Best card machine for London taxi 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 London licensed black cab (Hackney carriage) drivers and PCO-licensed private hire (PHV) drivers operating in Greater London. TfL has mandated card acceptance on black cabs since October 2016: Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, contactless, Apple Pay, Google Pay, no surcharging, card-machine visible to passenger. PHV drivers no statutory mandate but most platform fares settle in-app anyway.
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 London taxi setup (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 TfL-compliant and the cheapest London-driver setup: zero hardware, supports Apple Pay, Google Pay and contactless up to £100 with chip-and-PIN fallback above. Pair with SumUp, Square, Zettle or Stripe.
2. SumUp Solo
Review score 4.2 / 5Best dedicated London taxi 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. Its own 4G SIM means it does not rely on tethering to the driver's phone.
3. Square Terminal
Review score 4.1 / 5Best London airport-transfer driver
All-in-one countertop terminal with receipt printer · 1.75% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Square Terminal at £149 + VAT with 1.75% rate and built-in thermal printer. Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airport business travellers expense their cab and need receipts on the spot. Printed receipt wins over emailed for premium passenger experience.
4. Tide Card Reader
Review score 3.8 / 5Best for Tide Business banking London driver
Compact Bluetooth-paired reader (similar to Zettle / SumUp) · 1.5% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Tide Card Reader at £49 with 1.5% per transaction, same-day settlement to Tide Business banking. Cheapest UK rate if you bank with Tide for your London-driver Ltd or sole-trader setup.
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 taxi driver?
Tap to Pay on iPhone wins overall: TfL-compliant, zero hardware, supports Apple Pay, Google Pay and contactless. 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 for airport-transfer drivers needing receipts on the spot.
What does TfL require from a London taxi card machine?
TfL's card-payment rules for licensed taxis: card-machine must be visible to the passenger, accept Visa, Mastercard, AMEX and contactless, support chip-and-PIN above the £100 contactless cap, and not surcharge the fare. Any modern UK card machine (SumUp Solo, Square Terminal, Tide, Revolut, Tap to Pay on iPhone) meets the spec.
Can a London taxi driver charge a card fee?
No. 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 card payment on metered fares. Surcharging is a licensing offence and risks suspension.
What about London PHV / Uber / Bolt drivers?
Platform fares settle in-app, no card-machine needed. Off-platform fares (corporate accounts, direct bookings, hotel concierge) need a card reader: Tap to Pay on iPhone is the cheapest, SumUp Solo is the strongest dedicated reader.
Are London taxi fares higher at night?
Yes. According to TfL's taxi fares page, Tariff 1 applies Monday to Friday 05:00 to 20:00, Tariff 2 applies Monday to Friday 20:00 to 22:00 and Saturday and Sunday 05:00 to 22:00, and Tariff 3 applies every night 22:00 to 05:00 and on public holidays. TfL gives a 1-mile fare of £8.40 to £13.00 on Tariff 1 and £9.00 to £13.20 on Tariff 3. There is a minimum fare of £4.40 at all times, and no extra charge for paying by card on any tariff.
Do night-shift drivers see more contactless under £100?
Night fares are more often small contactless payments, so tap speed and reliability matter most, but we have no published TfL figure to cite for the split. Drivers in West End / Soho / Shoreditch should optimise for low-friction tap, not chip-and-PIN.
Do LEVC TX electric cabs ship with a card machine?
Most LEVC TX cabs are delivered with Verifone V200c (Cabvision integration) pre-fitted as part of the cab-yard or dealer specification. Drivers can switch later to portable readers (SumUp Solo, Tide, Tap to Pay on iPhone) for lower per-transaction cost, but most retain the meter-integrated unit for receipt printing.
Are LEVC TX cabs more cost-sensitive on per-transaction fees?
Yes. LEVC TX runs higher daily costs than diesel TX4: higher capital lease, ULEZ-compliant from day one but electric-charging infrastructure cost and time. Drivers shave per-transaction fees by switching from Cabvision (typical 2.5%+ rates) to SumUp Solo (1.69%) or Tide Card Reader (1.5%).
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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