NORTHERN IRELAND · DRIVER GUIDE
Taxi theory test: cost, booking and the scores you need
Know which test to book, what to budget and why a high overall score can still miss the pass requirements.
Official guidance checked 13 September 2026. This guide is specific to Northern Ireland, not council knowledge tests elsewhere in the UK.
Check your licensing route first
First-time applicants, and applicants returning more than two years after their previous taxi-driver licence expired, need both taxi tests. For the licence application, DVA requires a full Category B car licence held continuously for at least three years immediately beforehand. Medical, good-repute and right-to-work checks also apply; a test pass is not the licence itself. DVA application assessment
If your driving licence was issued outside Northern Ireland, the application service asks you to contact DVA for advice. It recommends applying for the taxi-driver licence at least 16 weeks before your intended start date. That is planning guidance, not a guaranteed appointment or processing time. Apply or renew
Budget for the right test
The taxi theory fee is £34. Direct DVA bookings have no additional administration or booking charge. This is not the £23 car/motorcycle theory test.
The later taxi practical test costs £70 on weekdays or £109 for an evening/weekend appointment. Theory plus one practical attempt therefore totals £104 or £143. These are TECSI calculations from the published fees, not the full cost of becoming licensed: application fees, training, checks and retests are excluded. Official test fees
Book, change or cancel
The official booking page lists a valid UK driving licence with a Northern Ireland address, a payment card and an email address for confirmation. Online and telephone booking routes are available.
Allow three clear working days to change or cancel with a fee refund. Nidirect gives the example of cancelling a Friday test by the preceding Monday. Three calendar days is not the same calculation.
The booking page also covers provisional licences and an October 2026 change for specified car/motorcycle categories. Those notices do not establish taxi-licensing eligibility: use the taxi-specific requirements above.
Official booking informationWhat you have to pass
Pass the taxi theory test before applying for the practical test. The theory has two parts:
Multiple choice
80 out of 100Also score at least 18 in each of four topic areas.
Hazard perception
50 out of 7514 clips contain 15 developing hazards, worth up to five points each.
The knowledge areas cover road operation/environment; signs, vulnerable road users and vehicle knowledge; safety/legal duties/loading; and customer care/passenger needs. Arrive 15 minutes early. Taxi-specific test guidance
A high total is not enough: an illustrative 25+25+25+17 totals 92 but misses one category minimum. A balanced 20+20+20+20 meets both multiple-choice thresholds. These are TECSI worked examples, not official test questions.
Free preparation that matches the test
The official revision notes cover key learning points. Their publication page is dated 23 September 2022; that is a resource date, not a new-test announcement.
The taxi-test guidance links a taxi manual, free taxi practice papers and additional car-theory practice. Use the taxi pass requirements above to assess readiness.
TECSI suggests recording practice errors by topic area, then revisiting the weakest section before repeating a quiz. Before travelling, check your booking confirmation and current official instructions for the required documents and appointment details.