16th May 2023

Essential London Taxi Driver Skills

To qualify as a UK taxi driver, you’ll need to get your PCO driving licence. Besides being a competent driver with good knowledge of the roads, there are also a few useful “soft skills” you can work on to make you more successful in your profession.

What Skills do You Need to be a Taxi Driver?

To be a taxi driver in London, you need a specific type of driving licence known as a PCO licence (sometimes also called a PHV licence). This licence is issued by the Public Carriage Office (PCO), a department of Transport for London (TfL).

You must be at least 21 years old and have the legal right to work in the UK to be eligible for a PCO licence. You must also hold a valid UK driving licence that is at least 3 years old.

You’ll also need to pass a few important tests and checks to get your licence, including:

  • A medical exam
  • An enhanced DBS check (criminal record check)
  • A topographical skills assessment
  • A speaking and listening assessment
  • A Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding (SERU) assessment

Important ”Soft Skills” for Taxi Drivers

Apart from the official qualifications, there are a few other skills and qualities you can work on to become a successful taxi driver:

  • Good time management
  • A warm and friendly manner
  • A good sense of safety and responsibility
  • Good knowledge of your regular routes, including traffic hotspots and shortcuts
  • The ability to keep a cool head under pressure (e.g., in a stressful traffic jam)
  • Strong communication skills

What Skills do You Need to Drive with Addison Lee?

At Addison Lee, we require that all our private hire and taxi drivers have a valid PCO licence. We also look for professionalism, honesty and enthusiasm in the drivers that work for us. Contact us to learn more about becoming a taxi driver with our well-respected London fleet.

Related Posts