How To Become a Taxi Driver UK

If you enjoy being behind the wheel of your car, interacting with a wide variety of different people and striking up interesting conversations then taxi driving could be a great career choice for you. With quality cabbies earning around £30,000 per year, it can be a great career choice for anyone who doesn’t mind spending hours a day on the road.

You won’t need any advanced education or academics to start your taxi driving career, so if you prefer getting on with things versus being stuck in a classroom it could be an ideal environment for you. That being said, you will need to acquire your taxi driver/private hire licence, which could require you to pass a topographical test.

How to become a Taxi Driver UK

There are two main routes you can take on your road to becoming a taxi driver.

Both have their benefits and disadvantages but can lead to a highly successful taxi driving career. We’ve put together a rundown of both to allow you to evaluate them more easily:

What skills do you need to be a Taxi Driver?

While it’s fairly obvious that you’ll need to be a good driver to captain a taxi, the parts of the job many forget to consider are the excellent customer service and listening skills you’ll require to make sure your passengers have an excellent journey—there’s far more to taxi driving than just getting your customers from A to B. With that in mind, somebody who met this profile might make an excellent cabbie.

If that sounds like you, let’s go over your two options.

1. College Course

If you’re not quite ready to dive into life as a taxi driver yet, a college course can help prepare you properly. A course will provide you with a breadth of knowledge about driving, customer service and etiquette, as well as offering a nice booster for your CV in the event you decide taxi driving isn’t for you.

What qualifications/education do you need to get into a Taxi Driving course?

Requirements and courses are different at every college—so a programme you see at one college may not be available at another. That being said, most courses have similar entry requirements, so if you meet these criteria you should be in a good spot:

Courses can serve many purposes, not only helping to make you a better taxi driver (whenever you do choose to start your career) but also providing opportunities to ask questions you might not have the opportunity to ask ‘on the job’. Courses are, naturally, probably less suited to someone who enjoys the challenge of diving straight into something, or who struggled academically in the past.

How to find Taxi Driver courses near me?

The first stop on your search should absolutely be the National Careers Service portal. Most of the UK’s colleges advertise their courses here, so it should offer an excellent starting point as you look for the right course. Some colleges (or especially popular courses) may only advertise locally, too, so keep an eye on their websites and in local papers.

The UK’s excellent online course portal is also a great resource for anybody looking to improve their skills before their course begins, so if you’re looking for a useful tool to help build up your future employability then take a look.

2. Work Experience/Direct Applications

There is no better way to learn how to do something than to jump straight in and give it a go. Beginning your career as a taxi driver (once you have the appropriate licences, covered more below) can be daunting at first, but if you feel you’re ready to take the leap then there is nothing to stop you from applying to local taxi companies directly.

While there is no guarantee that applying directly (especially with no prior experience) will yield any results, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances. Make sure your CV is well-presented, up-to-date and clean of any spelling or grammar errors. If you are able to secure an interview, make sure you’ve prepared your reasons for applying and why that company should hire you, as well as turning up promptly and smartly dressed.

Keep in mind that before you start working, you will need to have your taxi driver/private hire (PHV) licence sorted. Some city council's will require you have a job offer from a licenced operator before they'll accept your PHV application, so it's possible businesses may be aware that you won't have a full licence beforehand if this is the case in your local area.

Unlike courses, there isn’t one source you can use to find all of the UK’s taxi driver jobs. Job sites like Indeed and Totaljobs will serve as a useful resource, and consider nationwide apps like Uber as well.

What does a Taxi Driver do in the UK?

Being a taxi driver is a little more complicated than just getting your customers from A to B. You’ll need to be social, friendly, and good at basic maths to make sure their change is calculated correctly. Every day will be different, and some days you may even have to deal with customers who aren’t having the best day—being able to remain calm and even helping to relax these people is important, as they’re still paying customers.

Each day will be unique, but they’ll all share similarities. Here’s how you can expect to spend most of your time on the road:

Do I need insurance as a Taxi Driver?

Yes, you will require a taxi insurance policy in order to drive as a taxi driver. This is designed to protect you, your vehicle and other road users from the risks associated with driving for professional purposes (long hours on the road, unfamiliar routes, etc.)

To make sure you’re safe at all times, you’ll want, at minimum, a form of hire & reward (a legal requirement) and public liability insurance (not a legal requirement, but highly recommended by most good taxi drivers). Our guides to each are a great resource if you have any questions.

Becoming a Taxi Driver by city

How to become a Taxi Driver in London

To become a London taxi driver you’ll need to apply for a taxi or private hire licence with Transport for London (TfL). Be prepared to pass a topographical test and pass a criminal background check, and you’ll need to be over 21 years with at least 3 years of holding a valid drivers licence. It’s a little bit more complicated than the rest of the UK (where age limits are less strict) so if you’ve just finished school don’t be surprised if you have to wait a few years.

• Check with TfL to see if you’re eligible
• Apply for a taxi driver licence with TFL
• Apply for a PHV licence with TFL.

How to become a Taxi Driver in Birmingham UK

In order to obtain your Private Hire or Taxi licence from the Birmingham City Council, you must:

1. Prove your Right to Work in the UK
2. Prove you have held your driver’s licence for at least two years
3. Prove your address/residence
4. Pass a local knowledge test
5. Complete a DBS check and/or prove good character through references
6. Pass a basic medical exam
7. Pass a taxi-specific driving test
8. Attend a disability awareness course
9. (If applying for Private Hire) provide evidence of a job offer from a licenced operator

Compared to London, the requirements are slightly less stringent—there isn’t a specific age requirement, for example, provided you’ve held a full drivers licence for at least 2 years.

To submit your application, go to the taxi licencing website for the Birmingham City Council.

How to become a Taxi Driver in Liverpool

Becoming a taxi driver in Liverpool has fewer steps than in other major UK cities, but that doesn’t mean it’s any ‘easier’. You’ll need to pass a number of tests before your licence is issued, so be prepared to prepare appropriately. Here’s everything you’ll need to do:

1. Produce a Certificate of Good Conduc and/or pass DVLA/DBS checks
2. Pass the Liverpool Standard test (Part 1).
3. Pass a street knowledge test and have your ID/Right to Work checked
4. Pass a medical exam and receive a medical certificate
5. Apply for your licence.

If you think you’re ready, check out the Liverpool City Council’s full guide to completing your application.

How to apply for a taxi licence in Manchester

The process is fairly simple. You’ll be required to pass a number of tests (as with most cities in the UK) but will also have to attend an interview to have all of your documents (Right to Work, proof of address, etc.) reviewed. If you think you have everything prepared, head to the Manchester City Council’s driver application and start the process.

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