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TfL SERU practice questions: 25 free questions for London PHV drivers

Try 25 original questions across the ten sections of TfL’s PHV Driver’s Handbook before you book your SERU assessment. Choose an answer, then open the explanation to see the correct one and where it comes from.

Independent guide, not governmentReviewed by Liam Humphreys on Last updated Last checked 15 sources15 min readHow this guide was made, including our use of AI

Contents

Practice questions, not the real exam

These questions are original. They were written from the facts in TfL’s free PHV Driver’s Handbook, the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010 and the Highway Code, not copied from TfL’s handbook, online guide, example questions or any app or course. This is independent practice material: it is not TfL material and TfL has not endorsed or checked it. The real assessment is set by TfL and words things differently. The law and TfL’s rules change, so check the sources at the end before you rely on an answer. This is not legal advice.

About the TfL SERU assessment

The TfL SERU assessment at a glance
DetailWhat TfL and driver guides say
Who needs itEveryone applying for a London private hire vehicle (PHV, minicab) driver’s licence, new or renewing, has had to pass the SERU assessment since 1 October 2021. Passing it also shows TfL your English reading and writing. Speaking and listening is a separate test, and so is the topographical skills assessment.
What it coversTfL says the assessment is based on its PHV Driver’s Handbook (Version 1.0, 30 September 2021), which has ten sections: licensing, vehicle licensing, private hire journeys, staying safe, driver behaviour, driving and parking in London, safer driving, equality and disability, safeguarding children and adults at risk, and ridesharing.
FormatComputer-based, taken at a TfL assessment centre. TfL says it uses multiple-choice questions and completing sentences with missing words; its online guide also shows reading a short passage and dragging words into gaps. TfL’s public pages do not give the number of questions, time or pass mark for the PHV test. As reported by operators Uber and Addison Lee in their 2023 driver guides, it is 37 questions in 45 minutes with a 60 per cent pass mark; TfL has not confirmed this. In 2024 TfL said it would trial letting drivers refer to the handbook during the test (open book), and reports since say the handbook is provided, but TfL’s SERU page does not say. Check your booking confirmation for the format, time, pass mark and whether the test is open book.
Fee40 pounds for a first attempt and 30 pounds for a resit (TfL, from 9 March 2026).
Before you sit itTfL expects you to complete its free online Safeguarding Awareness course and to read the PHV Driver’s Handbook. TfL also publishes a free online assessment guide with example questions and an audio version of the handbook.
Who sets itTransport for London (TfL), the licensing authority for London. This pack is independent: it is not TfL material, does not contain TfL’s questions and is not endorsed by TfL.
Where our questions come fromOur own wording, written from the facts in TfL’s free PHV Driver’s Handbook (each question names the handbook section), the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010, the Highway Code and TfL’s web pages. Questions marked as extra practice cover law or TfL rules that changed after the 2021 handbook and are left out of the mock.
A man reads a book and makes notes at a kitchen table, a mug and a highlighter beside him.
Illustration. AI-generated image. About our images

How the quiz works

Read each question and decide on A, B, C or D. Then open Show the answer under it. There is no score, so keep your own tally. Aim for at least 15 out of 25. Operators Uber and Addison Lee report the real pass mark as 60 per cent, which is 15 out of 25. TfL does not publish the pass mark, so check your booking confirmation.

Abbreviations used: TfL means Transport for London, PHV means private hire vehicle (minicab), SERU means Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding, Handbook means TfL’s PHV Driver’s Handbook, Version 1.0 (30 September 2021), DBS means Disclosure and Barring Service, DVLA means Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, PCN means Penalty Charge Notice, ULEZ means Ultra Low Emission Zone, and s. means section of an Act.

The 25 questions

Question 1

How long must you have held a full driving licence before TfL can grant you a PHV driver’s licence?

  1. At least three years
  2. At least five years
  3. At least two years
  4. At least one year
Show the answer

Answer A. At least three years

The Act requires the applicant to have been authorised to drive a car for at least three years. The handbook says a full DVLA, Northern Ireland, EU or EEA licence that is at least three years old.

Relies on: Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 s.13(2)(a); Handbook Section 1, Licensing requirements.

Question 2

When must you wear your PHV driver’s badge?

