Best Card Readers for Taxi Drivers: Choose for Your Licence, Your Shift and Your Costs
You have finished the journey. The passenger has a train to catch, your next booking is waiting and the card machine is still trying to connect. At that moment, the cheapest reader on the internet does not feel like much of a bargain.
For taxi and private-hire drivers, payment equipment is working equipment. It needs to fit your licensing requirements, survive a long shift and make it easy to see what you have actually earned after fees. You also need to know where your takings land and when you can use them for fuel, vehicle hire or the next bill.
There is no single best card machine for every driver. A London licensed taxi has a different starting point from a private-hire owner-driver whose operator permits a general reader. This guide separates those decisions before comparing the hardware and the money.
Quick answer: check the permitted payment setup first. Where general readers are allowed, compare SumUp for straightforward mobile payments, Square for a phone-paired setup and useful records, PayPal POS for its familiar payment tools, and myPOS for standalone equipment. Obtain a tailored quote when installation, support or several vehicles make the arrangement more complex.
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Recommendations are based on published information and business suitability, not a hands-on road test.
London taxi drivers: start here before buying a reader
TfL requires licensed London taxis to have an approved fixed card device in the passenger compartment, with printed receipts available on request. Handheld readers do not satisfy that requirement. Check the current approved equipment and supplier list before purchasing. TfL card payment requirements.
That means the general reader comparisons below are not recommendations to replace a London taxi's approved installation. A familiar brand name, built-in printer or mobile SIM is not proof of approval for your vehicle.
When requesting an installed-system quote, ask for the precise device, installation arrangement and approval details. If you rent your taxi, speak to the proprietor about the existing equipment and who pays for repairs or replacement. Avoid buying a separate device before understanding that agreement.
TfL's supplier document dated 19 January 2026 includes Cabvision, CabCard, Curb, Taxiworld and other suppliers, with vehicle and device details. Use that document to build a London shortlist, then ask the supplier to confirm the approved configuration for your cab. Approval is tied to the specified solution; it is not blanket approval for every product a company sells. TfL approved devices and suppliers.
For private hire and taxis licensed elsewhere, check your own licensing authority and operator conditions. Do not assume London rules apply everywhere, or that a general small-business recommendation overrides a local requirement.
Which payment route fits your driving work?
If bookings are paid through an operator, separate those journeys from fares you collect yourself. Adding a reader is not automatically an improvement. It could create another account to reconcile while doing nothing for the work that makes up most of your income.
Our card machine comparison is useful once you know which equipment category you can use.
General reader options, where your rules permit them
1 SumUp Solo: useful when you want payments off your personal phone
SumUp Solo is a standalone device with Wi-Fi and an included mobile data SIM. You do not need to pair it to a phone for each payment. SumUp Solo product details.
For an owner-driver, the appeal is practical: your phone can remain available for navigation and bookings while the payment device handles the fare. That separation can be worthwhile when you spend most of the day driving and do not want payment collection tied to the same battery as everything else.
However, a mobile connection still needs coverage. Check the charging arrangement in your vehicle and how you will supply a receipt. A compact device without the required receipt setup is the wrong purchase, however convenient it looks.
Consider it for: permitted general-reader use with a preference for standalone equipment. Main check: the complete device and receipt package, not just the base reader.
Read our SumUp review for the current options.
2 Square Reader: a small device if you are happy using your phone
Square Reader pairs with a compatible phone or tablet. That can suit a driver who already has a suitable handset and wants a light setup. Square Reader compatibility and features.
The decision is less about the reader's size than how it fits your routine. Can you switch from navigation to the payment app easily? What happens when the phone needs an update, loses signal or runs out of power? Work through those questions before relying on it for a full shift.
Do not confuse Reader with Square Terminal. Terminal has its own interface and receipt printer, but its published connection options are Wi-Fi and Ethernet. A self-contained terminal is not automatically a built-in-mobile-data terminal. Square Terminal specifications.
Consider it for: drivers permitted to use a paired reader who value simple payment records. Main check: phone compatibility and a reliable connection at the point of payment.
Explore Square, or read our Square card reader review.
3 PayPal POS, formerly Zettle: keep the reader and terminal separate in your comparison
PayPal POS offers a phone-paired Reader and a separate Terminal product. The Terminal connects through Wi-Fi or 4G; printer accessories are a separate consideration. PayPal POS hardware and pricing.
That distinction matters when comparing prices. A low advertised reader price may refer to equipment that uses your phone, while the standalone version costs more. Write down the exact product on each quote so you are not comparing different kinds of setup.
If you already use PayPal, consider whether its records and account arrangement make the business easier to manage. Familiarity can save setup time, but it is still worth checking the payout route and any transfer conditions against how you pay your bills.
Consider it for: drivers who already work comfortably with PayPal tools. Main check: which device is being offered and how money reaches the account you use.
