Best card machine for taxi drivers UK 2026
For UK taxi drivers taking card payments in-cab. Self-employed black cab, private hire, minicab, Uber, Bolt, Veezu, Addison Lee, executive chauffeur. The right answer is mobile, full-day battery, 4G capable, Apple Pay and Google Pay supported. Most UK taxi drivers do under £8,000 monthly card volume so no-contract no-monthly-fee pricing wins on TCA.
The ranking
1. Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal)
4.2 / 5Best overall for taxi drivers (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 the strongest UK taxi-driver setup in 2026: zero hardware cost, iPhone XS+ on iOS 16.4+ becomes the card reader. Pair to SumUp, Square or Zettle no-contract acquirer. No extra battery to charge, no separate device to lose between shifts. Best fit for the 80% of UK taxi drivers who already use iPhone.
2. SumUp Solo
4.2 / 5Best dedicated 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, free 4G SIM and full-day battery wins as a dedicated taxi reader. No monthly fee, no contract, ruggedised for in-cab use. Standalone (no phone tether needed) means the device works even if your phone battery dies mid-shift.
3. Tide Card Reader
3.8 / 5Best for Tide Business banking drivers
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 mainstream UK rate if you bank with Tide. £49 hardware is the lowest entry point among dedicated readers.
4. Zettle Reader 2
4.0 / 5Best entry-level taxi reader
Compact card reader (pairs with phone or tablet) · 1.75% per transaction · No contract
PayPal Zettle Reader 2 at £59 to £79 with 1.75% per transaction. Cheapest UK hardware entry point. Bluetooth-paired with your phone. Best fit for occasional or weekend taxi drivers below £500 monthly card volume.
5. Revolut Card Reader
3.7 / 5Best for international taxi drivers
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% per transaction (on Revolut Business Premium or Enterprise). Multi-currency support, low FX fees on international passenger cards. Best for taxi drivers serving airport hotels and tourist fares.
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 | Tide Card Reader | 1.5% per transaction (UK) | £49 hardware | No contract |
| #4 | Zettle Reader 2 | 1.75% per transaction | £59 to £79 | No contract |
| #5 | 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 UK taxi driver in 2026?
Tap to Pay on iPhone is the strongest overall pick for UK taxi drivers in 2026 because the hardware cost is zero (your iPhone is the reader), there is no contract, and you can pick the acquirer that suits your trading shape (SumUp, Square, Zettle for no-contract; Stripe for tech-led). For drivers without a compatible iPhone, SumUp Solo at £99 is the strongest dedicated reader. Tide Card Reader at £49 is cheapest if you bank with Tide.
Do taxi drivers need to accept card payments by law?
No, except in London where TfL has mandated card acceptance for all licensed black cabs (Hackney carriages) since October 2016. Outside London, card acceptance is at the driver's discretion. However, in 2026, 70%+ of UK taxi fares are paid by card or contactless, so refusing card payments structurally caps your earnings.
Can a taxi driver charge a card surcharge on top of the fare?
No. Card surcharging on consumer transactions has been illegal in the UK since 13 January 2018 under the Payment Services Regulations. Drivers cannot add a "card fee" or "non-cash fee" to the fare. Building the card-acceptance cost into your overall pricing is legal; surcharging the customer at point-of-sale is not.
What about Uber, Bolt, Free Now and Veezu drivers? Do they need a separate card machine?
Generally no. Uber, Bolt, Free Now and Veezu all handle in-app card payment via their platforms. A separate card machine is only needed for off-platform private hires (you flag a customer or get a callout directly). If you split your shift between platform and off-platform work, Tap to Pay on iPhone is the cheapest option because zero hardware cost.
What does Tap to Pay on iPhone cost a taxi driver in 2026?
Zero hardware. Per-transaction rate depends on acquirer: SumUp 1.69%, Square 1.75%, Zettle 1.75%, Stripe 1.5% + 20p, Tide 1.5%, Revolut 0.8% to 1.0%. No monthly fee on no-contract acquirers. Setup is 10 minutes via the acquirer app.
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.