Best card machine for school-run taxi UK 2026
For UK school-run and patient-transport taxi drivers on long-term local-authority contracts (council-procured school transport, NHS Patient Transport Service, council-funded vulnerable-adult transport). Higher-value contracts than regular taxi fares, paid mostly by BACS not card. Card machine is for the ad-hoc fares (private patient appointments, family visits, journeys outside the contract).
The ranking
1. Square Terminal
4.1 / 5Best school-run taxi for contract-plus-ad-hoc
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 receipt printer. Ad-hoc fares often want printed receipts for medical-appointment expense claims. Square Invoices handles the parallel BACS-billed contract side for the council or NHS work.
2. SumUp Solo
4.2 / 5Best dedicated school-run 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 rural routes between care-home and hospital. Cheapest UK dedicated reader for school-run / patient-transport drivers below £8k monthly ad-hoc card volume.
3. Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal)
4.2 / 5Best zero-hardware school-run 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 for sole-trader school-run drivers running mostly contract work with occasional ad-hoc fares. Zero hardware to carry alongside child-seat or wheelchair-ramp equipment.
Quick comparison
Headline rate, hardware cost, contract and form factor at a glance.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Square Terminal | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 to £199 | No contract |
| #2 | SumUp Solo | 1.69% per transaction | £99 to £149 hardware | No contract |
| #3 | Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal) | Same as the underlying acquirer | £0 hardware (you already have the iPhone) | Same as the underlying acquirer |
FAQs
How do UK school-run taxi drivers handle council contracts?
Council contracts pay via monthly BACS invoice to the operator's business bank account, not card at point of pickup. The driver does not interact with the card-machine for contract trips. Card-machine is for non-contract fares (private hire on weekends, ad-hoc family transfers, customer-direct medical appointments).
What about NHS Patient Transport Service (PTS) drivers?
Same model as council contracts: NHS PTS pays via the trust's monthly account-payable cycle by BACS to the operator. Card-machine handles non-PTS journeys. Some NHS trusts operate PTS in-house; some sub-contract to private taxi operators on framework agreements.
Do school-run taxi drivers need DBS checks?
Yes. Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is required for any driver transporting children or vulnerable adults under council or NHS contract. Renewal typically every 3 years. DBS is a licensing requirement, not a card-machine consideration, but it bears on the driver's overall compliance profile.
Can school-run drivers use Tap to Pay on iPhone for occasional fares?
Yes, fully compliant for the ad-hoc side. Tap to Pay on iPhone is the cheapest card-acceptance setup for the typical school-run driver who only takes card on the small slice of non-contract trade.
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.