Taxi Driving Assessments
Some local authorities require that you pass a taxi driving assessment in order to be licensed as a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire vehicle.
To find out if your local authority requires you to take a taxi driving assessment please contact them directly. You should also check that we already work with your local authority to carry out the taxi driving assessment on their behalf.
There are 3 types of taxi driving assessment you can take:
Standard Taxi Assessment
A manoeuvre where you’ll be asked to turn your vehicle to face the opposite direction.
Around 10 minutes of driving without being given turn-by-turn directions by the assessor.
Stops at the side of the road as if a passenger is getting in or out.
Related questions, like what to do if a passenger leaves property in your vehicle, questions from The Highway Code and identifying traffic signs and road markings. You may also be asked to demonstrate an emergency stop.
Wheelchair Assessment
You’ll have to do a wheelchair assessment if you want to drive a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
You’ll need to bring a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
You’ll need to show your ability to:
- Safely load and unload the wheelchair in your vehicle.
- Use the wheelchair brakes to secure and release it.
- Fasten the seat belts or safety harnesses.
- Secure any wheel belts or clamps fitted to your vehicle.
Enhanced Assessment
This assessment is a combination of both the standard and wheelchair assessments combined. (the wheelchair exercise is conducted first, followed by the standard driving assessment)
Our fees
Standard Assessment (Driving Assessment ONLY with Standard Car) – £88.00
Enhanced Assessment (Driving Assessment and Wheelchair Assessment with Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) – £97.00
Wheelchair Assessment (Wheelchair Assessment Only with Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) – £29.00
Your booking will be confirmed by email.
What you must bring
- Your driving licence
- If you have the old style (non-photocard) licence, then you must also bring a valid passport
- A Suitable Vehicle
Vehicle requirements
Your vehicle should be either a vehicle owned by you, or a vehicle you are using with permission of the owner (e.g. a hire vehicle).
The vehicle must be fully roadworthy and must not be displaying any warning lights.
Either a manual or an automatic vehicle is acceptable.
Green Penny reserves the right to check the tax and MOT status of your vehicle where they have reasonable concern that your vehicle is not roadworthy. If your vehicle is found without tax or a current MOT the assessment will not go ahead and you will lose your fee.
Please note you can only use a licensed vehicle if you are an existing Private Hire or Hackney Carriage driver. Please check with your licensing authority.
Your vehicle must:
- be insured for the purposes of a driving test/assessment
- be a car with front and rear seats (vans are not acceptable)
- not be displaying trade plates or L plates.
- be taxed
- have a current, valid MOT (if over 3 years old)
- be roadworthy
- be free of any tyre damage and all tread depths must be above the legal limit (you cannot use a space saver tyre on the assessment)
- have no warning lights showing
- have all its exterior lights in full working order
- the vehicle must be in a reasonably clean condition inside.
- the vehicle must be smoke-free – this means you cannot smoke in it just before or during the test (if the smell of smoke is present in the vehicle, the assessment may not go ahead and you may lose your fee).
- be able to reach at least 62 mph and have a mph speedometer
- have 4 wheels and a maximum authorised mass of no more than 3,500kg
- have a passenger seat belt and head restraint for the assessor
- You must bring a vehicle that is suitable for the type of assessment you are taking: Standard assessment – you must bring a car with rear seats (vans or car derived vans are not acceptable, except for a minibus designed to carry up to 9 passengers and up to 3,500 kg). Enhanced and wheelchair assessments – you must bring a vehicle that is suitable for transporting a wheelchair user i.e. a vehicle that has been adapted for the loading and transportation of wheelchair user.
In addition to the above, we have a policy of not allowing any recording of the assessment (audio or visual). You can use a camera for insurance purposes, as long as it is:
- External facing
- Doesn’t record audio inside the vehicle
If your vehicle does not meet the above requirements, your assessment will not go ahead and you will lose your assessment fee.
What does the assessment involve?
Before the assessment starts
- Please ensure that your clothing and footwear will not affect your ability to safely use the controls of your vehicle.
- We will ask you to read a vehicle number plate from a distance of 20 metres away. If you require the use of glasses or contact lenses to read the number plate, then you must also wear these during the driving assessment. If you fail the eyesight test, the rest of the assessment cannot go ahead and you will lose your fee. If you are taking the enhanced assessment you can still carry out the wheelchair exercise.
Practical driving assessment
During the taxi driving assessment, the assessor will ask you to:
- stop at the side of the road as if a passenger were entering or exiting the vehicle
- carry out a manoeuvre, where you will be asked to turn the vehicle around to face in the opposite direction
- drive for approximately 10 minutes without being given turn-by-turn directions (eg. by following road signs)
- answer questions from the Highway Code
- answer questions related to cabology
You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop.
You will pass the taxi driving assessment if you make 9 or fewer faults, unless you accumulate a number of faults in one area. If any serious or dangerous faults are recorded this will result in a fail. Please note faults will be recorded for incorrect answers given when answering cabology and Highway Code questions as well as driving faults committed on the practical element of the assessment.
Please note some taxi driving assessments are observed by quality assurance staff.
Wheelchair exercise
If you choose to take the enhanced taxi driving assessment, you will need to carry out the wheelchair exercise. You will need to bring a wheelchair accessible vehicle. During this exercise you will need to show that you can:
- safely load and unload the wheelchair in and out of your vehicle
- secure the wheelchair in your vehicle using the wheelchair brakes and also release it
- fasten the seat belts or safety harness
- secure any wheel belts or clamps fitted to your vehicle
Passing your assessment
When you pass your assessment you will be handed a copy of the assessment paperwork. You will also be offered a verbal debrief from the assessor. You will then receive your pass certificate by email, within 3 working days. The information on your pass certificate cannot be amended once it has been issued. The information contained on your certificate must match the information shown on your driving licence.
Failing the assessment
If you do not pass, you will be given a copy of the assessment paperwork and offered a verbal debrief from the assessor. To rebook your assessment, fill in our booking form again.
Amending or cancelling your assessment
You can easily amend or cancel your assessment once it has been booked. Please call us on 0330 111 7230 or email taxi@greenpenny.co.uk to do this. Please ensure you give enough notice to amend or cancel – you must give at least 4 clear working days notice so that you don’t lose your fee (working days = Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays. 4 clear working days, does not include the day you inform us you would like to cancel or the date of the assessment).