Key facts
The code of conduct
Have every driver read and sign it at onboarding and at each licence renewal.
[COMPANY] DRIVER CODE OF CONDUCT 1. SAFETY - Drive within the law and the conditions of your licence at all times. - No phone use while driving except hands-free for dispatch as the law allows. - Do the daily vehicle check before your first job. 2. PASSENGERS - Be polite and professional; greet passengers and confirm their name and destination. - Help with luggage and with getting in and out where needed. - Take the most suitable route or the one the passenger asks for. 3. SAFEGUARDING - Know the signs of exploitation and abuse; report concerns to [contact] the same day. - Never take a passenger anywhere other than the booked destination without their clear agreement. - Unaccompanied children only as booked and authorised. 4. ACCESSIBILITY AND EQUALITY - Carry assistance dogs unless you hold a valid medical exemption. - Help wheelchair users safely; use securement equipment correctly. - Treat every passenger equally. 5. VEHICLE AND APPEARANCE - Keep the vehicle clean, smoke-free and displaying the required plates and signs. - Dress [to company standard]. 6. MONEY - Charge only the booked or metered fare and listed extras; issue a receipt on request. 7. DATA - Use passenger details only for the job; never share them or contact passengers privately. 8. INCIDENTS AND COMPLAINTS - Report accidents, incidents, lost property and complaints through [app/phone] the same shift. 9. LICENCE - Tell us immediately about any conviction, caution, arrest or licence change. 10. CONSEQUENCES Breaches may lead to [warning / suspension of work / ending the agreement] and, where required, a report to the licensing authority. Signed: ____________ Date: ________
What do councils expect drivers to be trained in?
Most councils now require safeguarding training and many require disability awareness: in 2026, 279 of 289 councils in England and Wales required child sexual exploitation training for private hire drivers and 204 required disability awareness training.[1]
Frequently asked questions
Is a driver code of conduct a legal requirement?
Licensing authorities set conditions drivers must follow; an operator's own code of conduct adds the firm's standards and gives a clear basis for action. Base yours on your authority's conditions.
Should drivers sign the code of conduct?
Yes, at onboarding and again when licences are renewed, so there is a record that each driver read the current version.
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.