Taxi Knowledge Test

Sheffield taxi knowledge test

Based on Knowledge Test (Sheffield City Council, undated) and 8 other sources. Checked .

A 60-minute computer test of 40 multiple-choice questions in five sections, with a pass mark of 80% in each section.

How to bookTake the mock test

The test at a glance

CouncilSheffield City Council
LicencesHackney carriage and private hire
FormatOn a computer at a Council office; multiple choice; questions picked at random
Questions40
Time60 minutes
SectionsSafeguarding 5; Laws and Conditions 10; Highway Code 5; Routes 10; Points of Interest 10
Pass markAt least 80% in each of the five sections
Fee£87 per attempt, not refunded if you fail
Valid forOne year from the date you pass
ResitsNo limit on attempts is published; you pay the fee again for each test
LicenceOne test for the combined hackney carriage and private hire driver's licence

How to book

  • Book and pay online. You need your DVLA driving licence number, a photo of your driving licence and a passport-style photo.
  • You must be over 21 and have passed the Certificate in Introduction to the Role of the Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver, safeguarding training and disability awareness training before you book.
  • If you arrive late, the test does not go ahead and the fee is not refunded.
  • The 2022 driver policy says you get no refund if you cancel with less than 72 hours' notice.
  • If you fail, the fee is not refunded. You pay again to retake the test. Neither the Council's pages nor its 2022 driver policy set a limit on attempts or a wait between them.
  • In the Routes section you may use bus lanes, bus gates and tram gates. You must still follow the Highway Code and allow for no-entry areas, banned turns and long-term roadworks.
  • Some Highway Code questions, and every Points of Interest question, use pictures.

Sheffield City Council: apply for a knowledge test

This site isn't the council. Booking and payment happen on the official site.

About the Sheffield test

Sheffield City Council issues one licence to drive both hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. Every new driver must pass the Council's knowledge test, one of the stage two steps to a licence.

The test is on a computer at a Council office. It has 40 multiple-choice questions, picked at random, and you have 60 minutes. There are five sections: safeguarding (5 questions), laws and conditions (10), the Highway Code (5), routes (10) and points of interest (10). You must score at least 80% in every section to pass.

This page sums up what the Council publishes and gives you practice for each section. We are not the Council; read the Council's knowledge test page and its knowledge test guidance before you book.

Practise for the Sheffield test

Download every Sheffield question and answer as a PDF

Steps to a licence in Sheffield

  1. Be over 21 and have held a full DVLA driving licence for more than 12 months (the Council's knowledge test guidance says your driving test must have been passed at least 2 years before you apply; check which applies to you).
  2. Pass the Certificate in Introduction to the Role of the Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver (the Council points to The Sheffield College; other approved providers may not cover every module).
  3. Prove your right to work in the UK.
  4. Pass the knowledge test (£87).
  5. Pass the Council's driving standards test with its examiner (£75).
  6. Complete the DBS check, declare any convictions and pass the DVLA checks.
  7. Pass a medical assessment.
  8. Apply for your new taxi driver licence.

Recent changes

  • : The Council published a tender for a secure, web-based knowledge test delivery service (notice 2026/S 000-094247). Tests would still be sat at Council premises with Council staff invigilating. The contract is for 12 months with an option of 12 more, so the test system may change in 2027. (source)
  • : The Council uploaded a revised copy of its Knowledge Test Guidance. The format it describes is 40 questions, 60 minutes and 80% in each of five sections. (source)

What Sheffield doesn't publish

We couldn't confirm these from the council's own pages, so ask the licensing team if they matter to you.

  • Which Council office the test is held at. The Council's page says only "at our office", and the October 2026 tender says "Council premises"; the guidance gives the Licensing Service address as Staniforth Road Depot, S9 3HD, but does not say the test is there.
  • How much driving experience you need. The Council's age and experience page and its 2022 driver policy both say a DVLA licence held for more than 12 months (the policy: at the time the licence is granted); the knowledge test guidance says you must have passed your driving test at least 2 years before you apply. Ask the Licensing Service if you have held your licence for between 1 and 2 years.
  • Whether the driver conditions, byelaws and hackney carriage vehicle policy have changed. The Council's links to all three returned 'page not found' on 29 October 2026. We used archived copies: the byelaws (June 2024), the hackney carriage vehicle policy (in force from 1 March 2023) and the driver policy as presented to committee in 2022, which may differ in small ways from the adopted text.
  • When a new test system will start and whether the format will change. The October 2026 tender does not give a start date.
  • Which places and routes the real test uses. The Council publishes only examples.

Sheffield taxi test questions people ask

What is in the Sheffield knowledge test?

40 multiple-choice questions on a computer, in five sections: safeguarding (5), laws and conditions (10), the Highway Code (5), routes (10) and points of interest (10). You have 60 minutes.

What is the pass mark?

At least 80% in each section. A high total score does not help if one section is below 80%. In a 5-question section that means 4 right; in a 10-question section, 8 right.

How much does it cost, and what if I fail?

£87. If you fail, or arrive late, the fee is not refunded and you pay again to retake. The Council does not publish a limit on how many times you can retake. Book on the Council's website.

What do I need before I can book?

You must be over 21 and have passed the Certificate in Introduction to the Role of the Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver, plus safeguarding and disability awareness training. You also need your DVLA licence number, a photo of your licence and a passport-style photo.

How long must I have held my driving licence?

The Council's web page and its driver policy say more than 12 months. Its knowledge test guidance says you must have passed your driving test at least 2 years before you apply. If you are between the two, ask the Licensing Service before you pay for anything.

Can I use bus lanes and tram gates in the Routes section?

Yes. The Council's guidance says you may use bus lanes, bus gates and tram gates when choosing the shortest route. You must still keep to the Highway Code and allow for no-entry roads, banned turns and long-term roadworks.

Where can I read the byelaws and driver conditions?

The Council's links to them no longer open, so ask the Licensing Service (0114 273 4264) for copies. We used archived copies for our laws and conditions practice; they are listed under Sources.

How long is a pass valid?

One year from the date you pass. Finish the other steps and apply for your licence within that year.

Is the test going to change?

Possibly. In October 2026 the Council went out to tender for a new web-based test delivery service. Tests would still be taken at Council premises. Check the Council's page before you book.

Sources

Councils update their tests and policies, often yearly. If something here no longer matches your council's guidance, the council is right; please tell us so we can fix it.