Lower DBS Check Cost with DBS.expert
Organisations benefit from competitive DBS Check costs
DBS.expert is a Better Priced Option even with all those added features
Contact us to find out if your organisation can qualify
Competitive Pricing For DBS Checks
The total cost of a DBS check includes the standard DBS fee and our platform’s admin fee. Our admin fees are highly competitive, starting from just £4.00 per application.
Frequently Asked Pricing Questions
Answers to the most popular questions we get about costs for DBS Checks and our Platform
How much does a DBS Check cost?
When you apply for a DBS check through an Umbrella Body, the overall cost is usually made up of two separate charges.
The first charge is the fixed fee set by the Disclosure and Barring Service. This fee does not change, regardless of how many applications are submitted. It is £21.50 for a Standard DBS check and £49.50 for an Enhanced DBS check, including checks against the Adults’ and/or Children’s Barred Lists.
The second charge is the administration fee taken by the Umbrella Body for handling and processing the application. This amount can vary depending on the number of checks being carried out.
The total cost of a DBS check is the combined amount of these two charges.
Do Employers or Employees pay for DBS Checks?
There are no fixed rules about who must pay for a DBS check during employment. Each organisation can decide whether it will cover the cost itself or require the employee or applicant to pay.
DBS.expert includes a feature that allows employers to assign the cost of the DBS check directly to the applicant. The applicant can then pay securely through their own platform login, removing the need for the employer to pay upfront and reclaim the cost later.
My employees pay for their DBS, can you charge them directly?
Yes — one of our unique features allows you to allocate the DBS check invoice directly to your applicant.
The applicant is automatically notified and asked to log into their own area of the platform to make payment securely.
This removes the need for organisations to pay upfront and then recover the cost afterwards.
Can I buy credits?
Yes, a prepaid credit option is available.
This is especially useful where staff need to submit DBS checks but do not have direct access to the organisation’s finance systems.
Do Volunteers get a free DBS?
If you are volunteering in the UK and need a DBS check for an unpaid role, the cost can be much lower, and in some cases completely free, compared to paid positions. Volunteers who meet the official DBS definition do not have to pay the government fee for Standard or Enhanced DBS checks.
To qualify as a volunteer under DBS criteria, you must be in an unpaid role and receive no payment other than approved out of pocket expenses. You must not be completing a placement, internship, or training programme that leads to a qualification or professional benefit. You must also not receive any other financial gain or benefit in kind from the role.
If you meet these requirements, the fee charged by the Disclosure and Barring Service for Standard and Enhanced checks is £0. However, although the DBS waives its fee for eligible volunteers, the organisation or umbrella body processing the application may still charge an administration fee to cover their time and costs. This amount varies, so it is sensible to check before applying.
A Basic DBS check is different. It is not free for volunteers. The cost of a Basic check is the same for everyone, whether you are volunteering or in paid employment, as the government exemption does not apply to Basic checks.
Does VAT Apply to a DBS Check?
The base element of the DBS check cost, which is the fee charged by the Disclosure and Barring Service, is exempt from VAT. No VAT is applied to this portion.
However, the administration fee charged by an umbrella organisation is subject to VAT.
Invoices will clearly show these two elements separately, including any VAT applied, so the breakdown is easy to understand.
Can I get a bulk discount on DBS Check cost?
The DBS base fee is set by the Disclosure and Barring Service and cannot be discounted. This fee is £21.50 for a Standard DBS check and £49.50 for an Enhanced DBS check, and the price remains the same regardless of volume, even for organisations processing large numbers of applications each year.
The administration fee charged by DBS.expert can be reduced through volume discounts.
Can I pay extra for a fast track DBS Check?
There is no fast track service for DBS checks. The Disclosure and Barring Service processes all applications using the same standard procedure.
Once an application has been submitted, neither DBS.expert nor any other umbrella body can influence how quickly it is completed.
What can be improved, however, is the efficiency of the application process itself. DBS.expert provides a clear and user friendly platform that helps reduce applicant errors and makes completing the application simple and straightforward.