When TfL grants you a private hire driver licence, you receive an official ID badge. The badge proves you are licensed and links you to the vehicle and operator on every booking. Misusing it is a serious matter.
Display rules
You must wear or visibly display your badge while working. Most drivers clip it to the dashboard or wear it on a lanyard. The badge must be clearly readable to passengers.
Lost, stolen or damaged badges
Apply to TfL for a replacement immediately. Do not work with a damaged or unreadable badge. Photocopies are not acceptable.
Misuse
- Lending your badge to anyone is unlawful.
- Letting someone else drive while displaying your badge is unlawful.
- Altering the badge is unlawful.
- Working with an expired badge is unlawful.
Each of these can lead to revocation of your licence and criminal prosecution.
Renewals
Your standard PHV driver licence usually lasts three years. Start renewal at least three months before expiry to allow for the HMRC tax check, fresh DBS where required and any TfL queries.
Practise the rules
Take the badge rules quiz. Pair with London PH regulations. Related reading: TfL PHV licence guide.
Disclaimer: UK Test Hub is independent and not affiliated with TfL.
Free practice
Start SERU TfL Mock Test 1
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Start mock test 1Quick study plan
If you only have a fortnight to prepare, split your time into three blocks. Spend the first few days reading any official handbook or syllabus straight through — don't try to memorise yet, the goal is familiarity. Move on to topic-by-topic revision, focusing on the areas you found least intuitive on the first read. In the final week, switch to timed mock tests under exam conditions; mark every paper ruthlessly and read every explanation, including for questions you got right by guessing. Most candidates improve by 8–12 marks between their first and third mock simply by closing knowledge gaps this way.
Common myths to ignore
Three myths trip up more candidates than any single topic. The first is that "if I sit enough mocks, I'll spot the real questions on test day" — modern UK exam banks contain hundreds of items and the question you see on the day will probably be brand new to you. The second is that you can cram the night before; most assessments reward calm focus more than recent recall, and tired candidates make basic mistakes. The third is that the pass mark is the only thing that matters: aiming for a comfortable buffer of 5–10 marks above the threshold is the single best insurance against an unlucky paper.
What to do on test day
Plan to arrive 15–20 minutes early with valid photo ID — usually a UK driving licence or passport — and any booking confirmation you've been emailed. Eat something light beforehand, drink water but not so much that you'll need a comfort break mid-paper, and silence your phone before you walk through the door. Read every question twice, flag anything you're unsure of, and never leave a blank — there's no negative marking on the assessments most readers of this site sit, so a considered guess is always better than no answer at all.
