Freedom of Information Request – Private Hire Driver Knowledge Test Statistics
Case reference FOI2026/01062
Received 21 September 2026
Published 16 October 2026
Request
I would like to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding Private Hire Driver licensing and knowledge/competency assessments. For each of the financial years 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26, please provide: 1. The number of new Private Hire Driver licence applicants. 2. The total number of knowledge, competency or driver assessment tests taken by applicants. 3. The number of candidates who passed on their first attempt. 4. The number of candidates who failed on their first attempt. 5. The number of second attempts taken. 6. The number of third or subsequent attempts taken. 7. The number of candidates who ultimately passed the assessment. 8. If available, the overall pass/fail rate. Where the authority operates separate assessments for Private Hire and Hackney Carriage drivers, I would be grateful if the figures could be provided separately. If any part of the assessment is delivered by an external provider, please provide the information held by the Council and, where possible, identify the organisation responsible for holding the remaining statistics.
Response
Please find the Council's response to each question below.
1. Number of new Private Hire Driver licence applicants
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2023/24: 137
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2024/25: 94
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2025/26: 313
Please note that these figures include all new Private Hire Driver applications, regardless of outcome, including applications that were granted, refused, invalid or withdrawn.
2. Total number of knowledge, competency or driver assessment tests taken by applicants
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2023/24: 294
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2024/25: 271
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2025/26: 759
These figures relate to test bookings rather than unique individuals. The Council does not restrict the number of test attempts and does not retain comprehensive records of unsuccessful attempts made before a licence application is submitted.
Consequently, the figures may include multiple bookings for the same individuals due to unsuccessful attempts, non-attendance and rearranged bookings.
3. Number of candidates who passed on their first attempt
The Council does not record this information.
4. Number of candidates who failed on their first attempt
The Council does not record this information.
5. Number of second attempts taken
The Council does not record this information.
6. Number of third or subsequent attempts taken
The Council does not record this information.
7. Number of candidates who ultimately passed the assessment
The Council does not record this information.
8. Overall pass/fail rate
The current average pass rate is 83%.
Please note that this is the current average and not a separate pass rate for each of the requested financial years.
Information not held – Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000
In relation to Questions 3–7, the Council does not record or hold the requested statistical breakdowns. Accordingly, we are unable to provide these figures under Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Documents
This is Oxford City Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.