Best card machine for taxis and private hire

Single-driver and fleet taxis. Card volume highly variable; many trips still cash-based but contactless growing fast.

Our pick

Tap to Pay on iPhone or compact Bluetooth reader

Acquirer: SumUp or Square

Tap to Pay or compact Bluetooth reader fits the mobile-cab use case. No-contract acquirers fit the seasonal volume.

Why this trade matters

Cashflow shape: Late-night and weekend peaks. Big-event surges. Fleet operators have steadier flow.
Average transaction: £8 to £35
Contactless share: ~75%

Watch outs

Tipping support varies.
Some fleet apps tie to specific acquirers.
Receipt-printing requirements where local council mandates.

Alternatives

Zettle Reader 2
SumUp Solo

Sign through us, get all of this

Take your trade. We do the rest.

Named UK account team for the life of the agreement. Acquirer pays our commission on completed introductions, so it costs you nothing on top.

24/7 dedicated support
Direct line to a named UK account manager, not a generic acquirer helpline. When your terminal goes down on a Saturday night you call us.
Quarterly rate reviews
As your card volume grows your rate should drop. We renegotiate against the 80+ UK acquirer panel every quarter, so you never overpay because you forgot to ask.
Chargeback and dispute help
UK chargebacks cost £15 to £35 per case and 60-80% are friendly fraud you can win with the right evidence. We draft the response and escalate where the acquirer drags its feet.
Switching support when you outgrow
If a better acquirer fit emerges as you grow we manage the cutover. No exit-fee surprises, no dual-running gap. Same account team across acquirers.

How we work, end to end →

Related on our sister sites

Need finance for your taxis and private hire business?

Card flow is the security on which most taxis and private hire businesses borrow. See our sister site BestBusinessLoans by sector for editorial reviews of UK lenders that fund taxis and private hire.

Last reviewed: 2026-04-26.