Birmingham PHV Test — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions drivers ask most about the Birmingham PHV test and the licensing process behind it. For the full picture, see our guides on passing the Birmingham PHV test and applying for a Birmingham PHV licence.
About the test
How many questions are on the Birmingham taxi badge test?
18 questions, in three sections of 6 — Legal, Licence Conditions and Plying for Hire — with 45 minutes allowed.
What are the auto-fail rules?
Every Plying for Hire question must be correct. One wrong answer in that section fails the paper on its own, whatever you scored elsewhere.
On top of that, you may drop no more than two in Legal, no more than two in Licence Conditions, and no more than four across those two sections combined.
Is there a pass mark?
No — and this is the part most people get wrong. Birmingham does not use an overall pass mark at all. The paper is judged section by section, so a high total is no guarantee of a pass.
Can I really fail with 17 out of 18?
Yes, if the question you dropped was a Plying for Hire one. That is the whole point of an auto-fail section: nothing else on the paper can compensate for it.
Who runs the test?
TTC Group, not the council. Birmingham City Council states that private hire knowledge tests are organised and conducted by TTC, who also offer an optional preparation course and a short video on how to prepare. You book by contacting TTC directly by email.
Is it the same test as Wolverhampton or Solihull?
No. Birmingham is 18 questions with section rules and no pass mark; Wolverhampton is 28 with 8 key questions and a 21/28 mark; Solihull is 48 with a 36/48 mark and no auto-fail. A pass with one council does not qualify you with another.
About applying
Is Birmingham accepting new driver applications?
The council's applications page carries a notice saying new driver applications are not being accepted unless you have already completed a medical and obtained a DBS certificate through its occupational health service. Newer guidance pages describe the full route, so the two do not read consistently — confirm the current position with licensing@birmingham.gov.uk before spending money.
What checks do I need?
A medical, booked and paid for through the council's online form; a conviction disclosures check (DBS), or proof of previous good character by other means as set out in the driver guidance; and a driving test — new applicants are required to take one with the Birmingham City Council Driving School.
How do I book the driving test?
Phone 0121 303 3311 between 9:00am and 12:00pm or 1:00pm and 3:00pm. You may reach an answerphone, as assessors are often out on jobs.
When do I fill in the application form?
After you have passed the knowledge test. You then download and complete the form and make an appointment to bring it in with the documents listed in the council's Guide to Driver Licences.
About the app
Are the practice questions specific to Birmingham?
Yes. Every question in the app's Birmingham mode is built from official Birmingham City Council source material — council policy documents, licensing conditions and relevant UK legislation. This isn't generic PHV content.
Will mock exams just repeat the same questions?
No. Each mock exam pulls 18 questions — 6 from each of the three sections — from the full 150+ question bank, so you get a different paper every time. All questions are distinct: no padding or rephrased duplicates.
Does the app mark papers the way Birmingham does?
Yes. It applies the section rules rather than a score, so a mock that would have failed on Plying for Hire is reported as a fail — not as "17 out of 18".
Is this useful if I've already failed the test?
Especially then. The most common way to fail is Plying for Hire: every question in that section must be correct, so one wrong answer fails the paper even with everything else right, and there is no overall pass mark to make up for it. The app shows your score section by section, so you can see whether you are losing the paper there or drifting over the two-wrong limit elsewhere.
Do you have pass rate statistics?
No, and we won't invent one. We can't verify what happens after someone leaves the app and sits the real test. Anyone quoting you a percentage for something like this is guessing.
PHV Prep UK is on the App Store and Google Play.
Official sources
- Birmingham City Council — Taxi and private hire
- Birmingham City Council — Apply for a hackney carriage (taxi) or private hire licence
- Birmingham City Council — Guide to Driver Licences
PHV Prep UK is an independent study aid. It is not affiliated with, authorised by, or endorsed by Birmingham City Council or any licensing authority. Always check the council's official guidance for the latest test requirements and fees.