Hackney Carriage Vehicle - Driver Knowledge Testing
Overview
This consultation is about the Council’s plans to implement new geographical and knowledge testing for drivers of hackney carriage vehicles. The proposed new testing will apply to applicants for a hackney carriage driver licence and combined hackney carriage and private hire driver licence.
The other testing undertaken by drivers, which includes matters such as safeguarding and wheelchair handling, is not part of this consultation.
Background information
One of the key differences between a hackney carriage vehicle (taxi) and a private hire vehicle (PHV) is that a taxi can be hired immediately. This can be done directly with the driver, at ranks or when flagged down in the street.
A PHV, unlike a taxi, is not legally available for immediate hire. All journeys must be pre-booked in advance through a licensed operator. One of the benefits for the PHV driver is that this means they can plan their journey in advance while the taxi driver has no details of the journey until they are told a destination by their customer at the time of hiring.
The purpose of the tests is to ensure that licensed drivers have a good understanding of the Hackney Carriage Byelaws which apply to them and that they have good geographical knowledge of the area. Licensed drivers are expected to be able to provide safe and effective transport for their passengers and so should be able to identify the shortest route possible from the start of a journey to the destination point, as required by law, identify alternative routes where circumstances change during the journey (e.g. busier roads or closed highways), be aware of the location of local facilities and points of interest and council testing stations, and be able to provide a good service should technology let them down.
Passing this test is one of the key assessments for obtaining a driver licence.
Why we are changing the current tests:
On 11 July 2024, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Committee approved the decision to replace the current four hackney carriage zones with a single North Northamptonshire (NNC) zone.
Drivers of hackney carriage vehicles will, from 3 November 2025, be able to use ranks and be flagged down by passengers across the whole of the North Northamptonshire area. In readiness for this change, we are consulting on a reviewed geographical and knowledge test for drivers of hackney carriage vehicles prior to the introduction of the new NNC zone.
The new tests:
The Licensing Authority takes the view that with all the technology that is now available and the pace of building development taking place in our towns and villages, that the demands of a purely memorised testing process no longer meet the requirements of passengers and potentially impacts on the number of applicants willing to apply to drive hackney carriage vehicles. The proposed testing regime combines driver knowledge and technical input (e.g. satellite navigation).
The proposal
The test will be split into three parts:
Part 1 (Pass mark 80%)
Part 1 will comprise 10 questions relating to the Hackney Carriage Byelaws and the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy (“the Policy”).
Example questions
Example questions are:
- What should a driver do with regards to passengers getting in or out of the vehicle?
- What should the driver do with their badge when working?
- What should the driver do before driving the vehicle for the first time each day?
- The Policy and byelaws are available on the North Northamptonshire Council website.
Part 2 (Pass Mark 80%)
Part 2 relates to pick-ups from hackney carriage ranks (including railway stations but not sites such as supermarkets). It is therefore important that drivers know the location of these pick-up points and any traffic restrictions in the surrounding area e.g. one-way streets which should be factored into their chosen route.
It will comprise 10 navigation questions relating to journeys from ranks (including railway stations) to landmark venues – hotels, pubs, hospitals, supermarkets, sports grounds, etc. These questions will be answered based on knowledge alone and drivers are expected to provide routes which use the shortest distance. Driver answers will need to contain sufficient detail to be able to identify the route taken.
Examples
- Kettering Railway Station to Rushton Hall Hotel
- George Street Rank Corby to Corby Railway Station
- Wellingborough Railway Station to HMP Five Wells, Wellingborough
- Alfred Street Rank Rushden to Kettering General Hospital A & E dept.
Part 3 (Pass mark 100%)
Part 3 will comprise 5 navigation questions. This element of the test is to simulate situations where drivers are flagged down somewhere in the North Northamptonshire area. It is expected that all drivers will have access to a smartphone or other satellite navigation device which can assist them in finding addresses. For the purposes of this part of the test only the applicant can use a portable satellite navigation app which provides the shortest route. The applicant will be required to find the route in the app and identify the shortest option.
Examples
- London Road, Kettering (outside Cornmarket Hall) to Ellis Lane, Mawsley
- Cottingham Road, Corby (outside urgent care) to Arden Close, Little Stanion
- Castle Way Wellingborough to Prince Street, Earls Barton
- Rectory Road, Rushden to St James Crescent, Thrapston.
This is a new option for testing and consideration is being given to two possible ways of answering.
Either the route is found, and the details of the route are written down for assessment, or the route is identified and shared from the device to an email address provided. An example of the second option using Google Maps is provided below:
Example of shared route
From Kettering General Hospital to Kettering Park Hotel & Spa, 1430 Kettering Pkwy, Kettering NN15 6XT via Northampton Rd/A6013 and A14.
10 min (3.7 mi)
10 min in current traffic
1. Head north towards Rothwell Rd/A4300
2. Turn right onto Rothwell Rd/A4300
3. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Northfield Ave/A6003
4. Exit the roundabout onto Northfield Ave/A6003
5. At the roundabout, continue straight to stay on Northfield Ave/A6003
6. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Northampton Rd/A6013
7. At the roundabout, continue straight to stay on Northampton Rd/A6013
8. At Broughton Interchange, take the 1st exit onto the A14 slip road to Huntingdon
9. Exit the roundabout onto the A14 slip road to Huntingdon
10. Merge onto A14
11. At junction 9, take the A509 exit
12. Use the right 2 lanes to take the A509 slip road to Wellingboro'/Gt Harrowden/Isham
13. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Boughton
14. Exit the roundabout onto Boughton
15. Turn right onto Holdenby
16. Turn right
17. Turn right
18. Arrive at location: Kettering Park Hotel & Spa
For the best route in current traffic visit https://maps.app.goo.gl/6LA8Ji7FQSomk4vC8
Who will have to undertake the new tests:
- With effect from 3 November 2025, all new applicants for a hackney carriage driver licence or a combined hackney carriage and private hire driver licence, will be required to successfully complete the new tests as part of the application process.
- All existing hackney carriage drivers or those who hold a combined hackney carriage and private hire driver licence in North Northamptonshire will be required to successfully complete the new tests at the first renewal of their licence on or after 3 November 2025.
- We recognise that existing licence holders may need time to learn more about the geography of the new NNC zone. Licensed drivers whose licence is due to be renewed within the first three months of implementation of the new tests (e.g. by the end of January 2026) will be asked to successfully complete the test within 3 months of their licence renewal date.
What happens if someone fails the tests?
If the test is failed, then there is the opportunity for two further resits. The first will be free of charge with a fee payable by the driver for the second or third test. If applicants for a new licence do not pass the test after three attempts, then a further attempt cannot be undertaken for a period of three months. Where drivers applying to renew their licence for the first time following the implementation of the new testing regime do not pass after three attempts, the matter will be referred to the Licensing Panel, who may impose a suspension of the licence for a period during which the tests must be successfully completed.
You can share your views on the proposed new driver knowledge test via the survey link below.
This consultation closes at 23.59 on 29 September 2025.
For information about how consultation and engagement responses are managed, please see the consultation and engagement privacy notice.
Interests
- Engagement activities
- Parking, roads and transport
- Transport
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