GuideLast checked 2 Oct 2026
The English language requirement explained
What B1 means, how the speaking and listening test and SERU fit together, and what the TfL handbook does and does not say.
To get a London PHV driver licence you must prove a minimum level of English. People often find this confusing, because it involves two different assessments. This guide explains how they fit together using what the TfL handbook says.
What the handbook says
Under licensing requirements, the handbook says you need to prove you have at least a B1 level of ability in the English language. B1 is a level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). To prove your speaking and listening skills you take a test. The handbook says this test is held in a TfL building and conducted under exam conditions. Your reading and writing skills are derived from the Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding Assessment.
The introduction repeats the second half: passing the Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding Assessment will also mean you have the required English language skills of reading and writing to be licensed.
Two parts, two assessments
| Skill | How it is shown |
|---|---|
| Speaking and listening | A separate English language test, in a TfL building, under exam conditions |
| Reading and writing | Derived from your SERU result |
So you do not take a separate reading and writing test. You get that result through SERU, which is why preparing well for SERU does double duty. Our SERU study plan shows how.
What is B1?
The handbook's glossary describes the CEFR as a guide to describe the ability and achievements of learners of foreign languages across Europe. It does not describe what B1 looks like in detail, and it does not give example tasks. We will not invent a description here. If you want to know what B1 means in everyday terms, the TfL page is the place to start, and you may also find free descriptions of CEFR levels from language-learning organisations. Treat those as general background only, not as a statement of what TfL will test.
What the handbook does not say
- The format of the speaking and listening test (how long it lasts, what tasks it has).
- How scoring works or what counts as meeting B1.
- Whether people with existing English qualifications are exempt from the test. The handbook does not mention any exemption, so do not assume one exists, and check TfL.
- How to book, and what happens if you do not pass.
For the fee, TfL's licence page listed the English speaking and listening assessment at the first-attempt fee shown in our licence cost calculator when we last checked on 1 Oct 2026. TfL's SERU page lists a SERU resit fee, but we have not confirmed an English assessment resit fee. Check TfL before you pay.
Practical ways to prepare for speaking and listening
We cannot tell you what is in the test, but the handbook gives you clues about the English you will need as a driver. Some of it is everyday vocabulary you can practise out loud:
- Confirming a booking: names, pick-up points, destinations, estimated fares.
- Explaining a route, a delay or a change to the journey. Section 4 suggests telling passengers where you are taking them, the route, how long it will take and the fare before the journey starts.
- Talking to a passenger who needs help, such as a vision-impaired person. Section 8 suggests describing hazards at the kerb and telling the passenger the location on arrival.
- Staying calm and clear when someone is upset. Section 4 mentions explaining things rather than arguing.
Practise by speaking these out loud, with a friend if you can, and by listening to English radio or spoken news at a speed that is slightly challenging. This is general language-learning advice, not a TfL-approved method.
Practical ways to prepare for the reading side
The handbook includes a glossary of words that might be unfamiliar. It says you will not be tested on the meanings, but reading it will help you understand the text. Work through the handbook in short sections, make your own list of new words, and use our glossary guide as a quick reference. Reading the handbook slowly, twice, is more useful than reading it once quickly.
On the day
Check your booking confirmation for the location and what to bring. The handbook says only that the test is in a TfL building under exam conditions, so follow the instructions TfL gives you. Do not rely on anyone's account of what happened to them, because formats can change.
If you are unsure
If you are worried about whether your English is ready, or you need support for a disability, contact TfL early. We have not confirmed what adjustments exist, so we cannot say what you are entitled to.
General information, not an official TfL guide or legal advice.