Highland Council considers mandatory knowledge testing for private hire drivers
- Perry Richardson
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Highland Council’s Licensing Committee will meet on 16 September 2025 to decide whether to introduce mandatory local knowledge testing for private hire car (PHC) drivers across the region.
The proposed change follows a public consultation earlier this year, which gathered 44 responses. Most of those responding expressed concern about PHC drivers lacking sufficient geographical knowledge of the areas they serve. Numerous submissions noted that passengers were often taken on unnecessarily long or incorrect routes, with some drivers relying heavily on mobile navigation apps. Several also reported safety concerns linked to drivers unfamiliar with local streets and landmarks.
Currently, only applicants for taxi driver licences in the Highland Council area are required to pass a two-part knowledge test, covering both Highland-wide and local knowledge. The pass rates are set at 75% and 85% respectively, and applicants have a maximum of three attempts. PHC drivers have not been subject to the same requirement, although the Council was given powers to impose such a test under the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015.
A previous proposal to introduce testing in 2016 was deferred, awaiting further legislation that has yet to be implemented. The matter was brought back into focus during the Licensing Committee meeting in February 2025, prompting the current consultation and follow-up engagement with the trade.
Feedback from the trade has been mixed. While drivers and operators in areas such as Wick and Fort William broadly support the introduction of a knowledge test, Inverness-based respondents raised concerns about potential recruitment issues and a possible flood of PHC drivers applying for taxi licences to avoid test duplication. This could put further pressure on already limited taxi rank spaces.
If the Committee agrees to move forward with the plan, it will need to determine several key points. These include whether current PHC drivers will be exempt or required to sit the test upon renewal, whether the test will mirror the existing taxi driver format, and when it should come into force.
There are currently 345 licensed PHC drivers across the Highland Council area. The proposal has prompted broader questions about the consistency of regulation across Scotland. Only 8 of the 32 Scottish local authorities currently require knowledge tests for both taxi and PHC drivers. Highland Council will need to weigh the benefits of higher standards against the operational challenges such a change may bring.
