TfL to raise Knowledge of London application fees to £650 despite drop in aspiring black cab drivers

Applicants looking to become licensed taxi drivers in London now face a £650 bill to complete the Knowledge of London, following a proposed increase in assessment fees agreed by TfL’s Finance Committee.

The cost, which includes both written and appearance elements of the Knowledge test, rose by £50 after the annual licensing fee review. A new £40 Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding (SERU) assessment will also be introduced later in 2025 for taxi drivers.

This fee hike comes as the number of Knowledge candidates continues to decline. The test, known for its difficulty and the time it takes to complete, already presents a significant commitment. The extra cost is unlikely to help attract new applicants into the industry, which has been struggling to recruit new drivers for several years.

Since 2017, licensing costs remained unchanged, but TfL says growing operating costs and new statutory requirements have made a rise necessary. Among these are additional enforcement officers, updated safety standards, and a new digital licensing system. Despite internal cost-saving measures, the licensing regime currently runs at a £5 million annual deficit.

The rise in Knowledge fees forms part of a wider uplift in licensing costs, including a £43 increase for taxi driver licences, taking the total to £343. TfL has opted for a phased approach, aiming for partial cost recovery this year while planning further reviews annually.

The authority said it would monitor impacts closely and continue efforts to reduce costs in future years through efficiencies.

For now, though, becoming a London black cab driver is more expensive than ever.

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