Taxi card payments: what operators need to know

Cash is no longer enough. Passengers expect to pay with a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, in the app or in the car, and business customers expect invoices. Here is what to put in place.

Choose a payment provider

Payments run through a provider such as Adyen or Revolut, which charges its own processing fees. Compare fees for the card types your passengers use, payout speed to your account and support for in-car terminals.

Accept cards in the app and in the car

App payments suit pre-booked and repeat riders; card terminals in the vehicle cover street hails and passengers without the app. In some countries card acceptance in taxis is a legal requirement: Greece, for example, requires card terminals in taxis linked to tax reporting.

Saving a card for later rides

In the EU, saving a passenger’s card for future rides normally needs strong customer authentication the first time the card is added. A good app handles this once, so later rides are charged smoothly.

Tips, waiting time and cancellation fees

Decide your rules up front: paid waiting time, cancellation fees after a set period, and in-app tips. Passengers should see them clearly, and tips should go to the driver.

Reconcile everything

Card, cash and corporate invoice payments must reconcile with driver earnings and payouts. Test this with real trips before you scale up, and check it again after any change of system.

See payments on eCabs Technologies.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the current requirements for your city.