When you get your Licence to work as a London PHV driver, there are a number of rules and policies that you need to know about. This section sets out some of these rules and policies and explains what you need to do.
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Licensing requirements
- You must be aged 21 or older when you apply for your licence; there is no upper age limit
- You must have a full DVLA, Northern Ireland, European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) state driving licence that is at least three years old
- You must have the right to live and work in the UK
- You must be a ‘Fit and proper’ person to hold a licence. You will need to have an
Enhanced criminal records check done by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) - You must be physically fit. This will mean that you will need to have a medical examination with a doctor who has access to all of your medical records. The medical requirements are the DVLA Group 2 medical standards
- You will need to take a separate test to check your ability to select and plan a route, read a map and identify locations. The test is held in a centre approved by TfL and conducted under exam conditions by a TfL examiner. This test is known as a Topographical skills assessment
- You will need to prove that you have at least a B1 level of ability in the English language. B1 is a level of English in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). To prove your English language speaking and listening skills you will need to take a test. The test is held in a TfL building and conducted under exam conditions. Your English language reading and writing skills will be derived from the Safety, equality and regulatory understanding assessment
Private hire driver’s licence
As soon as you are licensed it is important that you keep in contact with us and respond to any letters, emails or other forms of communication.
Your London PHV driver’s licence normally lasts for three years. If it is for a shorter period, the letter that comes with the licence will explain why. You should keep your licence at home in a safe place and give a copy of it to any licensed private hire operator(s) you are working with.
If a police officer or TfL Authorised Officer asks to see your licence, you must let them see it there and then or within a maximum of seven days. The PHV operator(s) you work with must keep copies of your PHV driver’s licence and your DVLA/NI/EU/EEA driving licence. The letter that comes with your licence contains important information about your responsibilities as a London PHV driver, including any conditions you must meet. It is important that you read this letter carefully and make sure you understand it.
If there are conditions on your licence which require you to provide TfL with information – for example if you need to provide further medical information – then TfL may write to you to remind you that the information is needed.
There are further general conditions that all licence holders need to know. These are given below.
Your PHV driver’s Badge
When you get your licence you will also receive a PHV driver’s badge (also known as photographic ID). You must wear this badge at all times when you are working as a PHV driver. Your PHV driver’s badge displays your name, photograph, licence number and the date your licence period ends. Remember, your operator must give passengers your name, photograph and vehicle details. This means that passengers can check this information against your badge.
Example of PHV driver badge:
You must wear your badge whenever you are working as a PHV driver, including when you are waiting to receive a booking or travelling to pick up a passenger. When you wear it, you must make sure that it can clearly be seen by other people. This applies to all PHV drivers unless we have given you special permission not to. This is called an Exemption. If we give you an exemption, we will send you an exemption notice. You must carry that notice with you at all times when working as a PHV driver.
If a passenger asks for your licence number, you should let them see your badge so that they can write the number down. The badge includes text in Braille which means a vision- impaired person can know that you are licensed.
Remember the badge is for you to use only. You must not allow any other person to use it to carry out bookings.
Lost PHV driver’s badge and licence
TfL will replace your lost or stolen badge or licence. However, if you then find your original badge or licence, you must return it to TfL. Your badge and licence are the property of TfL at all times, including when they have passed their Expiry date. You must return them when they pass the expiry date or when you are no longer licensed.
Medical conditions
You may be exempt from supplying a medical form if you:
• Have a full or provisional (issued after January 1997) DVLA Group 2 licence or
• Have a current London Taxi driver’s licence or
• Have a valid, current pilot’s licence issued by the Joint Aviation Authorities
TfL will remind you when a medical examination is due and send you the form you need. You are responsible for making sure that a doctor completes the form with all the required information about your health, and for returning the form to TfL. If you do not send TfL all the necessary information, you might not get your licence.
From the age of 45, PHV drivers must have a medical examination each time they apply to renew their licence. From the age of 65, PHV drivers must have a medical assessment every year. If you do not send TfL all the necessary information you might lose your licence. If you have an existing medical condition, extra medical examinations may be needed.
You should tell TfL immediately if, between medical examinations, you develop a new medical condition that may affect your ability to drive. Some examples of medical conditions you should let TfL know about include:
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Poor eyesight or other eye conditions affecting sight
• Heart conditions
• High blood pressure
• Neurological conditions (including strokes)
• Prescription medication that may affect your ability to drive
• Psychiatric illness
• Any condition which the DVLA requires you to report
If you are not sure whether to tell TfL, you should contact TfL for advice
The DVLA frequently updates its medical standards so TfL recommends that you check with the DVLA if you develop any new medical condition.
Change of address
You are also required by law to tell the DVLA if you change your address. You will then get a new driving licence with your new address on it. Details of how to do this are on the back of your DVLA licence. The address on your PHV driver’s licence should be the same as the address on your DVLA licence.
Other changes in personal circumstances
As a licensed London PHV driver, you must tell TfL immediately if your personal circumstances change.
This includes:
• If you have broken the law and have been Disqualified from driving. Please note that you will also have to return your London PHV driver’s licence and badge to TfL
• If you are the subject of a Mental Health Order or Sexual Offences Order
• If you are on either the Adults or Children’s Barred Lists
• If you have a private hire or taxi driver’s licence with another Licensing authority and that authority has suspended or revoked your licence, or refused any new application you have made
Convictions, cautions and arrests
You must tell TfL immediately if you are arrested, charged with, convicted or cautioned for any crime. This includes any fixed penalty notices or road traffic offences that result in Penalty points on your driving licence.
You are responsible for telling TfL about any offences you have committed. Do not rely on the police informing TfL.
If you fail to tell TfL about any convictions, you could have your licence revoked.
