How to Become a Taxi Driver

Thousands of people in the UK make a living as a taxi driver. Working as a taxi driver can be stressful but also comes with many perks, such as constantly meeting new people from all walks of life and not having to be stuck behind a desk all day.

If you’ve ever thought about becoming a taxi driver but aren’t sure where to start then the guide below should prove very helpful.

What you need

  • A licence – In order to work as a taxi driver, you’ll need to a get a taxi driver’s licence. The requirements for getting a taxi driver’s licence vary depending on where you live in the UK and which council you need to apply to. In all cases though, you’ll need to pass a test to show that you’re competent enough tow work as a taxi driver.
  • A vehicle – Another thing you’ll need to work as a taxi driver is your own vehicle. It’s usually best to get a vehicle that’s less than 10 years old and reasonably cheap to insure.
  • Taxi insurance – In order to work as a taxi driver, you also need to get a taxi insurance policy. Taxi insurance usually includes cover for road risks as well as things like liability claims and breakdowns. You can keep costs down by getting a third party only policy but this will only provide enough protection to cover other road users when you’re involved in a collision that you’re to blame for.

Finding work

When it comes to finding work as a taxi driver there are certain things that will make you more employable. First of all, if you’re very young and have only started driving recently then it’s probably not going to be realistic to work as a taxi driver. This is because taxi firms generally like drivers who are considered low risk i.e. least likely to be involved in collisions or other incidents that might lead to liability claims etc.

In order to be more employable you would ideally have at least 10 years’ driving experience, have no driving or criminal convictions and have a good attitude and friendly demeanour.

Another way to make yourself more attractive to potential employers is by getting a specialist vehicle, such as a minibus.