  1. Only when a police officer or TfL officer stops you and asks you to show it
  2. Only when you are inside Central London
  3. Whenever you are working, including while waiting for or driving to a booking
  4. Only while a passenger is in the vehicle
Show the answer

Answer C. Whenever you are working, including while waiting for or driving to a booking

The badge must be worn whenever you are working, including when you are waiting for a booking or travelling to collect a passenger, unless TfL has given you an exemption.

Relies on: Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 s.14(3)(a); Handbook Section 1, Your PHV driver’s badge.

Question 3

You are arrested but not yet charged with any offence. What should you do?

  1. Tell TfL only if you are convicted
  2. Tell TfL at your next licence renewal
  3. Wait for the police to tell TfL
  4. Tell TfL immediately
Show the answer

Answer D. Tell TfL immediately

The handbook says tell TfL immediately if you are arrested, charged, convicted or cautioned; do not rely on the police. TfL’s licence page now says within 48 hours for licences granted from 1 July 2024 (21 days for convictions and cautions on older licences).

Relies on: Handbook Section 1, Convictions, cautions and arrests; TfL, Apply for a private hire driver licence (Licensee self-reporting).

Question 4

How long does a London PHV (vehicle) licence normally last?

  1. Until the vehicle is sold
  2. Three years
  3. Five years
  4. One year
Show the answer

Answer D. One year

A London PHV licence is granted for one year (or a shorter period), and the vehicle must pass another licensing inspection before a new licence is issued.

Relies on: Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 s.7(6); Handbook Section 2, Licences and licence discs.

Question 5

What kind of insurance must every licensed PHV have?

  1. Hire or reward insurance
  2. Commuting insurance only
  3. Social, domestic and pleasure insurance only
  4. No insurance, because the operator is responsible
Show the answer

Answer A. Hire or reward insurance

Hire or reward cover must be in place when the car is licensed and for every moment it is working as a PHV.

Relies on: Handbook Section 2, Insurance; Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 s.7(2)(b).

Question 6

Which bookings can a London PHV driver carry out?

  1. Bookings from passengers who wave the car down
  2. Any booking a passenger makes with the driver directly by phone or text
  3. Only bookings from a licensed London PHV operator
  4. Bookings from any company, licensed or not
Show the answer

Answer C. Only bookings from a licensed London PHV operator

You may only carry out bookings received from a licensed London PHV operator, in a London licensed PHV that displays its discs (unless exempt).

Relies on: Handbook Section 3, Bookings; Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 s.2(1).

Question 7

You are waiting near your operator’s office in a late-night venue area. Which of these does the handbook tell you NOT to do?

  1. Use the toilets at your operator’s office
  2. Keep noise down out of respect for local residents
  3. Park legally and switch off the engine
  4. Leave your engine running while you wait
Show the answer

Answer D. Leave your engine running while you wait

You are responsible for your parking, your vehicle’s noise and your behaviour. Do not behave anti-socially, drop litter, urinate in public or leave the engine running.

Relies on: Handbook Section 3, Operating centres in late night venues.

Question 8

You find a passenger’s wallet on the back seat. What should you do?

  1. Post it to the address on any card inside
  2. Leave it on the seat in case the passenger comes back
  3. Keep it safe for 28 days and then hand it in at a police station
  4. Take it to your operator and tell them straight away
Show the answer

Answer D. Take it to your operator and tell them straight away

Take lost property to your operator, which must keep a record of items it holds. Tell the operator as soon as you find it in case the passenger has already been in touch.

Relies on: Handbook Section 3, Lost property.

Question 9

A passenger is offensive towards you because of your religion. What is this, according to the handbook?

  1. Rude behaviour that should simply be ignored
  2. A civil dispute that the driver must settle by taking the passenger to court
  3. A matter for your operator only, not the police
  4. A hate crime that should be reported to the police
Show the answer

Answer D. A hate crime that should be reported to the police

Abuse aimed at your faith, race, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity counts as hate crime. TfL wants it reported: 101, or 999 if urgent.

Relies on: Handbook Section 4, Driver safety.

Question 10

Which of these is a warning sign that a passenger might become aggressive?

  1. Falling asleep in the back seat
  2. Hands held tightly in fists
  3. Asking how long the journey will take
  4. Thanking you for the journey
Show the answer

Answer B. Hands held tightly in fists

Warning signs include tapping fingers, crossed arms, clenched fists, aggressive staring, a raised voice, an angry expression and a sudden change in behaviour or voice.

