How to Become a Licensed Chicago Taxi Driver

If you think the daily grind that a Chicago cabbie goes through is hard, then you may be surprised to find out how much they also have to go through before they can legally become one. Just imagine driving through all kinds of traffic every single day. Some trips may be longer than the others, and it’s up to the cabbie to take each passenger from point A to B the safest way possible. Different kinds of passengers get in and out of their cabs the whole day, from rude ones that act like they know better than the driver to the really quiet ones that do not really seem to care what’s happening around them.

For you to get through all these, you need to prove that you’re more than capable of handling everything that comes a cabbie’s way. This means that you need a license.

The minimum age requirement is 21 years old. At this point, you can start getting ready for all the steps needed to have a Public Chauffeur License. Here’s a checklist of the things that need to be done:

• Public Chauffeur Training Course – The training course includes an English proficiency exam. Since you plan on becoming a cabbie, you would have to register specifically for the Public Chauffeur Taxicab Driver Training Course (another option is also available for limo drivers) at the Olive-Harvey College. Once you complete the course, you will be presented with a Certificate of Completion.
• Public Chauffeur Licensing Exam – Take the exam for public chauffeurs and pass it. This will entitle you to receive a Certificate of Passing. The exam will also be taken at the Olive-Harvey College.
• Public Chauffeur License – Proceed to the Public Vehicle Operations Facility any weekday between 8:30am to 11:30am. This is where you complete and submit the form for new applicants.
  • You will be asked for your state-issued driver’s license, your certificate of completion for the training course, and your certificate of passing.
  • Fingerprinting is not exactly required, but it is recommended as this could speed up the process.
  • The license fee would also have to be paid.
  • A drug test should be done within 24 hours of the issuance of a Drug Testing Authorization Form.
  • Submit a completed Physical Certification Form that has been signed by a physician licensed within Illinois. It should be dated within the past four months.
  • Submit your ‘Court Purpose’ driving record abstract. This should be dated within the past 30 days, and is issued by the state.

As long as there are no problems with your requirements, then everything should flow smoothly from here.

Once you are a licensed cabbie, you could finally drive a Universal Taxi. You can now help people get to places they need to be in the safest way possible. There is no better time to become a Chicago cabbie, especially if you consider how advanced the taxi system has now become. With a Universal taxi app at your disposal, you get connected to customers in a convenient manner.