Best card machine for London taxi UK 2026
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.
The ranking
1. Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal)
4.2 / 5Best London taxi setup (zero hardware)
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 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
4.2 / 5Best dedicated London 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 is the most-deployed dedicated reader on the London black cab fleet in 2026. Standalone 4G means it works in the M25 tunnel, Blackwall Tunnel and central-London signal blackspots without phone tether.
3. Square Terminal
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 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
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) | 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 taxi driver?
Tap to Pay on iPhone wins overall: TfL-compliant, zero hardware, supports Apple Pay, Google Pay and contactless. SumUp Solo at £99 with 1.69% rate is the most-deployed dedicated reader on the London black cab fleet. Square Terminal at £149 wins for airport-transfer drivers needing receipts on the spot.
What does TfL require from a London taxi card machine?
TfL Conditions of Fitness Section 24: 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 Conditions of Fitness explicitly 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.
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.