What DBS Checks do Taxi and Private Hire Drivers need?

DBS Checks are used by organisations to provide information relating to someone's criminal record history. The information provided on a DBS certificate enables organisations to make suitable recruitment or licensing decisions. 

Taxi and private drivers must have a DBS Check carried out before they can become licenced drivers. But it can be confusing trying to establish which level of DBS Check you need. The necessary checks have changed multiple times over the years so it can be hard to keep track. 

In this article we look at exactly what DBS Check you need to become a licensed taxi or private hire driver.  

What DBS Check do Taxi and Private Hire Drivers need?  

The Department for Transports (DfTs) statutory guidance states that all taxi and private hire drivers are required to have an Enhanced DBS Check in place for their application. This check includes the following: 

• A check against the Police National Computer for any cautions, warnings, reprimands, or convictions (Spent or Unspent) 

• A check against the DBS’s Children’s or Adult’s Barred Lists 

• A check for any relevant police notes on the applicant 

Licensing authorities must make sure that any drivers they are licensing have produced an Enhanced DBS Certificate. Without this, they are not allowed to license drivers. 

Why do drivers need the Enhanced DBS Check? 

Taxi and private hire drivers can be responsible for transporting any member of the public. This means the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) consider them ‘exempt’ from the normal eligibility criteria of the Enhanced DBS checks.  

Taxi and private hire drivers are often responsible for transporting the most vulnerable members of society. When the law was changed to allow Enhanced DBS Checks to be carried out by licensing authorities, the news was welcomed by campaign groups across the country. 

Discussing the law changes, Criminal Information Minister at the time, Lynne Featherstone, said: 

“Taxi drivers provide a vital service so it is only right that the public are confident proper checks have been carried out. 

‘Good recruitment practices are a key responsibility for all employers. These changes will ensure that licensing authorities have access to relevant information to make informed decisions before granting taxi licences. 

Until today, only drivers who regularly pick up vulnerable people, including children, have been eligible for enhanced checks. Today’s change will standardise this practice for all drivers.” 

Enhanced DBS Checks were first introduced for taxi and private hire drivers back in 2012. These had to be renewed every three years. Under the new statutory guidance from the DfT, some changes have been made.  

Now drivers must register to the DBS Update Service or complete a DBS Check every 6 months.  

What is the DBS Update Service? 

The DBS Update Service is an annual subscription service for holders of Enhanced DBS Certificates. This subscription means that if any new information is found on someone's record, it is added to the Update Service.  

Employers (with consent) can then look up this information and make a decision on whether that person is still suitable for their role. A subscription to the DBS Update Service basically means that a new DBS Check never needs to be completed again. 

Under the new guidance, drivers must sign up to the DBS Update Service. This is because licensing authorities must complete criminality checks on drivers every 6-months. The Update Service allows them to do this. 

If drivers don’t sign up to the DBS Update Service, then they will be required to carry out a new DBS Check. This can lead to licences being suspended whilst the new DBS Check is being conducted. 

If you’re a taxi or private hire driver looking for more information about DBS Checks, click here.