DBS checks for licensed businesses: who needs one and how to apply

What to take away

A DBS check is a condition of licence for taxi and private hire drivers, Ofsted childminder registration and regulated activity roles.
Standard and enhanced checks can only be submitted by a registered body or umbrella body. A basic check can be applied for directly.
The level mattersbasic, standard, enhanced, or enhanced with a barred list check.
Waste carrier registration normally relies on a declaration of convictions rather than a DBS certificate.

Which licence applications bring in a DBS check

Most business licences in England involve no criminal record check at all. A DBS check appears where the licence exists to protect children, vulnerable adults or the travelling public.

Taxi and private hire driver licensing is the most common example. Outside London it sits under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, which lets councils test whether an applicant is a fit and proper person.

Councils can require a standard or enhanced check, and most now ask for enhanced. The certificate forms part of the evidence you submit with a licence application.

Childminding is the second clear case. Ofsted regulates childminders in England and requires an enhanced check with a barred list check for the applicant and for other adults who live or work on the premises.

Our guide to childminder registration requirements sets out which register applies and how the DBS step fits alongside paediatric first aid, food registration and data protection duties.

Waste carrier registration is different again. The Environment Agency registers carriers in England and assesses whether an applicant is a fit and proper person, but a DBS certificate is not part of the standard application.

Our waste carrier licence application guide covers upper and lower tier fees, renewal and the evidence gaps that delay new applications.

A personal licence under the Licensing Act 2003 needs a basic disclosure, not an enhanced check.

Levels, workforce categories and eligibility

Level	What it involves	Who can apply	DBS fee
Basic	Unspent convictions and conditional cautions	The individual, or an employer with consent	£18
Standard	Spent and unspent convictions, cautions and warnings	A registered body or umbrella body	£18
Enhanced	Standard content plus relevant local police records	A registered body or umbrella body	£40
Enhanced with barred list check	Enhanced content plus children's and adults' barred list checks	A registered body, for eligible regulated activity	£40

An enhanced application also names a workforce category: child workforce, adult workforce, child and adult workforce, or other workforce. The barred list check is available only for eligible regulated activity.

DBS check levels compared

Basic

Content: Unspent only
Who applies: Individual
DBS fee: £18
Eligibility: Anyone

Standard

Content: Spent and unspent
Who applies: Registered body
DBS fee: £18
Eligibility: Registered body

Enhanced

Content: Plus local police
Who applies: Registered body
DBS fee: £40
Eligibility: Registered body

Enhanced + barred list

Content: Plus barred lists
Who applies: Registered body
DBS fee: £40
Eligibility: Regulated activity only

Applying: the route for each level

Ask the licensing authority or regulator which level it requires, and get the answer in writing.
Identify the workforce category if the check is enhanced.
Apply for a basic check yourself through the DBS online service, or use a registered body or umbrella body for standard and enhanced checks, which individuals cannot submit.
Gather identity documents, usually a passport or birth certificate plus proof of address.
Consent to the check and send the certificate to the council or regulator before the deadline.

A DBS certificate has no expiry date. The re-check interval comes from the licence condition, not from the certificate itself.

How to apply for a DBS check

Ask licensing authority which level, in writing
Identify workforce category if enhanced
Apply via DBS online or registered body
Gather identity documents
Consent and send certificate before deadline

Example: a taxi renewal pack

Picture a district council renewing a private hire driver licence. The request often lists an enhanced DBS certificate issued within the last few months, a DVLA check code, a medical certificate and the renewal fee.

Councils set their own validity window, so a certificate dated last year may be refused even though the check itself is still valid.

Taxi licence costs by council vary widely once the DBS fee, medical and vehicle charges are added, so compare the full package before you apply.

Costs, timing and the update service

Administration charges sit on top of the DBS fee and are set by the umbrella body or registered body. The published DBS fee is £18 for a basic or standard check and £40 for an enhanced check.

The update service costs £13 a year for standard and enhanced checks. It lets a new employer or council check your certificate online with your consent.

Timing is harder to predict. Police forces supply local records for enhanced checks, so apply at least eight weeks before a licence expires.

Common questions

Do I need a DBS check to register as a childminder?

Yes. Ofsted requires an enhanced check with a barred list check for the applicant and for other adults who live or work on the premises.

Can I apply for an enhanced DBS check myself?

No. Standard and enhanced checks have to be submitted through a registered body or umbrella body. Only basic checks can be applied for directly.

How much does a DBS check cost?

The DBS fee is £18 for a basic or standard check and £40 for an enhanced check, plus any administration charge. Allow several weeks, because police records form part of an enhanced check.

Does a waste carrier licence require a DBS check?

Not normally. The Environment Agency asks about relevant convictions during registration rather than requesting a certificate.