Other fixed penalties, parking tickets and PCNs
Right to live and work in the United Kingdom
In particular, if you are in the UK on a student visa you will only be allowed to work for a limited number of hours each week and you will not be allowed to be Self-employed.
Do all PCO driver have to do seru assessment?
Hi Ali, yes all Private Hire Drivers will need to do the SERU assessment at some point. TfL will invite drivers to do the SERU assessment based on different factors, such as when they applied and if they’ve completed their English Language Requirement etc. You can find out more about the SERU assessment dates here.
I did the English test in 2017 when we were asked to for drivers do I still need to do the seru assessment?
Hi Nicholas, if TfL have accepted the proof of ELR from you then no you do not have to. Please contact them to find out.
I have just received my phv license and on page one of the accompanying letter it states that conditions TA2 & TA3 apply with a start date of 14 July 2023 and an expiry date of 30 September 2023. What exactly does this mean please?
Hi Robin, the conditions TA2 & TA3 refer to the Transitional Arrangements for the English Language Requirement. Here is the TfL notice regarding transitional arrangements https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/english-language-requirement – As you may already know, the English Language requirement was replaced with the SERU Assessment and the Speaking & Listening test, depending on when you made the original application and the status of your English Language requirement evidence (if you submitted this already).
Hi i have just received my phv driver license
On paper certificate
What’s Relevant ta(2)-satisfactory completion of a test on the phv driver’s handbook
Hi Mohammed, this means you will at some point be invited to complete only the SERU assessment. The SERU test will count towards the English Langauge requirment from TfL.
Hi is there all question is enough to pass seru test or do I need to buy any CD or hand book for that please can info me
Hi Ahmed,
All the information you need is in the Private Hire Drivers Handbook. If you want, you can take online SERU courses or SERU Mock Tests to prepare.
Here are some we would recommend.
TfL SERU Course – http://www.tflseru.co.uk
SERU Mock Tests – http://www.serumocktest.com
yes
yes
Yes
Does your licence get cancelled if you don’t attend.
If you fail or miss your SERU assessment 2 times in a row, then yes your Private Hire Drivers license will be suspended.
If we fail the second time is the third time.
If you fail 2 times, then you will have to re-apply for your Private Hire Drivers Licence. Only then will you get another 2 chances to complete the SERU Assessment.
Can you continue to work whilst you’re applying?
If you are an existing TfL Private Hire license holder, then you can continue to work until TfL invite you to take your SERU assessment. You will get a letter and an email. For all new applicants, they must complete the SERU assessment before they get their licence.
If my private hire licence is revoked how long must one wait before re-applying?
Hi Ali, what was it revoked for?
Bom dia. O Seru teste eh feito someone na lingua inglesa?
Boa tarde. Sim, nosso curso online é em inglês, pois a avaliação SERU com TfL também é apenas em inglês
If somebody already have three years license and he fails two times can he continue work until his license not expired
Hi Zeb, no your Private Hire Drivers License will be suspended and you will most likely need to start a new application.
Can I still work as my license will expired next year I fail 2 times will they suspend my license but on the results it’s said that tfl will be in contact with you
Hi Khan, you will still be able to work until your current Private Hire Drivers License expires. After that, you will need to make a new application.
I am existing driver I have fail my seru twice can I still work until my license get expired or they will suspend my
License
Hi Khan, you will still be able to work until your current Private Hire Drivers License expires. After that, you will need to make a new application.
Hello my seru and topographical test took more than 4 weeks now I am still waiting for my results any good news about taking longer the take
Hi Suliman, we hope you do get good news. The best way to find out would be contacting TfL on TPHDriverassessments@tfl.gov.uk – All the best!
Seru it is grammar no really test this is grammar test absolutely unfair I did too many courses this Country but never I didn’t see test like this. For example two words inbox
students. studented. Studenting
If you no put wrong one you can’t pass this So difficult and no make sense.
I failed 2 attempts but my PHV license is valid till 2025. Can I still work till expiry of my license??
Hi Baljeet, yes you can work until your license expires. After which you will need to make a new application.
2025یں 2 کوششوں میں ناکام رہا لیکن میرا پی ایچ وی لائسنس 2025 تک کارآمد ہے۔ کیا میں اپنے لائسنس کی میعاد ختم ہونے تک کام کر سکتا ہوں؟
Hello, I live in Birmingham. Can I apply for the PHV to tfl to work in London?
Yes, many out of town drivers hold a TfL Private Hire License.
Hi i have just received my phv driver license
On paper certificate
What’s Relevant ta(2)-satisfactory completion of a test on the phv driver’s handbook
I have to do English test or what?
Hi Mohammed, this means you will at some point be invited to complete only the SERU assessment. The SERU test will count towards the English Langauge requirment from TfL.
Good day there,
I had to pay a lot of money for my test to prove my English language requirement before applying for my current PHL. I have now received a letter with my SERU evaluation, and I will be tested in English yet again. Is that correct?
Hi Blaz, yes this is the case with many drivers where TfL has not accepted their proof for ELR requirement.
Hello, i got an invitation for Seru test on August 24 this year but I could not do it because I was sick. How can I apply for another test, my PHV driving licence is valid till 07/02/2024. Is it possible to renew my PHV driving licence without seru test? Thanks.
Hi Asef, you need to contact TfL – TPHDriverassessments@tfl.gov.uk
Hello,
Is seru assessment open book or closed book meaning do you get a copy of the phv drivers handbook at the time of assessment.
TfL are currently trialing an open book SERU assessment. So, drivers will have a copy of the Private Hire Vehicle Driver’s handbook to look at while completing the SERU assessment.
Hello,
Do i have to pass seru where as i hold ACCA qualification (Association Of Chartered Certified Accountants) which is UK qualification. Please guide.
Yes, all existing and new drivers will at some point need to take and pass the SERU assessment.