Taxi driver
Taxi drivers pick up passengers and charge a fee to take them to their destination.
Also known as: Cab driver, private hire driver, minicab driver
- Starter salary£20,000 a year
- Experienced£35,000 a year
What you'll do
As a taxi driver, you could:
- take job details by phone or through an app
- stay aware of traffic conditions on routes
- load and unload passengers' luggage
- help passengers to get in and out of the vehicle, if needed
- take payments for fares or log them online
- keep your vehicle clean and in a roadworthy condition
- make sure accounts and records are up to date
Working environment
You could work from a vehicle.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- active listening skills
- the ability to work well with others
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- good driving skills and knowledge of transport routes
- concentration skills
- knowledge of public safety and security
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become a taxi driver
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- applying directly
College
You may be able to do a college course, which could help you when looking for work. You could also do a course if you're an existing driver and want a certificate to demonstrate your competence.
Courses include:
- road passenger vehicle driving - taxi and private hire
- introduction to the role of the professional taxi and private hire driver
Entry requirements
There are no set entry requirements for this route.
Direct application
You can apply directly to become a taxi driver if you've got a taxi driver's licence . This is a common way into this job.
You'll need to meet the registration and licensing requirements of the taxi company you'll be working for and the local authority area where you'll operate.
You'll usually need your own vehicle, though some companies may give you the option to rent one from their fleet.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- complete a driving skills assessment
- have a full UK or EU driving licence, held for at least 12 months, or 3 years if working in London
- pass enhanced background checks
- pass a medical check
- be over 18 but over 21 in some areas, including London
- pass a local geography test, known as 'The Knowledge' if working in London
- if you work in London, you'll need to meet the English language requirement
If you're a private hire driver, you'll need hire and reward insurance. You may also need to take out public liability and vehicle insurance.
Career path and progression
If you're employed by a larger taxi firm, you could become a supervisor or manager in the dispatch control room. You could also move into taxi licensing with a local authority.
As a self-employed driver, you could become a taxi operator and increase your earnings by running a private hire firm, employing other drivers.
You could also move into chauffeur work, either employed by a company offering chauffeuring services or direct employment with a private client.
Career tips
A combination of factors can affect earnings, such as:
- time worked - amount of hours driven and shift times
- location - more demand in bigger cities
- length and type of job - longer distance trips and high value fares
- competition - amount of taxis in a local area
- contract type - employed by a company or self-employed
Registration
- you'll need a taxi driver's licence issued by your local council's licensing unit , or by Transport for London (TfL), if you want to work in London.
Guides for this industry
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