Taxi driver knowledge test
To become a licensed Hackney carriage driver in Stockport you must pass our taxi driver knowledge test first. The cost is £100 per test which is payable on booking.
The test
The test is taken under exam conditions in a classroom environment in the civic complex. You'll have 1 and a half hours to complete the test.
The test is mostly multiple choice, and covers:
- licensing conditions
- taxi licensing and road traffic laws
- road signs and highway code
- your responsibilities
- points of interest
- routes and basic map reading skills
- road signs
- effective communication
- arithmetic
The test is split into sections where you’ll need to score between 80% and 100%. The pass mark required for each section is shown on the exam paper.
No reference material is allowed in the test. This includes calculators and mobile phones. Anyone found using reference material will fail the exam and will not be able to re-sit the test for 3 months.
We advise you not to bring your mobile phone or device with you. If you do, you must switch it off before you enter the exam room.
Recommended reading before the test
- taxi licensing webpages
- Greater Manchester Police
- Yell.com, an online business directory
- the Highway Code
- disability discrimination
- guide dogs
- Disability Stockport
- local knowledge
- safeguarding vulnerable passengers booklet (PDF, 352KB)
- Hackney carriage conditions and byelaws
If you need to cancel or re-arrange, email taxiadmin@stockport.gov.uk. You can do this up until 9am on the Thursday before your test to make sure you’re not charged for cancelling or re-booking.
On the day of the test
You must arrive at the Town Hall main entrance on Edward Street, Stockport, SK1 3UR no later than 8:45am. Please wait outside. You'll be met by one of our team and taken inside.
If you're late you will not be allowed in and will have to re-book and pay for another test.
You'll need to bring:
- a recent passport sized photograph, signed and dated on the back by yourself
- your driving licence or passport
- pen(s)
You can also bring a bottle of water for refreshment.
You'll need to re-book and pay for another test if:
- you do not bring the required documents with you
- you need to leave the room for any reason before the test is finished, as your test will be void
Leaving the room
When the test is finished and you're asked to leave your seat, you must remain silent until you've left the building.
Test results
After your test has been checked, we'll email the results to you. Do not email us asking for an update as we cannot reply on an individual basis.
If you fail the test you'll need to re-book it. The test will cost £100. You cannot re-take the test for at least 4 weeks after your failed test.
Use the online form below to book a taxi driver knowledge test.