The Liverpool Taxi Knowledge Test: What It Is and How to Prepare

If you want to drive a taxi in Liverpool, the Liverpool Taxi Knowledge Test is one of the first real hurdles standing between you and your badge. Set by Liverpool City Council, it checks that you actually know the city — its roads, its landmarks and its one-way systems — rather than simply relying on sat-nav. This guide explains what the test is, who has to take it, what it covers, and how to prepare so you walk into the examination with confidence.

What is the Liverpool Taxi Knowledge Test?

The Knowledge Test is the council’s way of confirming you can move passengers around Liverpool efficiently and safely without fumbling for directions. It typically pairs a written, multiple-choice assessment with a practical driving exercise. The aim is not to trip you up but to confirm that you have genuinely absorbed the road network and the licensing rules that keep passengers safe.

For most applicants, the test forms part of a wider licensing process that also includes a DBS check and a medical. You can read the full background in our private hire licence guide.

Who has to take the test?

Private hire drivers

Every private hire applicant in Liverpool is expected to demonstrate knowledge of the city before being granted a badge. The Knowledge Test is the standard route to doing so, even if you already hold an equivalent qualification from another authority.

Hackney carriage (public hire) drivers

Hackney carriage applicants face a similar, sometimes slightly tougher, assessment because they pick up fares on the street and from taxi ranks without a pre-booked destination. Councils tend to expect a deeper recall of routes in return for that extra flexibility.

What does the test cover?

Routes between two points

You will be asked to give the sensible, legal route from one location to another — for example from Lime Street station to a particular hotel or hospital. Examiners want to see the sequence of roads you would take, not just the destination. Our route-learning method breaks down how to memorise these journeys.

Points of interest

Hotels, hospitals, theatres, council buildings, stadiums, transport hubs and places of worship all appear. You should recognise the name, the area, and the nearest main road. Practising with sample Knowledge Test questions is a fast way to build this recall.

The practical driving assessment

A separate on-road assessment confirms your driving is safe and smooth, that you can follow examiner directions, and that your manoeuvres are capable. See Taxi Testing Liverpool for what is actually judged on the day.

How is the test structured and marked?

The written paper is usually multiple choice, with a set time limit and a clear pass mark. The practical element is scored on observation, signalling, positioning, anticipation and overall passenger safety. A serious or dangerous fault on the practical drive can end the test immediately, so preparation matters on every front.

How long should you prepare?

Most successful candidates study for six to eight weeks, combining route memorisation, points-of-interest drills and mock tests with general best-practice driving. If your route knowledge is already strong you may finish faster; if you are new to Liverpool, allow longer and lean on our revision tips.

Where to go next

Read the whole story in our Resources hub, try a free Liverpool taxi mock test, and when you are ready, join Learn Taxi Routes for 30 days of full access to interactive route study and timed practice tests for just £19.99. You can also return to the homepage to see everything the platform offers.