Best card machine for Bristol taxi UK 2026
For Bristol City Council licensed Hackney carriage and PHV drivers across Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath and the wider South West. Bristol Airport transfers via the A38, plus Bath spa-tourist trade and Bristol harbourside event-day surge.
The ranking
1. Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal)
4.2 / 5Best Bristol taxi 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: zero hardware, supports Apple Pay, Google Pay and contactless.
2. SumUp Solo
4.2 / 5Best dedicated Bristol taxi 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, standalone 4G. Works on Bristol harbourside and Clifton signal blackspots.
3. Square Terminal
4.1 / 5Best Bristol airport-transfer driver
All-in-one countertop terminal with receipt printer · 1.75% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Square Terminal at £149 with built-in receipt printer for Bristol Airport corporate transfers.
4. Revolut Card Reader
3.7 / 5Best for Bath spa-tourist multi-currency
Compact Bluetooth-paired reader · 0.8% to 1.0% per transaction (depending on subscription tier) · Subscription-tier dependent (Revolut Business plan)
Revolut Card Reader at £49 with 0.8% to 1.0% rate. Multi-currency settlement for international spa-tourist trade at Bath.
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 | Revolut Card Reader | 0.8% to 1.0% per transaction (depending on subscription tier) | £49 hardware | Subscription-tier dependent (Revolut Business plan) |
FAQs
What is the best card machine for a Bristol taxi driver?
Tap to Pay on iPhone (zero hardware) for general trade. SumUp Solo at £99 is the strongest dedicated reader. Square Terminal at £149 wins for Bristol Airport transfer drivers. Revolut Card Reader wins for Bath spa-tourist drivers serving international visitors.
Does Bristol City Council mandate card acceptance?
No statutory mandate. Bristol City Council licensing covers accessibility, metering and CCTV. Card acceptance is commercial standard.
What about Bath taxi drivers?
Bath and North East Somerset Council has its own licensing regime. Card-machine setup is identical to Bristol. Bath spa-tourist trade is meaningful: Thermae Bath Spa, Royal Crescent, Bath Abbey draw international visitors with non-GBP cards. Revolut Card Reader's multi-currency settlement helps capture this.
How do Bristol Airport drivers handle the A38 motorway-route trade?
Bristol Airport (A38) is a meaningful corporate-transfer route serving the West Country business hubs (Filton, Aztec West, Yate). Square Terminal at £149 with built-in receipt printer wins for the corporate-traveller side. Standalone 4G reliability matters on the A38 rural stretches.
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.