Taxi Test Training

The Training That We Can Provide

At Just-Pass School of Motoring we pride ourselves in being able to provide the highest quality of tuition to help prepare candidates for a taxi driving test for Private Hire. At Just-Pass Driving School we recognise that you the customer are our business and therefore work closely with you to ensure your success in the test and also tailor your taxi-test lessons to your requirements. We will also make sure that you not only pass your taxi-test, but that you become a successful, safe and confident taxi driver for life. We will provide you with a structured, professional and flexible approach to your taxi lessons, and ensure that you pass your taxi test as soon as possible. However, we will not rush you through your training and will allow you to train at a pace that is comfortable for you, as well as only putting you through for your taxi test when we feel you are fully prepared to undertake it. We also guarantee that you will find that we will provide you with the cheapest taxi lessons you can find in Birmingham, Walsall and the surrounding areas. Rest assured that we at Just-Pass will provide you with a trainer or instructor who is very friendly, helpful and patient. Our trainers will also enable you to reach the standard that the DSA requires in order for you to pass the taxi test. Our training will also assist all drivers who hold a full UK or European license to develop their driving skills even further, in order to improve their ability to pass the Taxi Test assessment. The benefits of taking taxi-test lessons with Just-Pass School of motoring include improved driver awareness, confidence, improved road safety and the ability for drivers to carry their passengers safely and securely. We can provide you with a vehicle for your taxi test training or if you wish you could also use your own vehicle, the choice is yours.

Requirements to take the Practical taxi test

The candidate must be able to legally work in the UK and must hold a full UK driver's licence issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency or a full European Union driving licence together with a UK paper counterpart. The candidate must be 21 years of age or over and have held a clean driving licence for at least 12 months that is applicable to the group of vehicle they wish to drive. The candidate must be considered to be a fit and proper person. Other requirements for getting a licence may include a criminal record check, a medical check test, a knowledge test which proves the candidate has reasonable geographical knowledge of the area in which they intend to drive

The Cost of Taxi-Test Training

Just-Pass School Of Motoring will charge £50.00 for use of a vehicle on the day of the taxi-test, that is if the candidate wishes to use a vehicle provided by Just-Pass School of Motoring. For more information on what Just-Pass Driving School will charge for taxi-Test training, please click here.The Driving Standards Agency currently charges £62.00 per taxi test.

What to bring on the day of the test

On the Day of the test the candidate must bring with them an appropriately insured and taxed / licensed vehicle suitable for the test, their appointment letter, a valid signed GB or Northern Ireland driving licence and a valid passport or a new style photo licence. The passport does not have to be a UK passport but it must be a valid passport.

How The Taxi-Test Works?

Before the practical taxi test, the examiner will ask the candidate to read the number plate on a stationary vehicle. The practical taxi test will last for 35 to 40 minutes. From October 2010, the practical driving test will include approximately ten minutes of independent driving. This is designed to test the candidate’s ability to drive unsupervised and make safe decisions without guidance. For more information on independent driving click here. The candidate can use glasses or contact lenses if they wear them. If the candidate fails the eyesight test, they will be unable to take the driving part of the assessment.

On the taxi test candidates can accumulate up to 9 Driving faults, if candidates accumulate ten or more faults they will fail this test, or if they commit a dangerous or serious fault this will also result in failure of the test. If a test is failed, it will still continue nonetheless until the candidate finally returns back to the designated driving test centre.Some skills assessed are specific to taxi drivers, such as making U-turns and not stopping where it could be dangerous for a passenger getting out of your vehicle. The examiner will also ask you some questions on the Highway Code and ask you to identify some traffic signs and road markings. The Candidate may be asked to do an emergency stop and they will need to demonstrate the ability to be able to stop in an emergency, promptly and under control without  skidding. The candidate will also be asked to carry out two manoeuvres one of which will be their own choice, in both cases they will be expected to demonstrate their ability to manoeuvre the vehicle under control and with good all round effective observations, giving consideration to other road users and pedestrians. The candidate will also be asked on a number of occasions to pull up on the left at a safe and convenient place, as if a passenger is either going to get in or out of your vehicle. The candidate should avoid parking next to lampposts and trees as this could be potentially hazardous for your passenger.

The candidate must also remember that during the test, they will be asked to pull up at the side of the road, and that before pulling away, they should check their blind spot by checking over their right shoulder and perform all other required observations. The candidate must demonstrate the ability to use all their mirrors effectively (interior and exterior) and at the appropriate times. They should also demonstrate awareness of what is happening around their vehicle at all times. It is extremely important that the candidate signals correctly and in good time to let other road users know their intention as other road users need to see and understand what the candidate is planning to do. The candidate will be expected to understand and comply with traffic signs and road markings, as they are there to help the candidate anticipate and plan their journey.

The Candidate will also need to see and react to signals given by the police, traffic wardens etc. and signals given by other road users. The candidate must be able to demonstrate their ability to make progress when speed signs and the road and traffic conditions dictate it is safe to do so. Equally it is important to demonstrate that the candidate recognises and complies with speed limits when in a lower speed limit area. The candidate should also watch their separation distance from the vehicle in front and also their separation distance from parked cars. The candidate must use sound judgement and planning when overtaking, meeting oncoming vehicles and when turning right in front of oncoming traffic.

The candidate should never put themselves in a situation  where they cause another vehicle to brake or swerve to avoid them.  The candidate must demonstrate that they are aware of other road users at all times, that they can plan ahead and predict how the actions of others will affect their driving and react in good time. A successful candidate will also be aware of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists etc. act in good time, rather than at the last minute. A successful candidate will read the Highway Code and be familiar with their vehicle, before the practical taxi test.

Cancellation and arrangement of the Taxi test

The candidate must give the Driving standards agency three clear working days notice, if they wish to move or change their appointment, or if they wish to cancel their appointment, or if they want a full refund for the test fee.

Wheelchair accessible vehicles

The candidate should demonstrate the ability to securely erect the wheelchair ramps (whatever style of ramp is fitted to their vehicle). The candidate should also safely install the wheelchair in their vehicle, backing the chair to the fold down seats, then securing both wheelchair brakes. The candidate should secure seat belts/safety harnesses and also ensure that wheel belts/clamps are secured if fitted to the vehicle. The candidate having satisfied themselves that the wheelchair is secure as if to start a journey,  should then remove the wheelchair from the vehicle and the procedure mentioned above should be reversed. The candidate will be asked a few questions on the Highway Code, some general cabology or private hire questions and asked to identify a few traffic signs. This may include questions about the length, width or height, tyre pressures, what to do if you found an item of lost property in your cab or private hire vehicle etc.