How long does it take to become a black cab driver?

The Knowledge was introduced as a requirement for taxi drivers in 1865. Mastering the Knowledge typically takes students three to four years; it's a challenge, but plenty of help and support is available if you are determined. As a taxi driver, you can choose when and where you work and how much you earn.



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London's black cab drivers were making £20-£30 an hour before the pandemic - but saw income plummet to almost nothing in lockdown, a cabby has revealed. The number of licensed cabs on the road dropped from 19,000 in 2019 to 14,000 last year, as thousands left the struggling trade to find cash elsewhere.

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It turns out that to become a Black Cab driver in London applicants need to study for two to four years and during that time memorize an incredible 25,000 streets and 20,000 landmarks within a 25-mile radius of Charing Cross in London.

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Getting a Hackney cab licence requires passing a test known as the Knowledge. This has been in place since 1865 and takes 3 to 4 years to pass. Anyone who drives a London cab will have had to memorise 20,000 landmarks and 25,000 streets in the city. This makes becoming a London cab driver a daunting task.

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According to the National Careers Service, an experienced taxi driver working around 40 hours a week might expect to make around £30,000 per year. As a one-person business, it's largely down to you. If you're prepared to put in the hours and work at anti-social times, your profits could soar.

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The number of new applications for black cab licences has dropped by almost 95% in a decade, from 3,484 in 2011-12 to just 221 in 2021. As a result, London Taxi PR, a group which promotes the historic industry, has launched the largest ever campaign to promote the Knowledge, and encourage new drivers.

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To become a taxi driver, it usually takes between 12 and 16 weeks if you apply directly to your local authority. If you decide to take a college course before applying for your taxi driver's licence, you're usually looking at a couple of days to complete a Level 2 NVQ.

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Between 1 November 2021 and 31 October 2022, vehicles that are older than 12 years will be ineligible for licensing. Transport for London's (TfL) latest figures, from 31 August 2021, show that 1,228 vehicles will be over 12 years of age and will not be eligible for licensing from 1 November 2021.

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You need to able to work legally in the UK. You need to have held a full GB, NI or EU driving licence for at least 12 months. You need to be willing to have your background checked, which may include an enhanced criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

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Ridership is solid, and the number of drivers has declined in recent years. Before the pandemic, there were about 22,500 drivers of London's iconic black cabs, though at last count in March, their ranks had shrunk by about 3,000.

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The Knowledge of London test is renowned around the world for being one of, if not the, hardest taxi knowledge test in existence. Often referred to as simply, 'The Knowledge' aspiring London cabbies can expect to spend around 3-4 years of study before being able to pass the test.

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Research has shown that taxi drivers are at risk for numerous health concerns, such as low back and leg pain, linked to their highly sedentary occupation, long work hours and stressors related to the job (e.g. low income, safety threats).

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According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for taxi drivers and chauffeurs in the US is $30,050. This works out at around $14.50 an hour. Taxi drivers earn much lower than the average salary in the US.

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The rule derives its name from the tradition by which a hackney carriage driver at the head of a queue of taxicabs is obliged to take the first passenger requesting a ride.

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It turns out that to become a Black Cab driver in London applicants need to study for two to four years and during that time memorize an incredible 25,000 streets and 20,000 landmarks within a 25-mile radius of Charing Cross in London.

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And a cab driver in London is required to know the quickest way off by heart. That is because they know the center of the British capital; they'll have committed 320 runs across 25,000 streets, encompassing at least 20,000 landmarks, to memory.

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You will be tested on your knowledge of the Blue Book runs (five questions) and the major landmarks (points) along the way (25 questions). This is a multiple choice test and the pass mark is 60%. This test must be undertaken within two years of being sent your introductory pack.

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