Best card machine for Bolt 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 UK Bolt drivers taking off-platform card payments. Bolt platform fares settle in-app, so platform earnings need no extra hardware. The use case is the off-platform fare: pre-booked corporate accounts, hotel concierge, customer-direct booking, or shifts split with non-platform private hire work.
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 for Bolt drivers (zero hardware)
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 UK Bolt-driver pick in 2026: zero hardware cost, no contract, no monthly fee. iPhone XS+ on iOS 16.4+ acts as the reader. Pay-as-you-go pricing wins for the typical Bolt driver doing £200 to £2,000 monthly off-platform card volume.
2. SumUp Solo
Review score 4.2 / 5Best dedicated reader for Bolt drivers
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, standalone 4G, full-day battery. Works without phone tether which matters when your phone is running Bolt Driver app + GPS. Same-day payouts on SumUp One.
3. Tide Card Reader
Review score 3.8 / 5Best for Tide Business banking Bolt drivers
Compact Bluetooth-paired reader (similar to Zettle / SumUp) · 1.5% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Tide Card Reader at £49 hardware with 1.5% rate, same-day settlement to Tide Business. Cheapest UK mainstream rate if you bank with Tide.
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 | Tide Card Reader | 1.5% per transaction (UK) | £49 hardware | No contract |
FAQs
Do Bolt drivers need a card machine?
Strictly no for in-app Bolt fares. Practically yes for off-platform side work: direct customer bookings, corporate accounts, hotel concierge referrals. Tap to Pay on iPhone is the cheapest setup because zero hardware cost.
How does a Bolt driver claim back card-machine costs?
Self-employed Bolt drivers and Bolt-driver Ltd companies can claim hardware, per-transaction fees and monthly fees as allowable business expenses under HMRC self-assessment. Keep receipts and run through your accountant or sole-trader tax return.
Is Tap to Pay on iPhone safe for accepting Bolt customer card payments?
Yes. Tap to Pay on iPhone uses the same Visa and Mastercard contactless rails as a hardware terminal, with end-to-end encryption between the customer's card and the acquirer. Apple does not see the card details; the iPhone is just acting as the contactless reader. Same fraud protection as any UK card machine.
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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