How can we help?

Sign in

Articles in this section

See more
  1. Bolt Help
  2. For Drivers
  3. Driver and vehicle requirements

Requirements for Bolt category in the UK

Avatar
Emily
  • Last updated

To be eligible to use the Bolt platform your vehicle must meet the following general requirements:

  • You must have no commercial branding on your vehicle
  • The vehicle must have 4 doors and a minimum of 4 seats (excluding the driver)
  • Be in excellent working condition, with no cosmetic damage

Note: When local social distancing rules are in place, the number of passengers you can carry in the standard Bolt category is limited to 3 people.

In addition to the requirements above, there are some additional requirements depending on where you are licensed:

Licensing area Additional vehicle requirements
London
  • Maximum vehicle age: 10 years
  • Vehicles registered as a Private Hire Vehicle after 1 January 2020:
    • PHVs under 18 months old must be zero-emission capable (ZEC) and meet the Euro 6 emissions standard when licensed for the first time
    • PHVs over 18 months old must have a Euro 6 (petrol or diesel) engine when licensed for the first time

Note: PHVs licensed in London prior to 01/01/2020 are not affected
Bristol, Southampton, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wolverhampton
  • Maximum vehicle age: 12 years
Leicester, Sheffield
  • Maximum vehicle age: 11 years
Birmingham, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Peterborough
  • Maximum vehicle age: 10 years
Milton Keynes
  • Maximum vehicle age: 6 years on first licensing. No age limits for licence extensions
Bath, Portsmouth
  • Maximum vehicle age: 4 years on first licencing. No age limits for licence extensions, as long as the vehicle passes licencing checks 
Cardiff, Derby, Dudley, Newcastle, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall
  • No age restrictions (subject to passing the council technical testing)
Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire
  • All vehicles must be 15 years old or less. 
  • Petrol/diesel vehicles must be 9 years old or less
  • Ultra-low emissions vehicles must be 12 years old or less
North Somerset
  • Maximum vehicle age on first licensing: 8 years. No age limits for licence extensions
South Gloucestershire
  • Maximum vehicle age: 15 years

Additional information:

  • You can either be an owner-driver or use a hired PHV. Please note that we do not provide vehicles to drivers.
Was this article helpful?