From passing the exam to your first shift – what happens next?
Passed the tests? How you go from applying for the licence to employment and your first driving shift.
Apply for the licence
When both knowledge tests and the driving test are passed, you apply for the taxi driver licence at the Transport Agency, which checks your certificates and your suitability. Mind the time limits: the knowledge tests may not be older than three years and the driving test not older than one year at application. The licence is what formally gives you the right to drive a taxi.
Find an employer or booking centre
Most new drivers start as employees at a taxi company affiliated with a booking centre, which gives access to trips and an established flow of customers. Be careful to understand the employment terms and the pay model before you sign. Local knowledge and a professional impression weigh heavily when you apply.
Your first shift
The first shifts are about settling the routines: learning the car and the taximeter, handling the booking system and becoming comfortable driving in traffic with passengers. It is normal for it to feel like a lot at first – the pace and multitasking settle in over time. Prioritise safety and good conduct over chasing time.
Keep developing in the profession
Once the basics are in place, you can build on them: specialise in, for example, special transport or airport taxi, improve your local knowledge and in time perhaps apply for your own taxi traffic permit. The licence is the starting point, not the finish line – professional skill is built along the way. Drive safely and lawfully, and the licence is an asset that lasts.