Taxi driver DBS check and medical: what you need to pass

Before any council in the UK will grant a taxi or private hire driver's licence, it has to be satisfied that you are safe to carry the public. Two checks sit at the heart of that decision: an enhanced DBS check that looks at your background, and a medical that confirms you are fit to drive professionally. This guide explains what each involves, how often you have to repeat them, and why the exact rules vary from one council to the next.

The enhanced DBS check

All taxi and private hire driver applicants must obtain an enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. This is the highest level of criminal record check available and goes well beyond a basic disclosure. An enhanced check looks at:

• Spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings held on the Police National Computer;
• A check against the DBS children's and adults' barred lists, because drivers carry vulnerable passengers;
• Any additional information the police consider relevant to the role.

A criminal record does not automatically rule you out, but the council weighs what it finds when deciding your application. The certificate is issued to you, and you normally give the council sight of it as part of your licensing application. You apply through the council or its appointed provider; you cannot use an ordinary employer's check for this.

The DBS Update Service

A single DBS certificate is only a snapshot of the day it was issued. To keep your record current, most councils now require drivers to join the DBS Update Service. This is a subscription that lets the council carry out an online status check at any time, so your background is monitored continuously rather than only at renewal.

A few practical points to remember:

• You usually have to subscribe to the Update Service within a short window (often 30 days) of your certificate being issued, so do not delay.
• If you do not use the Update Service, councils typically require a fresh enhanced DBS check at regular intervals instead.
• There is a small annual fee for the Update Service. The exact rules and timescales are set locally, so check with your authority.

What "fit and proper person" means

The legal test a council applies is whether you are a "fit and proper person" to hold a licence. This is deliberately broad. It is not only about whether you have a criminal record; it is the council's overall judgement that you can be trusted to carry passengers, including children and vulnerable adults, safely and honestly.

To reach that judgement the council draws on the enhanced DBS check, your driving history, any complaints or previous licensing decisions, your right to work in the UK, and in many areas a safeguarding awareness or knowledge assessment. The enhanced DBS check is the single most important piece of evidence, but the "fit and proper" decision considers the whole picture.

The taxi driver medical

You also have to prove you are medically fit to drive for a living. Most councils require taxi and private hire drivers to meet the DVLA Group 2 medical standard. Group 2 is the same, stricter standard applied to lorry and bus drivers, and it is higher than the ordinary Group 1 standard for a car licence. The reasoning is simple: professional drivers spend far more hours on the road and carry paying passengers.

The medical is carried out by a doctor and typically assesses:

• Eyesight, including visual acuity and field of vision, usually checked with corrective lenses if you wear them;
• Heart and circulatory health, such as blood pressure and any cardiac conditions;
• Diabetes and how it is managed, particularly where insulin is involved;
• Neurological conditions such as epilepsy or blackouts;
• Other conditions that could affect safe driving, including sleep disorders and certain mental health conditions.

Having a medical condition does not necessarily disqualify you. In many cases a condition that is well controlled and properly disclosed is acceptable. What matters is meeting the Group 2 standard and being honest about your health.

How often you renew the medical

The medical is not a one-off. The frequency of renewal generally increases as you get older. A common pattern is a medical at first application, then periodic renewals through middle age, with annual medicals once a driver passes a certain age (frequently 65). Some councils also require more frequent checks if you have a relevant medical condition. The precise schedule is set locally, so always confirm the renewal intervals with your own authority.

Remember: the rules vary by council

Licensing of taxi and private hire drivers sits with local councils (and with Transport for London in the capital), not with the DVLA. While the enhanced DBS check and the Group 2 medical standard are widely used, the detail — such as how often you renew, which medical form is accepted, and Update Service requirements — varies by council. Use our directory to find your council and read its exact rules before you apply.

If you are still mapping out the whole process, our guide on how to become a private hire driver sets out every step, and our overview of hackney carriage vs private hire explains which type of licence might suit you. When it comes to the knowledge side of your application, you can prepare with our practice tests, including dedicated Level 2 (BTEC) practice.