4. What does the dress code say about shoes?

    • A. They must be black, with laces, and polished for each shift
    • B. They must have laces
    • C. They must be steel-toe
    • D. They must be secure around the toe and heel

  5. Are shorts allowed for drivers at work?

    • A. No, never
    • B. Yes, if they are knee length
    • C. Yes, any length of shorts during the summer
    • D. Only for female drivers

  6. A driver wears a hood that hides much of their face. What does the dress code say?

    • A. Acceptable at night
    • B. Acceptable in rain
    • C. Not acceptable if it may hide their vision or identity
    • D. Not acceptable for private hire drivers, but fine for hackney drivers

  7. A driver wears clothing for religious reasons that is different from the minimum standard. What does the dress code say?

    • A. Exceptions for faith or disability are accepted
    • B. It is banned
    • C. They need an exemption from the police
    • D. It is allowed only when the driver works outside the borough

  8. Does the Council require a distinct uniform?

    • A. Yes, for all drivers
    • B. Yes, for hackney drivers only
    • C. Yes, for private hire drivers only
    • D. No, it does not

Answers

  1. B. 21. The policy says an applicant must be at least 21 when applying.
  2. C. At least 12 months. The October 2025 policy says at least 12 months. The earlier policy, and the Council's October 2024 guidance, said 2 years.
  3. A. Directly after the Driver Awareness Training. The policy says the test directly follows the training course.
  4. D. About 90 minutes. The policy says the training lasts about 90 minutes.
  5. C. 15. The policy says at least 15 of the 20 questions must be correct, which is 75%.
  6. B. An authorised officer will consider refusing your application. The policy says the application is then referred to an authorised officer, who will consider refusing it.
  7. C. You are referred for an assessment of your speaking skills. The policy says the application is referred to an authorised officer for an assessment of verbal communication skills.
  8. C. 6 months. The policy says up to 6 months from the first language assessment. After that the application is refused and you need to reapply.
  9. B. A Certificate of Good Conduct, translated into English. You may need a Certificate of Good Conduct. The relevant Embassy or Consulate must authenticate it and translate it into English.
  10. C. 30 days from the date on your DBS certificate. The policy says within 30 days of the date printed on the certificate. If you miss this, you need a new certificate.
  11. A. At least every week. By applying, you agree to checks at least weekly. The national standard is at least every 6 months, and the weekly checks give earlier warning if a subscription lapses.
  12. D. It is suspended with immediate effect. The policy says the licence is suspended at once. You must produce a new DBS, and it stays suspended until the information has been considered.
  13. A. The licence holder. The policy says it is your responsibility. The fee is charged to your registered card and is not a direct debit.
  14. D. Every 6 years. The policy says on first application, then every 6 years until 65. From 65, a medical is needed every year.
  15. B. No more than 3 months. Your medical must carry a date no more than 3 months before you hand it in.
  16. C. 3 years. The policy says dual driver licences are granted for 3 years, with shorter periods in some cases, such as a trial after a hearing.
  17. C. Up to 8 weeks before it ends. The Council's driver renewals page says you can apply up to 8 weeks before the licence ends.
  18. A. As a new applicant. The grace period is 7 days. After more than 7 days, you must apply as a new applicant.
  19. A. No, not for a break of less than 5 years. The policy says the training and test are not needed where the break is less than 5 years. At 5 years or more, you must do them again.
  20. B. The balance of probabilities. The fitness policy says decisions use the balance of probabilities, and the applicant should not be given the benefit of the doubt.
  21. D. Yes, for example from the police or other agencies. The fitness policy says the test is not based only on convictions. Non-conviction information can be considered.
  22. A. Yes, you must declare all convictions, spent or not. The October 2025 policy says driver applicants must declare all convictions, spent or otherwise, and the fitness policy says they are never spent. The Council's October 2024 guidance leaves out "protected" convictions, so ask the Council if you think that applies to you.
  23. C. It treats it as if it were a conviction. The fitness policy says all cautions and endorsable fixed penalties are treated as though they were convictions.
  24. B. It will be refused until 7 years have passed. Schedule A says that where a dishonesty conviction is less than 7 years old, the application is refused or the licence revoked. With more than one, the period is 10 years.
  25. D. The licence may be revoked with immediate effect. Schedule D says such evidence leads to immediate consideration of fit and proper status and may mean immediate revocation.
  26. A. The Council will consider if a hearing is needed. Schedule F says that at six or more points in a three-year period, the Council will consider a hearing on whether you are fit and proper.
  27. B. It is refused, as it is within 12 months. The fitness policy says a new application within 12 months of the decision is normally refused unless there are substantial material changes.
  28. C. To the Magistrates' Court, within 21 days. The policy describes a 21-day appeal period, and appeals go to the Magistrates' Court. Further appeal to the Crown Court is possible.
  29. B. It must be in good condition. The policy says clothing must be in good condition and drivers must keep good standards of personal hygiene.
  30. A. It is not acceptable. Sportswear such as football and rugby kits, including team shirts, is listed as unacceptable.
  31. C. A tracksuit. Tracksuits are named as acceptable, unlike team kits, beachwear and sandals with no heel strap.
  32. D. They must be secure around the toe and heel. The policy says footwear must fit securely around the toe and heel. Flip flops are not acceptable.
  33. B. Yes, if they are knee length. The policy says knee-length shorts are acceptable for all drivers.
  34. C. Not acceptable if it may hide their vision or identity. The policy lists any hood or clothing that may obscure the driver's vision or identity as unacceptable.
  35. A. Exceptions for faith or disability are accepted. The dress code allows for differences based on faith or disability.
  36. D. No, it does not. The policy says the dress code does not require a distinct uniform, but it encourages supporting a company's uniform where one is required.

Sources

  • Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy (includes vehicle and driver conditions and byelaws), Oldham Council, Revised policy took effect 21 October 2025; Word file last modified 31 July 2026. Checked 1 November 2026. https://www.oldham.gov.uk/downloads/file/8473/hackney_carriage_and_private_hire_licensing_policy
  • Policy on the Fitness and Suitability of Applicants and Licence Holders, Oldham Council, Approved 1 November 2022, in force 2 November 2022. Checked 1 November 2026. https://www.oldham.gov.uk/homepage/1495/licensing_policy
  • Driver renewals, Oldham Council, Undated. Checked 1 November 2026. https://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200204/licensing/2702/hackney_carriages_and_private_hire/3