Best card reader for taxi drivers
What you're actually allowed to fit depends on the type of licence you hold, so check that before comparing on price. Licensed London taxi (black cab) drivers have a specific TfL requirement that rules out most portable readers; private hire and minicab drivers not tied to an operator's in-app payment system have far more freedom to choose.
Best choice: SumUp Solo
SumUp Solo has its own screen, battery and mobile data, so it doesn't need to be paired to your phone — useful when your phone is already busy running satnav or a booking app. Its 1.69% rate applies with no monthly fee.
Best alternative: myPOS
myPOS offers similar standalone independence with built-in 3G/4G, and its 1.10%+7p rate can work out cheaper than SumUp on typical fare values above roughly £8-10 — worth checking against your average trip.
What a taxi or private hire driver's card takings usually look like
Fares vary by trip length and city, but a large share of urban and airport-run taxi journeys fall in the £8-£25 range, with many short local hops under £10. Since 2016, card and contactless acceptance has been a licensing requirement for London's black cabs specifically, and most passengers now default to tapping a card or phone rather than carrying cash — meaning a driver without a working card option risks losing the fare entirely, not just paying a higher fee on it.
| Provider | Best for | Card fee | Contract | WMP score | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SuSumUp Solo | Standalone, no phone pairing needed | 1.69% | None | See SumUp pricing (opens in a new tab) | |
mymyPOS | Built-in 3G/4G, better on higher fares | 1.10% + 7p | None | See myPOS pricing (opens in a new tab) | |
LoLopay | Cheapest, but needs your phone | 0.79-0.99% | None | See Lopay pricing (opens in a new tab) |
Beyond the headline rate
Doesn't tie up your phone
If your phone is already running a driver app, satnav or booking software, a standalone device like SumUp Solo or myPOS avoids the conflict of also needing it paired to a card reader mid-journey.
Fast tap-to-pay
Passengers want to tap and get out quickly, especially on short local fares — a device that confirms payment in under 2 seconds keeps journeys moving and avoids awkward fumbling at the kerb.
Built-in mobile data
Relying on your own phone's hotspot or Bluetooth for a reader can fail in areas with poor signal; a reader with its own SIM (myPOS) removes that single point of failure.
Compliance for licensed taxis
If you drive a black cab, none of the portable readers here satisfy TfL's fixed in-vehicle device requirement — check TfL's approved supplier list rather than assuming any of these are usable.
A private hire driver taking £2,400/month in card fares
At an average fare of £14 (roughly 170 fares/month):
| Lopay Standard (0.99%) | £23.76/month |
| myPOS (1.10% + 7p × 170) | £38.30/month |
| SumUp Solo (1.69%) | £40.56/month |
Lopay is the cheapest on pure fee terms, but it needs your phone paired to work — for many drivers, the standalone convenience of SumUp Solo or myPOS is worth the extra few pounds a month.
Frequently asked questions
Can a black cab use a handheld card reader?
No — TfL requires an approved device fixed in the passenger compartment. Handheld readers don't meet this and can result in an unfit notice.
What's the best reader for private hire drivers?
SumUp Solo for a standalone device that doesn't need your phone; myPOS as an alternative with built-in mobile data.
Compare the full card reader market
See every provider side by side, including business account bundles.
Methodology: Pricing pulled directly from sumup.com, mypos.com and lopay.com official UK pricing pages on 30 July 2026. TfL fixed-device requirement per TfL's official taxi and private hire guidance. Typical fare values are directional estimates, not an independent survey. See our Editorial Policy.