Diamond is a leading provider of government accredited training and assessments for occupational drivers and riders and part of the largest professional driver training association in the UK. As such ellinge already work with a large number of local authorities to provide driver training and testing services specifically designed for the taxi and private hire market.
Once you have purchased an appropriate Taxi Test, your details will be forwarded to your nominated examiner who will aim to be in touch within the next 48 hours (Monday-Friday) with a view to booking your test within the next 5-10 working days.
Your examiner will arrange a mutually convenient date, time and place local to you to conduct your test. We do not have specific locations and your examiner will discuss meeting places and any other queries with you once your booking has been made. Please confirm your booking reference with your examiner. You will need a car suitable for test purposes (we do not supply cars) which has current and valid insurance, MOT, road tax and is roadworthy in terms of lights, tyres etc.
Terms and Conditions
By purchasing this product you agree that you have read and understood the requirements of the test that you are applying for.
Refund policy: for cancellations received up to 7 days prior to the test date we will refund 50% of the fee paid, no other refunds will be made after this time, including tests that have not been arranged within a 6 month period after the payment has been taken.
NOTE: For all Diamond tests you and your examiner must wear a suitable face covering. Your examiner cannot provide one for you. Examiners are only responsible for their own face covering and PPE protection. If a suitable face covering is not in place for the day of your test, your test will be cancelled and the fee will be lost. If you have a medical exception to wearing a face covering, this must be provided on the day of the test as proof of exemption.
You must demonstrate that your car has been cleaned prior to the test, using anti-viral wipes to clean passenger handles inside and outside, the dashboard in the examiner area and any other touch points for the examiner. If you vehicle is not fit for purpose the test will be cancelled and the fee will be lost.
For Diamond training, please refer to the individual trainer’s terms of business for guidance on face coverings, PPE and vehicle requirements as theses may differ from Diamond testing and assessing.
To manage the risk to test candidates and examiners/trainers we are advising all candidates that they should not attend the test if they are feeling unwell, particularly if they identify core symptoms associated with COVID-19 (such as a persistent cough or fever). We ask candidates to notify Diamond of any possible exposure to, or diagnosis of, coronavirus as soon as possible. If you are unable to take a test due to a COVID-19 diagnosis or possible symptoms, your test will be postponed without loosing your fee and no retest will be permitted within the next 14 days following the cancellation.
Once you have paid for your test your details will be forwarded to your nominated examiner who will be in touch with you within 48 hours (Monday-Friday) with a view to booking your test within a 5-10 working day time frame. Some flexibility will be required in terms of location, taking into account examiner availability at regional level and where restrictions with COVID-19 maybe taking place.
Your examiner can also discuss training options with you before taking the test and advise you accordingly on the test requirements. Book a training session here.
Your examiner will arrange a mutually convenient date, time and place to conduct your test by text or telephone call. We do not have specific locations or test centres and your examiner will discuss meeting places and any other queries with you once your booking has been made. Please confirm your booking order number with your examiner.
You will need a car suitable for test purposes (we do not supply cars) which has current and valid insurance, MOT, road tax and is roadworthy in terms of lights, tyres etc. If you are taking an enhanced taxi test please ensure you have a wheelchair accessible vehicle and a wheelchair for demonstration of your abilities to manage a client with diverse needs. The examiner cannot currently supply a wheelchair for the purposes of the enhanced test.
If you are more than 15 minutes late to your test you will lose your booking and the fee will need to be paid again.
You will be asked to read a number plate at the required distance, full details can be found at www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules. Your test will be cancelled if you cannot reach these requirements. You will need a current and valid driving licence which will be checked by your examiner prior to the test.
Upon successful completion of your Diamond test you will be issued with an original Diamond pass certificate, this is given to the candidate by the examiner at the end of the test. A copy of your report (top copy only), can be photographed by request for your records and your examiner will assist with this, however, this is not essential or compulsory. Certificates and test reports are kept digitally for 6 months at Diamond head office.
Please ensure that if you are currently working for a local authority and require a taxi test, that you are, where necessary, removing your licence plates for the purposes of the test. It is your responsibility to check the bylaws and legal requirements of taking a taxi test and displaying licence plates.
What Diamond allows: You can use a camera fitted for insurance purposes, as long as it:
- is external facing and does not film the inside of the vehicle
- does not record audio from inside the vehicle
Diamond will under no circumstances accept, comment on, or review audio or video footage provided by a test candidate or third party to facilitate a challenge to the conduct of any theory or practical test or its result.
Any footage received in connection with an allegation of criminal activity or intent will be referred to the police.