Relies on: Handbook Section 4, Warning signs of possible aggressive behaviour.

Question 11

A passenger collapses and seems unconscious. No one else is there to help. What should you do?

  1. Leave them somewhere safe and carry on with your next booking
  2. Call your operator and wait for the operator to decide what you should do next
  3. Drive them to hospital yourself without calling anyone
  4. Call 999 and stay with them until help arrives
Show the answer

Answer D. Call 999 and stay with them until help arrives

If a passenger is unconscious, extremely unwell, injured or in an emergency and no one else can help, call 999 and stay with them until help arrives.

Relies on: Handbook Section 4, Drugs and alcohol.

Question 12

After a journey, a driver sends a passenger a friendly message using the phone number from the booking, asking to meet for a coffee. What is this, according to the handbook?

  1. Unacceptable: a misuse of the passenger’s details
  2. Acceptable, if the driver is off duty
  3. Acceptable, if the passenger was friendly and chatty during the journey
  4. Acceptable, if the message is polite
Show the answer

Answer A. Unacceptable: a misuse of the passenger’s details

Booking details are only for the journey. Using them to contact a passenger socially misuses their personal information.

Relies on: Handbook Section 5, Unacceptable behaviour.

Question 13

A passenger suggests sexual activity in place of paying the fare. What does the handbook say?

  1. It is acceptable if the passenger suggested it
  2. It is a private matter between the driver and passenger
  3. Never accept: it is never acceptable, even if both agree
  4. It is acceptable if the journey has ended
Show the answer

Answer C. Never accept: it is never acceptable, even if both agree

No sexual behaviour between a driver and a passenger is ever acceptable, even if both agree. Never offer or accept sex instead of a fare. You will lose your licence if found to have acted this way.

Relies on: Handbook Section 5, Unacceptable sexual behaviour.

Question 14

A road sign shows that access is for buses, taxis and cycles only. Can a PHV use it?

  1. No, because a PHV is not a taxi
  2. Yes, because PHVs count as taxis on road signs
  3. Yes, if there is a passenger on board
  4. Yes, between 10 pm and 6 am
Show the answer

Answer A. No, because a PHV is not a taxi

Signs that allow taxis do not cover PHVs, because in law a PHV is not a taxi.

Relies on: Handbook Section 6, Driving and parking in London.

Question 15

You arrive ten minutes early for a booking and wait on a road with waiting restrictions. What could happen?

  1. Nothing, if you wear your badge
  2. You may get a PCN, because you are waiting
  3. Nothing, because you have a booking
  4. Nothing, if your engine is switched off
Show the answer

Answer B. You may get a PCN, because you are waiting

If you are not actually picking up or dropping off, you may get a PCN for waiting in a restricted place, even if you are early, the passenger is late, or the passenger asked you to wait while they shop.

Relies on: Handbook Section 6, Stopping and waiting.

Question 16

A passenger asks you to stop on a red route so they can use a cashpoint. When does TfL allow this?

  1. Never, under any circumstances
  2. Between 22:00 and 06:00 only, for no longer than 5 minutes
  3. At any time, for up to 10 minutes
  4. Between 06:00 and 22:00 only, for no longer than 10 minutes
Show the answer

Answer B. Between 22:00 and 06:00 only, for no longer than 5 minutes

The one exception is that PHVs may stop on a red route to wait while passengers use a cashpoint between 22:00 and 06:00, for no longer than 5 minutes.

Relies on: Handbook Section 6, Red routes.

Question 17

You need to answer an important phone call while driving. What does the handbook tell you to do?

  1. Answer it on speaker while holding the phone low, out of sight of the police
  2. Ask the passenger to hold the phone to your ear
  3. Answer it at the next red traffic light
  4. Stop safely, park and turn the engine off first
Show the answer

Answer D. Stop safely, park and turn the engine off first

If you need to make or answer a call, stop safely, park the vehicle and turn the engine off. Distractions reduce your awareness and judgement.

Relies on: Handbook Section 7, Concentration.

Question 18

Who is responsible for making sure that children under 14 in a PHV wear a seat belt or sit in an approved child seat?

  1. The operator
  2. The driver
  3. The parent only
  4. The child
Show the answer

Answer B. The driver

The driver is responsible for making sure all children under 14 wear seat belts or sit in an approved child car seat where required.

