Table of Contents
Do Taxis Accept Card Payments?
Why Card and Contactless are Now the Norm
London: What’s Required and What to Expect
Elsewhere in the UK: Common Practice and Local Policy
Can a Taxi Charge Extra for Paying by Card?
What if the Card Machine Isn’t Working?
How Drivers Can Accept Card Payments
Do Private Hire Apps Always Take Cards?
Receipts: When and How You’ll Get One
Driver Checklist: Offering Cards Without Headaches
Why This Matters: The (Near) Cashless Journey
These days the answer to “Do taxis take cards?” is (mostly) yes, but the details can depend on the area you’re in, the type of vehicle, and how the trip is booked. This guide sets out what card acceptance looks like across the UK taxi and private hire trade, what’s required in London, what’s common practice elsewhere, and some practical, business-minded tips for drivers.
Do Taxis Accept Card Payments?
- London black cabs: All licensed taxis must accept card and contactless via a TfL-approved device fixed in the passenger compartment and able to print receipts on request. Handheld readers don’t meet the licensing requirements.
- Private hire/minicabs: If you book through an app or operator, payment is typically handled in-app (so card, Apple/Google Pay, etc., are built in).
- Outside London: Many taxis do accept cards, but it’s not universally mandated. Local licensing policies vary across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so it’s sensible to ask before you travel or book via an app to guarantee card payment.
Why Card and Contactless are Now the Norm
UK payment habits have changed fast. According to UK Finance (Payment Markets 2024), cards accounted for 61% of all UK payments in 2023, and nearly 4 in 10 transactions were contactless. Cash fell to 12% of payments. How this has influenced the taxi industry:
- For passengers: tapping to pay is widely expected and usually available, especially in cities or when you book via an app.
- For drivers: accepting cards may speed up drop-offs and matches what customers increasingly appear to now prefer.
London: What’s Required and What to Expect
If you’re a passenger
- You can pay by card or contactless in any licensed London taxi. The device must be fixed in the rear passenger area and able to print a receipt on request.
- The mandate stems from a TfL Board decision (February 2016) and has been in place since 31 October 2016 (with fixed-device requirements from 1 January 2017). Visit this link from Transport for London for more details.
If you’re a driver
- If driving a public hire taxi (black cab) in London, you’re required to use a TfL-approved fixed device in the passenger compartment. Handheld devices alone don’t meet licensing rules for London black cabs.
- Private hire drivers aren’t mandated to fit a fixed device — payments are usually handled by the licensed operator (often in-app). Where a Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) takes cards in the vehicle, the device must meet TfL’s security guidelines.
- Card surcharges for passengers were removed when the card-acceptance mandate was introduced.
Elsewhere in the UK: Common Practice and Local Policy
Outside London, card acceptance can be a licensing decision for each local authority. Many fleets, operators and hackney carriages now accept cards voluntarily because customers expect it, but it isn’t a national legal requirement across every council. However, there are now moves across some local authorities, such as Southampton, for it to be mandatory for taxis to carry card readers for passengers’ convenience. This is expected to follow suite across the UK in the upcoming years. Practical tips for passengers:
- Ask before your journey or look for a “cards accepted” notice.
- Book via an app if you want guaranteed card payment.
- Carry a small amount of backup cash in rural areas or late at night in case coverage or devices fail.
Can a Taxi Charge Extra for Paying by Card?
In the UK, businesses can’t charge you extra just because you pay by card or a digital wallet (like Apple Pay or Google Pay). This rule covers most retailers and taxi operators: a business cannot add a fee just because you pay by card In London, card surcharges for taxi passengers were also removed when TfL mandated card acceptance, so the price shouldn’t be higher simply because a card payment is used.
What if the Card Machine Isn’t Working?
- In London: Drivers are expected to ensure the device is operational before accepting fares and to follow TfL’s guidance if there’s a failure. If a device problem occurs mid-shift, passengers should be told before the journey starts and offered an alternative (e.g., cash, nearby ATM, or an app booking).
