To become a taxi driver in England or Wales, you need a taxi driver licence from your local council, or from Transport for London (TfL) to work in London. You'll usually need a full driving licence held for at least 12 months (3 years for London), the right to work in the UK, an enhanced background check, a medical and often a knowledge test. In the US, you need a driver's license plus any taxi licence your city or state requires.
Taxi driving has one of the lowest barriers to entry of any job, but the licence rules decide whether you can start next month or next year. London is the big exception, because of the Knowledge. Everything here comes from the National Careers Service, GOV.UK and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), checked in October 2026.
UK taxi driver requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Outside London | London |
|---|---|---|
| Who licenses you | Your local council | Transport for London (TfL) |
| Driving licence held | At least 12 months | At least 3 years |
| Minimum age | Over 18, or over 21 in some areas | Over 21 |
| Background check | Enhanced, as part of the character check | Enhanced, as part of the character check |
| Knowledge test | May be needed, depending on the council | The Knowledge, a local geography test |
| Other | Medical check and driving skills assessment | Medical, driving assessment and an English language requirement |
How to become a taxi driver in the UK, step by step
- Check your licence history. GOV.UK says you usually need a full British, Northern Ireland or EU driving licence held for at least 12 months. If your licence is from another country, it's up to the licensing authority.
- Decide between taxi and private hire. A private hire vehicle (PHV) can only be pre-booked. Taxis can also be hailed in the street or hired at a rank. If you want both licences, you might need to apply separately.
- Apply to the right authority. That's your local council outside London, or TfL in London.
- Pass the character check. GOV.UK says your background and character will be checked, and you might need an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
- Complete the extras. Depending on the area, that can mean a medical, a knowledge test and a driving test.
- License the vehicle too. If you drive your own car, it needs a vehicle licence. For private hire, you or your operator also need an operator licence, and the driver, vehicle and operator must all be licensed by the same authority.
A driver licence is usually issued for 3 years. When you renew, you'll complete a tax check telling HM Revenue and Customs how you pay tax on your earnings, and you'll do the same check if you already hold a licence in one area and apply for the same type in another. Working without a licence can get you prosecuted.
Do you need a course?
No. The National Careers Service says there are no set entry requirements, and applying directly once you have a licence is a common way in. College courses exist, such as road passenger vehicle driving for taxi and private hire, and existing drivers sometimes take one to get a certificate of competence. If you're a private hire driver, you'll need hire and reward insurance, and you may want public liability and vehicle insurance too.
What affects a UK taxi driver's earnings
The National Careers Service doesn't give a single salary figure, because so much depends on how you work. It lists the factors:
- time worked: the hours you drive and your shift times
- location: there's more demand in bigger cities
- length and type of job: longer trips and high-value fares
- competition: how many taxis work your area
- contract type: employed by a company or self-employed
Becoming a taxi driver in the US
In the US, BLS says taxi drivers typically need no formal education and get brief on-the-job training, usually from 1 day to 2 weeks. Every driver needs a driver's license, and taxi drivers may need a taxi or limousine licence, which normally means a background check, drug test, driving skills test and a written exam on regulations and local geography. Drivers carrying 16 or more passengers, including the driver, need a CDL with a passenger endorsement.
As of October 2026, BLS gives a median annual wage of $42,100 for taxi drivers in May 2025, including tips. The lowest 10% earned less than $34,650 and the highest 10% more than $75,800. The striking figure is that 86% of taxi drivers are self-employed, and drivers usually pay their own fuel and maintenance. BLS projects taxi driver jobs, which include ride-hailing, to grow 12% from 2025 to 2035.
If you're weighing app work against a cab, my breakdown of how much Uber drivers make sets out the ride-hailing side.
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Where it can lead
The National Careers Service says you could move into a dispatch supervisor or manager role, into taxi licensing at a local authority, or into chauffeur work. Self-employed drivers can become a taxi operator and run their own private hire firm. And if you love driving but want regular hours, my guide on how to become a driving instructor is a natural next step.
My verdict
Outside London, the route is mostly checks and paperwork if your record is clean, so start with your council's licensing team and ask exactly what their medical and knowledge test involve. In London, the Knowledge is the extra hurdle, so find out what it involves before you commit. Either way, plan for self-employed earnings that depend on your hours and your patch, and budget for vehicle costs from day one.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you need to have held a licence to be a taxi driver?
GOV.UK says you usually need a full driving licence held for at least 12 months. The National Careers Service says it's 3 years if you're working in London.
What is the minimum age to be a taxi driver in the UK?
The National Careers Service says you need to be over 18, but over 21 in some areas, including London.
How long does a taxi driver licence last?
GOV.UK says a taxi or private hire driver licence is usually issued for 3 years.
How much do taxi drivers make in the US?
As of October 2026, BLS gives a median annual wage of $42,100 for taxi drivers (May 2025 data), and that figure includes tips.
