Taxi/private hire driver route tests

If you are applying to be a taxi or private hire driver, you will need to pass a route test. This checks that you know your working area well and can plan safe, efficient journeys. On this page, you can find sample questions to help you prepare. The test will cover local routes, key roads, and well-known places such as schools, hospitals, police stations, fire stations, bus and train station, industrial estates and public buildings.

The examples below show the type of questions you may be asked. The exact questions will vary depending on where you plan to work.

What the route test involves

The route test measures how well you know your local area. You need to:

• understand how to travel from one place to another using practical routes
• recognise key roads, junctions and areas
• know where important buildings and landmarks are located

You may also be asked to plan routes that start or finish just outside your main test area. These locations will still be well-known and close by.

Tips to help you prepare

• study your area – spend time driving around and learning the main roads and shortcuts
• use maps – practice planning routes between common locations
• learn key landmarks – focus on public buildings, transport hubs and busy destinations
• think like a driver – choose routes that avoid unnecessary delays or complex turns
• practice regularly – the more familiar you are with the area, the easier the test will feel

 What happens in the test

• you will receive a question paper for your chosen zone
• you will answer a mix of location and route questions
• at least one question may include a journey that starts or ends outside your main area
• you must choose the most practical and accurate answers

Cambuslang and Rutherglen zone – sample questions

1. Where is Rutherglen train station situated?

(a) Victoria Street
(b) Main Street
(c) Fullerton Road
(d) Elizabeth Street

2. Between which of the following is Rodger Drive?

(a) Main Street /Cambuslang Road
(b) Mill Street /Stonelaw Road
(c) Melrose Avenue /Calderwood Road
(d) Carrick Road /Alloway Drive

3. Which route would you choose to complete the following journeys?

South Lanarkshire Lifestyle, Eastfield to Morrisons, Cambuslang

(a) Glenside Drive, Southhill Avenue, Cleveland Drive, Dukes Road.
(b) Highburgh Road, Greystone Avenue, Coldstream Drive, Laurel Drive.
(c) Glenside Drive, Dukes Road, Glasgow Road, Main Street, Bridge Street.
(d) Burn Terrace, County Avenue, Whinfield Avenue, Cambuslang Road.

Cambuslang Gate Cambuslang to Sainsbury’s, Kingsgate Retail Park, East Kilbride

(a) Main Street, Greenlees Road, A749 Glasgow Road, Nerston Road, Kingsgate Retail Park
(b) Main Street, Clydemill Road, Bridge Street, Glasgow Road, Queensway, Kingsgate Retail Park
(c) Greenlees Road, Andrew Street,  Brouster Hill, Torrance Road, Kingsgate Retail Park
(d) Clydemill Road, Cornwall Street, Churchill Avenue, Whitemoss Road, East Kilbride Expressway, Kingsgate Retail Park

Burnside Hotel Rutherglen to Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride 

Clydesdale zone – sample questions

1. Where is Lanark Primary School situated?

(a) Kirkhill Road     
(b) Rhyber Avenue    
(c) Carstairs Road     
(d) Chevoit Road

2. Between which roads is Waterloo Drive, Lanark situated?

(a) Burnblea Street /Tuphall Road
(b) Bonnington Avenue /Albany Drive
(c) Hope Street /Woodburn Grove
(d) Hardacres /Chapland Road

3. Which route would you choose to complete the following journeys?

Douglas Street, Carluke to Cairneymount Road, Carluke

(a) Stewart Street, Sandy Road, Kirkton Street, Cairneymount Road
(b) Moorside Street, Hillhead Avenue, Cairnemount Road, Highmill Road, Cairneymount Road
(c) Stewart Street, Sandy Road, Bellstane Road, Cairneymount Road   
(d) Bothwell Road, Burnbank Road, Glasgow Road, Cairneymount Road 

Chatelherault country park, Ferniegair to Carluke train station

(a) Carlisle Road, A72, Lanark Road, A721, A73, Station Road
(b) Carlisle Road, A72, Stonehouse Road, A721, Station Road
(c) Carlisle Road, Lanark Road, A721, Airdrie Road, Main Street, Station Road
(d) Carlisle Road, Larkhall Road, Almada Street, Blackswell Lane, Station Road

Tesco supermarket (formerly Loch Park Stadium) Carluke to Carluke Train Station 

East Kilbride zone – sample questions

1. Where is the National Engineering Laboratory situated?

(a) Reynolds Avenue
(b) East Mains Road
(c) Fullerton Road
(d) Hunter Street

2. Between which of the following is Carrick Road, East Kilbride?

(a) Bellvue Road /Alexander Street
(b) Maxwell Road /Maxwell Avenue
(c) Markethill Road /Bosfield Road
(d) Park Terrace /Brouster Hill

3. Which route would you choose to complete the following journeys?

East Kilbride Civic Centre to Burger King, East Kilbride

(a) Cornwall Street, Blacklands Road, Cloverhill View, Park Terrace,
Kirktonholme Road
(b) Churchill Avenue, Houston Road, Belmont Road, Main Street
(c) Andrew Street, Brouster Hill, Torrance Road, West Mains Road
(d) Cornwall Street, Churchill Avenue, Whitemoss Road, East Kilbride Expressway, Kingsway, Stewartfield Way

The Torrance Hotel, East Kilbride to Morrisons, Cambuslang

(a) Main Street, Old Coach Road, East Mains Road, Kingsway, A749, Glasgow Road Cambuslang. Greenlees Road, Main Street, Bridge Street
(b) Main Street, Kittoch Street, West Mains Road, Torrance Road, A749, Glasgow Road, Cambuslang Road, Main Street
(c) Main Street, Calderwood Road, Strathaven Road, Eaglesham Road, Greenlees Road,  Station Road
(d) Stuart Street, Whitemoss Road, Churchill Avenue Brouster Hill, A749, Glasgow Road,  East Kilbride Road

4. Where are the following situated?

Alistair McCoist Complex

Hamilton zone – sample questions

1. Where is Hamilton Academicals football stadium situated?

(a) Mearns Road     
(b) Stewarton Road    
(c) Ayr Road      
(d) Cadzow Avenue

2. Between which roads is Mayfield Road situated?

(a) Douglas Street /Beckford Street  
(b) Bryan Street /Kenmar Road    
(c) Kenilworth Crescent /Gordon Road   
(d) Troy Street /William Street  

3. Which route would you choose to complete the following journeys?

Hamilton Central train station to Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride   

(a) Glasgow Road, Kingsway, Queensway, Torness Road, Taybridge Terrace, Eaglesham Road
(b) Glasgow Road, Clydemill Crescent, East Kilbride Road, Centre Way
(c) Brandon Street, Forrest Street, Auchinraith Road, Almada Street, Montgomery Street
(d) Brandon Street, Union Street, Burnbank Road, High Blantyre Road, East Kilbride Expressway A725, Queensway East Kilbride, Eaglesham Road

4. Between which roads are the following situated?

 Bothwell Street Hamilton 

All route tests will include at least one question where either the starting location or finishing location will be outside the route test paper area. However, the buildings will be well known locations close to the test paper area.