English test for a taxi or private hire licence: what each council asks

The Department for Transport's statutory standards link English to safeguarding. Drivers need written English to understand policies and guidance on protecting children and vulnerable adults, and spoken English to notice signs of exploitation when they talk to passengers. The standards say a council's test should cover both spoken and written English.

Wolverhampton's licence conditions add everyday tasks: understanding where the passenger wants to go, estimating how long it will take, handling common passenger requests and writing a clear receipt.

Sources: Statutory taxi and private hire vehicle standards (opens in a new tab) (Department for Transport, 6.4 Language proficiency)[1]; Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Policy (12.06.2026), including licence conditions, Guidelines on Fitness and Propriety, fees and Taxi CCTV Policy (opens in a new tab) (City of Wolverhampton Council, Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 28)[2]

Sources: Taxi knowledge and practical test (opens in a new tab) (City of Wolverhampton Council, Private hire licence: training course)[3]; Applying for a hackney carriage or private hire driver's licence (includes the driver training policy summary) (opens in a new tab) (Leeds City Council, Driver training policy, section 1)[4]; How do I become a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Driver? (opens in a new tab) (City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Stage 1; Stage 4: Application review and interview)[5]; Guide to driver licensing (DG1.1) (opens in a new tab) (Birmingham City Council, What is the knowledge test? (page 6))[6]; Hackney Carriage, Private Hire and Omnibus Licensing Scheme Handbook (opens in a new tab) (Sefton Council, Part 1. Driver Licences (All))[7]

• Wolverhampton: Worcestershire County Council, which runs the course, says that if in its opinion your English does not meet the basic standard, you cannot take the written test until it does, and no refund is given once you have attended. See booking the Wolverhampton course.
• Leeds: the English test is one of the requirements you must pass, along with the training modules, within 12 months of applying. See Leeds tests explained.
• Bradford: the licensing officer assesses your English at the video interview, as part of deciding whether you are suitable. See Bradford's training and interview.

Sources: Taxi driver training (Wolverhampton) (opens in a new tab) (Worcestershire County Council, Terms and conditions)[8]; Applying for a hackney carriage or private hire driver's licence (includes the driver training policy summary) (opens in a new tab) (Leeds City Council, Driver training policy, sections 1 and 2)[4]; How do I become a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Driver? (opens in a new tab) (City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Stage 4: Application review and interview)[5]

Yes. Leeds can require a licensed driver, in writing, to take an English, literacy and numeracy test at their own expense where there is reasonable cause, for example a substantiated complaint. You get up to 3 months, and if you fail or do not attend, your licence may be suspended and revocation considered. Leeds says it sets the minimum standard at UK citizenship level (Entry level 3).

Wolverhampton's conditions say inadequate English may result in refusal to grant or renew, suspension or immediate revocation of a licence.

Sources: Private hire driver conditions (opens in a new tab) (Leeds City Council, 6. English language, literacy and numeracy testing; explanatory note 5)[9]; Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Policy (12.06.2026), including licence conditions, Guidelines on Fitness and Propriety, fees and Taxi CCTV Policy (opens in a new tab) (City of Wolverhampton Council, Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, condition 28)[2]

Practise reading the documents your council's test is based on, such as its licence conditions or handbook, in English. Learn the key words in the rules, such as 'plying for hire', 'pre-booked', 'hirer', 'proprietor' and 'revoke', and practise explaining the main rules out loud.

Our practice tests are written in plain English and show the official source with every answer, so you practise the rules and the English at the same time. Start with the free practice test for your council, and read how to prepare for a private hire test.