Card Machines In Taxis: 2026 Council Rules By City UK
If you drive a hackney carriage, there's a fair chance your council already makes you take cards. If it doesn't yet, it may be consulting on it. More and more licensing authorities have added card payment as a licence condition, and the rules vary a lot from place to place.
This guide pulls together what we could confirm from council and TfL sources, checked October 2026. Rules change at committee meetings, so always check your own council's current licence conditions before you rely on anything here.
Why councils are making taxis take cards
The reasons councils give are pretty consistent:
- Passenger safety. Nobody wants a passenger stranded late at night because they've no cash. Chelmsford's licensing team put it plainly when it brought in its rule in 2022: taking electronic payment is about reducing risk for people out at night.
- Competition with private hire. App-booked private hire cars take cards by default. Cardiff's council said cash-only hackneys were at a disadvantage.
- Fewer ATM detours. Passengers without cash used to ask drivers to stop at a cash machine on the way, adding time and cost.
- Fewer disputes. A card payment leaves a record if there's a fare disagreement.
City by city table
These are the rules we confirmed from official sources. "Hackney" means taxis you can hail or pick up at a rank, as opposed to pre-booked private hire.
| Area | Who it applies to | Start date | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London (TfL) | All licensed taxi drivers and taxis | 31 October 2016 | Drivers must accept credit and debit cards, including contactless. Devices had to be fixed in the passenger compartment from 1 January 2017 | TfL |
| Chelmsford | Hackney proprietors and private hire operators | 1 April 2022 | A working card reader or another way to take electronic payment, with a window sticker | Chelmsford City Council |
| Brighton & Hove | Hackney carriages | 1 May 2022 | A functioning cashless payment facility, connected and working at all times | Brighton & Hove City Council |
| Manchester | All hackney carriages | 1 September 2023 | Acceptance of card payments made mandatory | Manchester City Council licensing committee, July 2023 |
| Cardiff | Hackney carriages | 1 September 2024 | All hackneys must accept card and contactless payments. Private hire not included | Cardiff Council |
| Bristol | Hackney carriages | In the 2021 to 2026 licensing policy | An electronic payment device for debit, credit and contactless, kept working in the vehicle, with signage. No extra cost passed to the passenger | Bristol City Council |
| Glasgow | Taxis | Not yet mandatory at the time of the report we checked | The licensing committee was asked to approve a public consultation on requiring card payment | Glasgow City Council |
If your area isn't listed, it doesn't mean there's no rule. It means we couldn't confirm one from an official source. Search your council's website for "hackney carriage conditions" or "taxi licensing policy" and look for a section on electronic or card payments.
Common conditions to look out for
Councils that require cards tend to add some or all of these:
- The device must work at all times while you're available for hire, not just when it suits.
- Signage telling passengers you take cards, often a window sticker.
- No surcharge for paying by card. Bristol's policy says no extra cost can be passed on to the passenger.
- Fixed position for the reader. London's rule requires the device to be in the passenger compartment.
- Receipts on request, sometimes printed, sometimes emailed.
What if the reader fails mid-shift?
Most conditions expect the device to be working whenever you're plying for hire. A backup like tap to pay on your phone is worth setting up so a flat battery doesn't put you in breach. Check whether your council accepts a phone app as a valid device.
Deadlines and how councils bring rules in
Councils usually give the trade notice. Cardiff agreed the change in March 2024 and it took effect on 1 September 2024. Manchester agreed in July 2023 with a 1 September 2023 start. Brighton & Hove decided in February 2022 for a May 2022 start.
The process tends to go like this:
- A report to the licensing committee proposes the change
- A consultation with drivers, operators and the public
- A committee decision with a start date
- A grace period for drivers to get equipment
- Checks at licence renewal or vehicle tests
If your council is consulting, it's worth responding. Trade associations often push for fare increases to cover card costs, as happened in Manchester, where flag fares went up at the same meeting.
Costs for drivers
Taking cards isn't free, and it's fair to factor that into how you run your cab. On a £15 fare, a 1.69% reader takes about 25p. Over a year of, say, 4,000 card fares at that average, that's roughly £1,000 in fees. That's why trade groups often ask councils to review the fare tariff at the same time as making cards mandatory.
Ways to keep costs down:
- Pick a rate that suits your fares. Fixed fees per transaction hurt on short hops, while low percentages help on airport runs.
- Avoid monthly rentals unless you take a lot on cards. A bought reader with no contract is usually cheapest for a single cab.
- Check payout timing. Next day payouts help with fuel and running costs.
- Keep your records tidy. Card fees are a business expense you can claim against tax.
Getting ready if your council is consulting
If your area is looking at a card rule, you don't have to wait. Getting a reader now gives you time to learn it, and passengers will notice the sticker. Keep an eye on the committee papers, respond to the consultation and check the start date once it's agreed.
Approved readers
Most councils don't name approved brands. TfL is the main exception, with specific requirements for devices in London black cabs. Elsewhere, any reader that meets the conditions is usually fine.
Popular choices for drivers, with published rates checked October 2026:
| Reader | Price | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SumUp Solo | £79 | 1.69% | Works without a phone, built-in SIM |
| Square Reader | £19 | 1.75% | Needs a phone, offline mode on newer readers |
| myPOS Go 2 | £39 | 1.10% + 7p | Free 4G SIM, instant payouts |
| Tide Card Reader | From £49 | 1.5% + 5p | Consumer debit rate on pay as you go |
| Tap to Pay on iPhone or Android | Free | Varies by provider | Good backup, check council acceptance |
For a deeper comparison, see our card readers for taxi drivers guide and our explainer on tap to pay.
Pros of taking cards in your cab
- More fares from passengers without cash
- Less cash to carry, which is safer
- Easier record keeping for your tax return
Cons
- Fees of roughly 1% to 1.75% per fare
- Signal blackspots can cause problems on rural routes
- Another device to keep charged
Who this guide is for
It's for hackney carriage drivers and proprietors checking what their council expects, and for anyone thinking of getting a licence in a new area. Private hire drivers usually take payment through their operator's app, but check Chelmsford-style rules that cover operators too.
FAQs
Do all taxis in the UK have to accept cards?
No. There's no national rule. Each licensing authority decides. London has required it since 2016, and a growing number of councils have followed.
Can a taxi driver charge extra for paying by card?
Surcharges on consumer card payments have generally been banned in the UK since 2018, and some councils, like Bristol, spell it out in their taxi policy too. Check your own council's conditions.
Do private hire cars have to take cards?
Usually it's handled by the operator, as most bookings are made and paid in an app. Some councils, like Chelmsford, put the rule on operators as well.
Can I use my phone as the card machine?
Often yes, through tap to pay apps. Check your council's wording. Some want a device fixed in the vehicle or visible to passengers.
What happens if my card machine stops working?
Most councils expect it to work whenever you're available for hire. Carry a backup, such as tap to pay, and keep the reader charged.
How do I find my council's taxi rules?
Search your council's website for its hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy. Card payment conditions are usually in the vehicle or driver conditions section.