What Is the SERU Assessment? A Plain-English Guide for London PHV Drivers

If you want to drive for Uber, Bolt, FREE NOW or a local minicab firm in London, you need a London private hire vehicle (PHV) driver’s licence from Transport for London (TfL). One of the steps to getting that licence is the SERU assessment. This guide explains what it is, what it covers and how to prepare for it.

What does SERU stand for?

SERU stands for Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding. The assessment checks that you know the rules, policies and good practice that every London PHV driver needs to follow. It is based entirely on TfL’s official Private Hire Vehicle Driver’s Handbook, so everything you need to know is in that one document.

Who needs to take it?

The handbook says that both new applicants and existing PHV drivers should have a good knowledge of all the information in it, and that you need to do the assessment as part of the licensing application process. In other words: if you are applying for a London PHV driver’s licence, plan for SERU.

It also counts towards your English requirement

To be licensed you need to show at least a B1 level of English. TfL splits this into two parts:

• Reading and writing — passing the SERU assessment also shows you have the required reading and writing skills.
• Speaking and listening — this is a separate test, held in a TfL building under exam conditions.

So SERU does double duty: it tests your knowledge of the rules and your written English.

Where SERU fits in the licensing process

According to the handbook, to get a London PHV driver’s licence you must:

• be aged 21 or older when you apply (there is no upper age limit);
• have held a full DVLA, Northern Ireland, EU or EEA driving licence for at least three years;
• have the right to live and work in the UK;
• pass an enhanced criminal records check by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS);
• meet the DVLA Group 2 medical standards;
• pass a Topographical Skills Assessment — a separate test of your ability to plan a route, read a map and identify locations;
• prove your English at B1 level (SERU plus the speaking and listening test).

What the assessment covers

The handbook is split into 10 sections, and you should be ready for questions from all of them:

1. London PHV Driver Licensing
2. Licensing Requirements for PHVs
3. Carrying out Private Hire Journeys
4. Staying Safe
5. Driver Behaviour
6. Driving and Parking in London
7. Safer Driving
8. Being Aware of Equality and Disability
9. Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk
10. Ridesharing

Two useful details from the handbook’s introduction: some words link to a glossary — you should understand them, but you will not be tested on their meanings. The handbook also links to websites, and you will not be tested on information found on those websites either.

How to prepare

• Read the handbook section by section rather than all at once.
• Test yourself after each section so you find your weak spots early.
• Practise under time pressure once you know the material, so the real assessment feels familiar.
• Review every wrong answer — that is where most of the learning happens.

Our SERU Quiz Section has one practice quiz for each of the 10 handbook sections, with no time limit. When you are ready, our 20 timed SERU mock tests let you practise under exam conditions and review every answer.

MASTER PCO is an independent training provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by TfL. Always check the latest version of the handbook on the TfL website.