LONDON’S CALLING…

Why become a London taxi driver?

Being a London cabbie is a job unlike any other. You choose your working hours to fit around your schedule, whether that be family life, hobbies, holidays or other business interests. You are the one who decides; You are your own boss!

What can I expect to earn?

Earnings vary considerably from cabbie to cabbie. Many factors come into play such as working hours, working style, street work or app work, plying the streets or ranking, and many other things. The fact is you are able to earn a great living if you work 40+ hours per week. Cabbies working at the most lucrative times for more than 40 hours, do exceptionally well. It is not uncommon for cabbies to earn £50,000 - £60,000 per year pre tax. The hardest working cabbies can earn even more than this.

Is the job ‘really’ that flexible?

Absolutely! As long as you have access to a taxi, either through renting or purchasing your own, you can quite literally work as you please. Early mornings? No problem. 5pm start? Why not? 4 days per week? 100%. 6 days? Of course, if you so desire!

Can anyone apply for the Knowledge?

Yes they can, within reason. Barring any criminal history, anyone who is fit and healthy & holds a UK driving license can apply from the age of 18. You can’t legally drive a taxi until you are 21 years old, but you are able to undertake & complete the knowledge before then if you wish.

How long does it take?

If you apply yourself, it is possible to complete the knowledge in around 2 years. This does require many factors to align, but mainly requires consistent study, both theoretical & practical for the duration. On average it takes 3.5 years, but recent changes to the examination process & curriculum are aiming to bring this average down considerably, without making the process easier, just much more streamlined & up to date. If you take on board the information provided on this website, and commit more the 16 hours per week to studying the knowledge, it can be completed in much less time than the average. Guidance is key, and most of those students who have taken longer, didn’t have the right guidance to begin with. This skews the average to some extent. With the right guidance you will succeed in good time.

How much does it cost?

Because the cost of doing the knowledge can be spread over the duration of your time spent on it, it doesn’t feel overwhelming to most people. Initial application costs are incurred when you apply, but you can save for these while still studying. The good thing about the knowledge is that you can start learning the blue book runs without needing to apply. You can then judge if you feel like you want to carry on before committing. The current price structure for applying & final licensing can be found here on the TfL website. Additional costs to factor in are study materials & monthly subscriptions to a points app. We recommend using WizAnn knowledge school’s brilliant app for this. You will also need a moped or a car for much of the practical study, so a vehicle & fuel is also a cost you need to consider. Electric bikes are becoming more popular among knowledge students, but we strongly recommend researching currently legislation around these due to many of them being illegal for use on British roads.

Learn more…

For a deep dive into what the knowledge entails, click here.