Which licences count
- A full Great Britain licence with category B (cars).
- A full Northern Ireland licence.
- A full licence from one of the 27 EU countries, or from Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway.
You send a copy with your application. If your licence is from another country, TfL points you to the GOV.UK checker for whether you can drive in Great Britain on it, and to the rules for exchanging it.
No minimum time held
Private hire drivers must have held a licence for three years. Taxi applicants need not: you can apply as soon as you hold a full licence, and the years on the Knowledge give you time on the road anyway.
Points on your licence
Your driving record is weighed as part of your character. See points on your licence.
Sources
- TfL, Taxi and private hire driver policy, version 6.0, 1 September 2026, section 3.3
- TfL, Apply for a taxi driver licence, Becoming a taxi driver
From the guide: How to become a London taxi driver