TfL DBS Check: How to Apply

Every TfL private hire driver applicant must pass an enhanced DBS check before they can be licensed. The check runs through TfL's authorised provider, First Advantage, on its KnowYourPeople platform, and it currently costs £56.42 including ID verification. This guide walks through the whole process: what the check covers, the exact steps on the applicant portal, the Post Office ID verification, what it costs, and what happens after your certificate arrives. If you would rather have the paperwork handled for you, our PCO licence application service covers the DBS check and every other requirement.

What the TfL DBS check is

TfL requires applicants to be "of good character", and the enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is how that is established. It is an enhanced check, not a basic one, which means it includes checks against the DBS Children's Barred List and the DBS Adults' Barred List as well as your criminal record.

Two things catch applicants out. First, you cannot bring a DBS check from another job: TfL requires the check to be run through its authorised service provider, so an enhanced certificate from a previous employer will not be accepted on its own. Second, since 26 February 2024 every new and renewing private hire driver must also register with the DBS Update Service and keep the subscription running for as long as they hold the licence.

Before you start: codes and documents

The DBS application is completed online at app.knowyourpeople.co.uk. When you register, you will be asked for an Organisation ID and an Access Code, and they are different for new applications and renewals:

• New private hire driver application: Organisation ID ORG-2333DWY8, Access Code tphcrb
• Private hire driver renewal: Organisation ID ORG-74W6KD44, Access Code tphcrbphren

Using the wrong code for your application type is a common cause of delays, so double-check before you register.

You will also need your identity documents ready, because the application asks you to choose which documents you will use for verification. Our DBS document requirements guide lists what TfL accepts, but in short: one document from Group 1 (a current passport, UK driving licence, birth certificate or biometric residence permit), or a Group 2a document plus two further supporting documents if you cannot provide a Group 1 item.

How to apply for your TfL DBS check, step by step

1. Register on the applicant portal. Go to app.knowyourpeople.co.uk and select Register, using the Organisation ID and Access Code for your application type.
2. Complete the application form. Fill in your personal details exactly as they appear on your identity documents. TfL requires all given names on your licence to match your official documents, so inconsistencies here cause hold-ups later.
3. Choose your identification document. Select the document you will use for verification from the options the portal offers.
4. Pay the DBS application fee. TfL's current published fee is £56.42, which includes the ID verification.
5. Print the barcode sheet. The portal generates a barcoded sheet for your ID verification appointment.
6. Verify your ID at the Post Office. Take the barcode sheet and your original documents to the Post Office within 30 days. If you use the Check and Send service it costs an extra £7.15.

Once your ID has been verified at the Post Office, your E-number is usually available within three working days. The E-number is your confirmation that the DBS application has been submitted, and it lets you track progress on the portal.

What happens after the check

Your DBS certificate is issued to you. First Advantage also tells TfL whether the check disclosed any convictions or cautions. If nothing was disclosed, no further action is needed and the DBS stage of your application is complete.

If the check does disclose unspent convictions or cautions, you will be asked to send your DBS certificate to First Advantage within seven days. TfL then reviews the information and assesses whether you remain a fit and proper person to hold a licence, looking at both the number and nature of anything disclosed. A disclosure does not automatically mean refusal, but it does mean your application goes through additional review.

From there, the rest of your application continues in parallel: the TfL medical, the topographical assessment and the SERU and English assessments. Our PCO licence guide covers how all the pieces fit together.

What the TfL DBS check costs

TfL's current published fees (October 2026) for the DBS stage are:

• Enhanced DBS check: £56.42 (includes ID verification)
• Post Office Check and Send service: £7.15, if you use it
• DBS Update Service: £15 a year, mandatory (see below)

So the DBS stage costs £56.42 at minimum, or £63.57 with Check and Send, plus the ongoing Update Service subscription. Figures come from TfL's published fee table and can change; check TfL's licensing page before you pay.

The DBS Update Service requirement

Since 26 February 2024, TfL will not grant a private hire driver licence unless the applicant has registered with the DBS Update Service, and licence holders must keep the subscription active continuously. The service costs £15 a year. TfL uses it to re-check the status of your criminal record certificate periodically; the practical benefit for you is that renewal applicants whose Update Service record shows no changes may not need to complete a full new DBS check each renewal, which saves both time and money.

Our DBS Update Service guide explains the registration in detail.

How long does the TfL DBS check take?

TfL does not publish a fixed processing time for the enhanced DBS check itself. Two timings are official: you have 30 days from completing the application to verify your ID at the Post Office, and your E-number is usually issued within three working days of that verification. The certificate follows once First Advantage has processed the check. Keeping your details consistent with your documents is the single best way to avoid delays.

For context, TfL aims to carry out its initial assessment of a complete private hire application within 10 days of receiving it, and it notes that elements outside its control, including the DBS check and medical, affect the overall licensing timeline.

DBS check FAQs

Can I use an enhanced DBS check from another job?

No. TfL requires the check to be completed through its authorised service provider as part of the licensing process, so a certificate from a previous employer cannot replace it. Once you hold the licence, a clean Update Service record means you will not normally need a fresh check at renewal.

What is the difference between a basic and an enhanced DBS check?

Private hire driver applicants need the enhanced check, which includes barred list checks as well as criminal record history. Basic checks, which only show unspent convictions, apply to other roles such as private hire operator staff, and are a separate process.

How much does the TfL DBS check cost?

£56.42 including ID verification, per TfL's current published fee table. The optional Post Office Check and Send service adds £7.15, and the mandatory DBS Update Service subscription is £15 a year.

What happens if my DBS check shows convictions?

You will be asked to send your certificate to First Advantage within seven days. TfL reviews the disclosure and assesses whether you are a fit and proper person to hold a licence, considering the number and nature of the convictions. Disclosure triggers a review rather than an automatic refusal.

Where do I get help with my DBS application?

First Advantage's customer care team supports the KnowYourPeople platform (via help.fadv.com), and TfL publishes guidance notices when the process changes. If you hit a problem you cannot resolve, our team at PCO Direct can help you through the DBS stage as part of our application support.