Best card machine for black cab drivers UK 2026
Compare the UK shortlist below, then get matched quotes from the acquirers most likely to approve you and beat your current pricing.
For licensed London black cab (Hackney carriage) drivers. TfL has mandated card acceptance since October 2016: every licensed taxi must accept Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, contactless, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Card-machine must be visible to passenger, accept contactless above £100 via chip-and-PIN, and not surcharge the fare.
Based on MerchantHQ terminal reviews and our ranking methodology.
The ranking
Ranked on fit for this use case. The score beside each pick is that terminal's overall review score across all uses, so a lower-scored terminal can rank higher here when it suits this job better. The rate, hardware and contract lines come from the same terminal data as the comparison table below.
1. Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal)
Review score 4.2 / 5Best modern black cab setup
Software on an iPhone Xs or later, no separate terminal · Set by the provider you use it with; see that provider's own pricing page · No fixed term for the feature itself; any contract is with your provider
Tap to Pay on iPhone is the strongest 2026 black cab pick. Zero hardware cost, supports contactless up to £100 plus chip-and-PIN above via fallback. Visible to passenger when mounted in the partition. Pair with SumUp, Square, Zettle or Stripe to choose your acquirer relationship.
2. SumUp Solo
Review score 4.2 / 5Best dedicated black cab reader
Portable standalone touchscreen terminal (no built-in printer; Solo Lite is the cheaper phone-paired version) · 1.69% per transaction · No contract
SumUp Solo at £79 + VAT with 1.69% rate is a common dedicated reader choice for London black cab drivers. TfL-compliant (supports the full UK contactless spec including the £100 cap and PIN above). Standalone 4G means it works even when the cab's WiFi or phone signal drops in central London tunnels.
3. Square Terminal
Review score 4.1 / 5Best black cab with receipt printer
All-in-one countertop terminal with receipt printer · 1.75% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Square Terminal at £149 + VAT with 1.75% rate. Built-in thermal receipt printer matters for the executive and airport-transfer corporate-traveller market where receipted-on-the-spot business expense claims are common.
4. Tide Card Reader
Review score 3.8 / 5Best for Tide Business banking cabbies
Compact Bluetooth-paired reader (similar to Zettle / SumUp) · 1.5% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Tide Card Reader at £49 hardware with 1.5% per transaction, same-day settlement to Tide Business account. Best fit if you bank with Tide. Tap-only (no chip slot) which means fallback for transactions above £100 contactless cap relies on the passenger entering PIN via another method.
Quick comparison
Headline rate, hardware cost, contract and form factor at a glance.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal) | Set by the provider you use it with; see that provider's own pricing page | £0 hardware (you already have the iPhone) | No fixed term for the feature itself; any contract is with your provider |
| #2 | SumUp Solo | 1.69% per transaction | £79 + VAT list price (SumUp often discounts it) | No contract |
| #3 | Square Terminal | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 + VAT | No contract |
| #4 | Tide Card Reader | 1.5% per transaction (UK) | £49 hardware | No contract |
FAQs
What is the best card machine for a London black cab driver in 2026?
Tap to Pay on iPhone is the most cost-effective setup: zero hardware, TfL compliant, supports Apple Pay, Google Pay and contactless card up to £100 with chip-and-PIN above. SumUp Solo at £79 + VAT with 1.69% rate is a common dedicated reader choice for London black cab drivers. Square Terminal at £149 + VAT wins if you want a built-in receipt printer for corporate-traveller transfers.
Does TfL require a specific card machine model for black cabs?
No. TfL's card-payment rules for licensed taxis specifies that the card-machine must be visible to the passenger, accept all major card brands and contactless, support chip-and-PIN above the contactless limit, and not surcharge the fare. Any compliant device works: SumUp Solo, Square Terminal, Tide, Revolut, Tap to Pay on iPhone all meet the spec.
Can a London black cab driver charge a card surcharge?
No. Two reasons: UK card surcharging on consumer transactions has been illegal since January 2018, and TfL's card-payment rules for licensed taxis prohibit any "extra charge" for paying by card on top of the metered fare. Surcharging is a licensing offence and can lead to suspension.
What about AMEX for black cab fares?
TfL requires acceptance of Visa, Mastercard and AMEX. Most modern UK card machines accept AMEX by default (SumUp, Square, Stripe, Adyen, Dojo all do). AMEX interchange is higher (2-3%) than Visa/Mastercard (0.2-0.3% consumer), so the blended card-machine rate is calculated across all card brands.
How we rank
Rankings are built by desk research from each provider's published rates, upfront costs, contract lengths and settlement terms, held in a dated record per terminal (last-reviewed date shown on this page) and re-checked when published pricing changes. We do not hands-on test every device; specs are taken from provider documentation and cited. No provider pays for inclusion or position. MerchantHQ is an introducer. Quote enquiries go to one card-payments broker, Merchant Advice Service, which pays us a fee for each introduction; acquirers do not pay us commission on quote enquiries. That fee never affects a ranking. See our methodology and how we are funded.
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