Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Knowledge Test
To ensure our local taxi drivers provide a safe and efficient service to members of the public, it is important that private hire and hackney carriage drivers have a good working knowledge of the area in which they work and the laws and policies they operate under.
Because of this, all new applicants for a private hire and hackney carriage driver licence are required to pass a driver knowledge test before their licence can be granted.
The Knowledge Test costs £46 for the first attempt and £56 for subsequent re-takes. Should you fail the test after 3 attempts, you will not be able to resit for 6 months.
You will receive your results within five working days of taking the test.
This is a multiple-choice test and you will be required to show a good level of local knowledge. This includes identifying the location of key buildings or premises such as pubs, bars, restaurants, schools, train stations, golf clubs, village halls and supermarkets in the district.
The test has 100 questions split across 5 categories and to pass you must achieve an overall score of 80%.
The categories are:
- Highway Code
- Numeracy
- Horsham District Policy & Private Hire Conditions
- Dementia Awareness, County Lines, Human Trafficking & Child Sexual Exploitation
- Horsham District Places of Interest
You are expected to carry out your own research and you should be familiar with our Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy and Guidance
For Dementia Awareness Human Trafficking and Child sexual exploitation click this link for further information Human trafficking and dementia awareness guidance notes
For information about drug trafficking and county Lines please see County Lines
You should also read our Criminal Convictions Policy
We also suggest you obtain a good working knowledge of the district before attempting the test and we recommend the following:
- Spending time in the District and studying maps
- Using the internet and/or the telephone directory to research the names of the roads on which local landmarks or bars, restaurants, schools etc. are situated
- Re-familiarising yourself with the Highway Code
- Make sure you know where all the major villages are in the district
When you are ready, email licensing@horsham.gov.uk to book your test and make the payment.
- Mobile or smart phones
- Study notes
- Text books
- Handheld computers
- Satellite navigation devices
- Any other device or notes as deemed unacceptable