Key facts
- Councils testing taxi drivers' local knowledge
- 247 of 289 (2026)[1]
- Councils testing private hire drivers
- 183 of 289[1]
- Councils requiring an English test (private hire)
- 231 of 289[1]
- Knowledge of London
- Written assessment £225, appearance fee £425 (from 9 March 2026)[2]
- Test fees seen
- £28 (Norwich) to £150 (Birmingham hackney)[3]
What is on a taxi knowledge test?
Local geography first: routes between places, main roads, stations, hospitals, hotels and landmarks. Many councils add their licence conditions, licensing law, the Highway Code and safeguarding; Leeds, for example, lists separate tests and seminars on conditions, legislation and the districts of Leeds.[6]
Is the test the same for taxi and private hire drivers?
Not always. In 2026, 247 councils tested taxi drivers' local knowledge but only 183 tested private hire drivers. In London, private hire drivers take a topographical skills assessment while taxi drivers take the Knowledge of London.[1][2]
What is the Knowledge of London?
The test every London taxi (black cab) driver must pass: a written assessment, then appearances, which are oral examinations on routes and places in London. From 9 March 2026 the written assessment costs £225 and the appearance fee is £425.[2]
How much does the knowledge test cost?
Councils set their own fees, and many charge again for each resit.
| Authority | Test | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Norwich | Knowledge test | £28 |
| Walsall | Hackney knowledge test | £30 |
| Rochdale | Area knowledge re-test | £43 |
| Manchester | Knowledge test | £74 |
| Oxford | Knowledge and safeguarding test | £87 |
| Edinburgh | Taxi topographical test | £90 |
| Birmingham | Hackney carriage knowledge test | £150 |
| London (TfL) | Private hire topographical skills assessment | £40 |
| London (TfL) | Knowledge of London written assessment | £225 |
How do you prepare for a taxi knowledge test?
Get your council's study pack or list of places, learn the main routes and the order of places along them, and practise saying a route aloud. Read the council's licence conditions and policy too, as tests such as Leeds' conditions test cover them, and check how often your council runs tests.
Typical question types (examples only, not from any council's paper): name the quickest route from the railway station to the main hospital; which road connects two named districts; what a driver must do with lost property; whether a private hire driver may pick up a passenger who has not booked.
Frequently asked questions
Is the taxi knowledge test multiple choice?
Some are. Luton's tests are electronic and multiple choice; Birmingham lists a written or verbal test, and the Knowledge of London includes oral appearances. Check your council's format.
Do private hire drivers need a knowledge test?
In most councils yes: 183 of the 289 councils in the DfT's 2026 survey required a topographical or navigation test for private hire drivers.
Can I resit the knowledge test?
Yes, usually for another fee, for example £43 for Rochdale's area knowledge re-test.
Sources
Fees and rules change. Each source is the official page we read, with the date we read it; check it before you apply or pay.
- [1] Department for Transport: Taxi and private hire vehicle statistics, England: 2026, data tables TAXI0104, TAXI0105 and TAXI0108-TAXI0112 (figures at 1 April 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [2] Transport for London: Notice 05/26, Taxi and private hire licence fees (13 March 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [3] Norwich City Council: Taxi and private hire licence fees (last updated May 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [4] Birmingham City Council: Taxi licensing fees and charges (page updated 20 March 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [5] Walsall Council: Private hire and hackney carriage licensing fees (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [6] Leeds City Council: Taxi and private hire licensing costs (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [7] Rochdale Borough Council: Public hire and private hire driver fees (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [8] Manchester City Council: All taxi licensing fees (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [9] Oxford City Council: Taxi driver licence fees and charges (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [10] City of Edinburgh Council: Taxi and PHC licence application fees and charges 2026/27 (valid from 1 April 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [11] Luton Borough Council: Private hire and hackney carriage FAQs (read 2 Nov 2026)