Best card machine for black cab drivers UK 2026
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.
The ranking
1. Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal)
4.2 / 5Best modern black cab setup
iPhone XS or later running iOS 16.4+, no separate terminal · Same as the underlying acquirer · Same as the underlying acquirer
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
4.2 / 5Best dedicated black cab reader
Portable terminal with built-in receipt printer (Solo Lite is no-printer) · 1.69% per transaction · No contract
SumUp Solo at £99 with 1.69% rate is the most-deployed dedicated reader on the London black cab fleet. 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
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 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
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) | Same as the underlying acquirer | £0 hardware (you already have the iPhone) | Same as the underlying acquirer |
| #2 | SumUp Solo | 1.69% per transaction | £99 to £149 hardware | No contract |
| #3 | Square Terminal | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 to £199 | 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 £99 with 1.69% rate is the most-deployed dedicated reader on London black cab fleet. Square Terminal at £149 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 Conditions of Fitness Section 24 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 Conditions of Fitness explicitly 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.
Methodology
Rankings are based on direct hands-on testing, published rates, settlement timing, contract terms, and acquirer reliability. We do not accept payment for ranking position. See our full methodology and editorial policy.
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Open quote form →Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 2026-05-11.