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The short answer
DBS does not charge for standard or enhanced checks for eligible volunteers. A checking provider may still charge an administration fee. Basic checks are not free for volunteers. The table below shows current fees and the lower fees due on 5 October 2026.
Scope: DBS in England and Wales; sector-specific rules may also apply
DBS fees before and from 5 October 2026
| Product | Before 5 Oct 2026 | From 5 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic check, including volunteers | £21.50 | £20 |
| Standard, paid role | £21.50 | £20 |
| Enhanced, paid role | £49.50 | £41 |
| Eligible volunteer standard/enhanced | £0 | £0 |
| Update Service, paid subscription (annual) | £16 | £15 |
| Update Service, eligible volunteer (annual) | £0 | £0 |
DBS has announced these new fees. [1] Volunteers still pay the DBS fee for a basic check. [2]
If your application is being processed around 5 October, ask the provider which fee it will charge.
Who qualifies for a free volunteer check?
To qualify as a volunteer, the person must be unpaid apart from allowed expenses. Their work must help someone other than, or as well as, a close relative. Some unpaid placements, training and work-experience arrangements do not qualify. Eligibility for the check level and eligibility for a free check are separate questions. [3]
A paid worker does not count as a volunteer just because they work for a charity. Paying back allowed expenses does not stop someone qualifying as a volunteer. Record why the person qualifies before applying.
Why can a free check still involve a charge?
The DBS fee and the provider’s administration charge are different. Registered bodies and responsible organisations may charge for processing; DBS does not set or regulate those charges. [1]
Ask for a breakdown before comparing quotes. Ask whether the price includes the DBS fee, administration, any ID-checking service and tax. Also ask who pays: the charity or the applicant.
A clear invitation might explain that the DBS fee is £0 for the eligible volunteer role and that the charity covers the separately agreed processing cost. That avoids promising a completely free service when a third party charges for its work.
Budgeting with SignMeUp
SignMeUp’s published pricing is £3 per attendee and volunteer per event, with DBS checks charged at an additional £5 per check. It is an event service, so the £5 should not be presented as the entire cost of using SignMeUp.
For the example of 150 attendees and 50 volunteers, the event charge is £600. If 20 eligible volunteer checks are processed at the advertised additional rate, the checks add £100, giving £700 on those assumptions. Assess which roles need checking first; do not assume every volunteer needs a new check.
Confirm the total quote and arrangements for any paid-role application before committing a budget.
Returning volunteers and recurring costs
Before budgeting for a new certificate for every returning volunteer, consider whether the existing certificate can be accepted under your policy and the Update Service rules. You cannot automatically reuse a certificate for a different role.
Keep event subscription costs, new application costs and any annual Update Service costs as separate budget lines. That makes the assumptions clear when the number of attendees or checked volunteers changes.
Sources and further reading
Last accuracy check: 25 September 2026. We review this series monthly against official guidance. Follow the linked guidance for the full conditions and any later changes.
- DBS: fees reducing from 5 October 2026↩1 ↩2
- DBS: basic checks remain chargeable for volunteers↩
- DBS: application process for volunteers↩
- DBS Update Service: applicant guideFurther reading.
Government guidance is attributed to the bodies linked above. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, where applicable. This guide provides general information; decisions depend on the specific role and setting.