Relies on: Highway Code rule 100; Handbook Section 7, Following traffic laws before a journey begins.

Question 19

The traffic light is red and there is an advanced stop line box ahead for cyclists. What must you do?

  1. Drive into the box so you can pull away first
  2. Stop in the box if there are no cyclists
  3. Stop at the first white line and keep out of the box
  4. Stop at the second white line only
Show the answer

Answer C. Stop at the first white line and keep out of the box

The box ahead of the first line is for cyclists. On amber or red, stop at the first line; entering the box can bring a fine and points.

Relies on: Handbook Section 7, Cycle safety (Top tips); Highway Code rule 178.

Question 20

Which of these is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010?

  1. Accent
  2. Height
  3. Football team supported
  4. Pregnancy and maternity
Show the answer

Answer D. Pregnancy and maternity

The nine protected characteristics are age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Relies on: Equality Act 2010 s.4; Handbook Section 8, Equality Act 2010.

Question 21

You drive a PHV that TfL has designated as wheelchair accessible. A wheelchair user who wants to stay in the wheelchair books you. What must you do?

  1. Carry them only if they pay extra
  2. Refuse, because wheelchairs take too long to load
  3. Ask them to move into a passenger seat
  4. Carry them in the wheelchair, with it safely secured
Show the answer

Answer D. Carry them in the wheelchair, with it safely secured

The driver of a designated vehicle must carry the passenger while in the wheelchair, make sure they travel safely and in reasonable comfort, and give the mobility help reasonably required.

Relies on: Equality Act 2010 s.165(4); Handbook Section 8, Designated wheelchair accessible PHVs.

Question 22

A passenger with an assistance dog has booked your PHV. Where should the dog travel?

  1. On the front passenger seat on its own
  2. Outside the vehicle: the passenger must make other plans
  3. In the footwell, with the passenger
  4. In the boot
Show the answer

Answer C. In the footwell, with the passenger

PHV drivers must accept passengers with assistance dogs and allow the dog to sit in the footwell with the passenger.

Relies on: Handbook Section 8, Assistance dogs; Equality Act 2010 s.170(3).

Question 23

In law, up to what age is a person a child?

  1. Under 21
  2. Under 16
  3. Under 14
  4. Under 18
Show the answer

Answer D. Under 18

Anyone under 18 is a child in law, and every child is vulnerable because of their age.

Relies on: Handbook Section 9, Who is a child or an adult at risk?.

Question 24

Your booking is for a 12-year-old travelling alone. What should you know before the journey?

  1. The child’s school exam results
  2. The child’s home phone number, so you can call the child later to check
  3. Nothing: you should simply drop the child at the address
  4. The name of the adult meeting the child at the end
Show the answer

Answer D. The name of the adult meeting the child at the end

The operator should know the child is alone and should tell you who will meet the child at the destination.

Relies on: Handbook Section 9, Carrying unaccompanied children in your vehicle.

Question 25

What is ridesharing?

  1. When two drivers share one licensed vehicle and work it on different shifts
  2. When a driver gives a friend a free lift
  3. When a family books one car and pays one fare
  4. Strangers paying separate fares to travel in the same vehicle
Show the answer

Answer D. Strangers paying separate fares to travel in the same vehicle

In a rideshare, strangers each pay their own fare and share one vehicle.

Relies on: Handbook Section 10, Ridesharing.

Want more practice?

The TfL SERU question bank has all 291 questions, not only these 25, across the ten handbook sections, with answers and notes in PDF and a self-marking mock of 37 questions in 45 minutes. It includes multiple-choice, complete-the-sentence and short reading questions in our own words. TfL’s free handbook, online guide and Safeguarding Awareness course remain the best place to start.

Sources

All sources were last checked on 9 November 2026.

Changes to this guide

  • 9 November 2026: First published. Questions checked against the sources listed above. TfL’s SERU page was re-read on 9 November 2026: it still names the PHV Driver Handbook Version 1.0 and the fees of 40 pounds and 30 pounds for a resit.

This guide is general information written from the official sources listed above and checked on 9 November 2026. It is not legal, tax or financial advice, and Plainfiles is not endorsed by any government body. Rules change, so check the linked official pages for your own situation. Written and designed by Plainfiles with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, then checked against the official legislation and guidance listed in the sources. How we write and check our guides.