- Elsewhere: Good practice is similar, so test your card reader, keep mobile data active, and have a backup plan if coverage drops.
How Drivers Can Accept Card Payments
There are three common routes:
- Integrated meter + card module Many taxi meters can be supplied with a card reader that’s integrated into the fare system.
- Mobile card readers Providers offer Bluetooth readers that pair with a phone or tablet to accept contactless, chip & PIN, and digital wallets. (Check fees and coverage.)
- In-app payments via an operator If bookings come through an app, the fare is usually settled automatically on the passenger’s stored card/wallet; no device interaction needed in-car.
London only: Remember, the device for black cabs must be a TfL-approved fixed unit in the passenger area (handhelds don’t meet the licensing requirement).
Do Private Hire Apps Always Take Cards?
Yes — operator apps typically take the payment automatically at the end of the ride, charging the stored card or wallet and issuing a digital receipt. This removes end-of-journey uncertainty for both sides. (Operators are covered by the same consumer surcharge ban referenced above.)
Receipts: When and How You’ll Get One
- London black cabs: Drivers must be able to print a receipt on request from the approved device. Transport for London
- Private hire/app bookings: You’ll typically receive an in-app or email receipt automatically, but you can also ask the driver/operator for a copy.
Passenger Checklist: Paying by Card Made Easy
- In London: You can always pay by card or contactless in a licensed taxi; ask for a printed receipt if you need one for expenses. Transport for London
- Across the UK: Most city taxis and all major apps accept cards but check before you ride if you’re hailing or booking in person, especially in rural areas.
- No card surcharge (consumer cards): UK rules ban extra fees just for using a card. Keep the receipt and raise concerns with the operator or Trading Standards if needed.
Driver Checklist: Offering Cards Without Headaches
- Meet local requirements:
- London black cabs — install a TfL-approved fixed device in the passenger compartment.
- Elsewhere — follow your licensing authority’s policy and any operator rules.
- Think reliability: Keep your reader charged, maintain mobile data, and know your process if there’s an outage.
- Understand costs: Expect a per-transaction fee and possibly a one-off device cost. Compare providers on fees, settlement times, and support.
- Keep good records: Electronic payments make bookkeeping and tax simpler; receipts help with audits and customer queries.
- Protect your kit: If a card device is permanently fitted or regularly kept in-vehicle, check whether it’s covered under your taxi insurance equipment cover so you’re protected against theft or damage.
Why This Matters: The (Near) Cashless Journey
The data shows that cards and contactless dominate everyday spending, with cash usage continuing to decline. For taxis, that means passengers increasingly expect to tap and go, and drivers who don’t offer card payments may find it harder to compete, particularly in busy urban areas and with business travellers.
FAQs
Q: Do all taxis in the UK take cards?
A: Not all — but many do, and in London it’s mandatory for licensed taxis via a TfL-approved fixed device. Elsewhere, it depends on local policy and the operator.
Q: Can a London taxi refuse a card payment?
A: No. Licensed taxis must accept card/contactless via the fixed in-cab device and be able to print a receipt on request.
Q: Will I be charged extra for paying by card?
A: For consumer cards/e-money, adding a surcharge just because you pay by card is banned across the UK; London also removed taxi card surcharges when the mandate came in.
Q: What if there’s no signal or the device fails?
A: Drivers should test devices before working and explain options before starting the journey if there’s a problem (cash, ATM, or booking via an app). London has specific guidance for drivers on card acceptance and device standards.
Key Takeaways
- Passengers: In London, you can always pay by card in licensed taxis. Elsewhere, card is common but ask ahead or book via an app to be sure.
- Drivers: Accepting cards meets customer expectations and can help you win more work. In London, a TfL-approved fixed device is required.
- No extra fee for consumer card payments: The surcharge ban applies UK-wide to most retail payments.
Whether you’re booking a ride or behind the wheel, card and contactless can keep taxi journeys more convenient, giving passengers quick, secure payment and drivers smoother operations, fewer lost fares, and clearer records.