See our PayPal POS and Zettle review and the four-provider comparison.
4 myPOS: compare the whole account arrangement
myPOS offers standalone equipment and says card receipts are available quickly in the myPOS account. That is different from promising an immediate transfer to every external bank account. myPOS product and account information.
For drivers who need access to takings during the working week, the distinction is worth understanding. Ask how you can spend the balance, what it costs to move money elsewhere and whether the tariff differs by card category.
A provider account may fit your routine well. It may also become another place you need to check before working out your available cash. Make that choice deliberately rather than choosing purely because the word “instant” sounds reassuring.
Consider it for: permitted standalone use where the account and payout arrangement suit you. Main check: total payment and transfer costs.
Read our myPOS review before comparing a device quote.
When is it worth speaking to a supplier?
A general reader works best when the arrangement is simple. If you have several vehicles, need installation, want agreed replacement support or already process steady card volume, discuss those requirements with a provider.
For general mobile-terminal enquiries, takepayments is one option to investigate. Confirm your taxi or private-hire use and the specific equipment's suitability. This is not a claim that its general mobile offer is approved for London taxis.
Give every supplier the same information: licensing authority, operator arrangements, number of vehicles, monthly card takings, payment count and where you normally work. Ask for a written response covering each point. Our merchant services comparison helps explain what a broader package can include.
The cost of a fare: percentages are only half the story
A fixed charge per payment matters more on a short journey than on a long airport run. Consider two hypothetical tariffs, with no other fees included:
These are mathematical illustrations, not provider offers; real transactions may be rounded to the nearest penny. The two rates are equal at a fare of roughly £18.18. Below that, the fixed 10p charge weighs more heavily. Above it, the lower percentage starts to help.
Now look at the whole month. If you collect £4,000 across 200 card fares, Tariff A costs £70 and Tariff B costs £68. Add a £15 monthly charge to B and it becomes £83. The lower percentage has produced the higher bill.
This is why you should send a recent statement when seeking a better quote. Your average fare and transaction count are more useful than saying you are a “busy driver”. Our card machine fees guide covers other charges to include.
Airport work: check the card mix
If you regularly collect international passengers, ask how non-UK cards are charged. Square's general UK pricing distinguishes UK in-person cards at 1.75% from non-UK cards with an additional 1.5%. Different providers use different categories. Square processing rates.
Do not apply a domestic headline rate to every journey in your forecast. Take a sample month and separate card categories if the statement allows it. A quote that looks good for local work may look different for airport transfers.
Also distinguish your customer's card currency from the currency you charge. If you are unsure about a currency-conversion feature, ask the provider to explain the passenger experience and the costs before enabling it.
Receipts, disputes and getting home on time
Choose a receipt process that works during a real drop-off. If paper is required, keep spare rolls and know how to replace them. If digital receipts are appropriate, make sure the process is quick and does not require storing a passenger's details on a personal device unnecessarily.
Record enough information to match the payment to the journey and any later refund query. A payout appearing in the bank days later is not a useful substitute for a clear transaction record.
For a shared vehicle, agree the handover process: which driver signs in, when reports are checked and how a refund relating to yesterday's shift is dealt with. This avoids arguments about a deduction that appears after the driver has finished work.
Have a fault procedure before you need one
TfL instructs London taxi drivers to check equipment before working and report faults promptly. Its outage guidance specifically rules out switching to an unapproved non-fixed device. Follow the published procedure and retain fault-report information. TfL fault and outage guidance.
For other permitted setups, agree a fallback with your operator or provider. Do not assume an offline feature guarantees payment. If the transaction status is unclear, check the payment history before charging again, rather than leaving the passenger with two payments to resolve.
Keep the support number, device reference and charging kit accessible. Test the process when you are safely parked. The middle of a disputed fare is a poor time to discover that only somebody at the office knows the account password.
Questions taxi drivers ask
Can I pass card processing fees on to passengers?
Do not add a surcharge for ordinary consumer debit or credit card payment. UK payment-surcharge restrictions apply, and your taxi fare or operator rules need to be followed too. Government guidance.
Is the cheapest reader the cheapest way to take fares?
Not necessarily. Installation, receipts, subscriptions, transaction counts and transfer fees affect the cost. Equipment that fails your licensing requirements is not a suitable saving at all.
Should I pay extra for faster payouts?
Compare the extra fee with your actual need. If fuel or vehicle costs are due before standard payouts arrive, faster access may help. First confirm the receiving account and timing. Our card machine buying guide explains the difference between provider balances and bank transfers.
What should I compare first?
Your permitted equipment route, then the complete cost for a typical month. Shortlist two suitable setups and test the receipt, payment and reporting routine before committing.
Product information and linked guidance checked on 11 September 2026. Confirm local requirements and the exact supplier offer before ordering.
