A Desk Based Assessment is the DVSA's remote way of checking that your compliance systems actually work. Use our free self-assessment to score your readiness across the areas examiners scrutinise — then, if you want certainty, let our specialists help you complete the DBAQ, build the evidence bundle and protect your Operator Licence.
A Desk Based Assessment (DBA) is a remote compliance check carried out by the DVSA in place of, or as a precursor to, a physical site visit. Rather than an examiner attending your operating centre, you are sent a Desk Based Assessment Questionnaire (DBAQ) and asked to answer a structured set of questions about how you run your transport operation — and, crucially, to back up every answer with documentary evidence. It is a paper-based test of whether your systems exist and work in practice.
The DBAQ usually covers the same ground the DVSA would examine on site: vehicle maintenance and safety inspections, driver defect reporting, brake testing, drivers' hours and Working Time, tachograph downloads and infringement management, MOT performance, operating centre and licensing arrangements, and your management systems and record keeping. For each area you are expected to explain what you do — and attach the records that prove it. Unsupported assurances carry very little weight; the evidence is what the assessment turns on.
Your letter will state a deadline to return the completed questionnaire and evidence. This is usually around 14 days, but you must check your own letter for the exact date and instructions. If you have a genuine reason that you cannot meet the deadline, request an extension early and in writing — never simply let the date pass.
You return the completed questionnaire together with an evidence bundle: the documents that substantiate each of your answers. Sending this electronically, well organised and clearly labelled, makes the assessor's job easier and reflects well on your operation. Going beyond the minimum — showing not just that records exist but that you act on them — is what separates a satisfactory response from a strong one.
If the DVSA is satisfied that your systems are effective, the likely outcome is no further action. If it is not satisfied, the matter can be escalated — potentially to a maintenance investigation, or referral to the Traffic Commissioner, which can lead to a Public Inquiry where your Operator Licence, repute and livelihood are at risk. A weak DBAQ response is therefore not a formality to rush — it sets the trajectory of everything that follows.
If the assessment raises findings against you, you are normally given a Rebuttal opportunity — a chance to respond to and challenge those findings with further explanation and evidence before any escalation decision is taken. A well-argued, evidence-led rebuttal can change the outcome, so it should never be wasted. If you have already submitted your DBA and received adverse findings, our dedicated rebuttal support is built for exactly this moment.
Answer honestly for each area. Your score highlights where to focus before submitting your DBAQ response.
The full DVSA questionnaire, all 17 sections, exactly as it is sent to operators. Free, no sign-up.
The questionnaire is not a test of how much you can write. Each answer has to close the question completely, so the examiner reading it is left in no doubt — and then stop.
The common mistake is volunteering more. An answer that wanders into how you also handle something adjacent invites a question nobody asked, and opens an area the assessor was not looking at. Answer what is asked, evidence it, and stop there.
Every answer on the real form must be backed by documents — “include working copies of records”. An assertion you cannot evidence is worse than an honest gap, because it invites a closer look at everything else.
A high score here is not a pass at the real thing. The DVSA questionnaire asks you to explain each system in writing and attach the records that prove it — this tool only asks whether you believe the evidence exists. Scoring well means you are worth assessing properly; it does not mean the file would stand up. For an independent review against the real form, book a compliance audit.
How you approach the questionnaire matters as much as the systems behind it. Follow these principles and you will give yourself the best possible chance of a satisfactory outcome.
A Desk Based Assessment is too important to get wrong. Our specialists complete the DBAQ alongside you, build a watertight evidence bundle and make sure it reaches the DVSA officer on time — giving you the best possible compliance score and protecting your Operator Licence.
If you have already submitted your Desk Based Assessment and findings have been raised, our dedicated remote support helps you respond to and challenge them with a clear, evidence-led rebuttal — before any escalation decision is made.
Book a free, no-obligation consultation and we'll talk through exactly what your fleet needs — no pressure, no jargon.
You're viewingCompliance Audits
