Ride-hailing platform Bolt has introduced Bolt Flex, a new service designed to give both passengers and drivers more choice and control over fares.
The feature is currently being trialled in Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Sheffield and Newcastle, with a wider UK rollout planned depending on the success of the pilot.
What is Bolt Flex for Passengers?
With Bolt Flex, passengers can now choose how much they want to pay for a ride. Instead of a fixed fare, the app suggests a price which riders can then adjust:
- Increase fare by up to 30% – for a faster pick-up and higher chance of a driver accepting.
- Reduce fare by up to 10% – for a cheaper journey if you’re not in a rush.
Once a passenger sets their fare, local driver partners can either accept or make a counter-offer. Riders then see multiple options, including:
- Price
- Estimated arrival time
- Driver rating
- Vehicle type (minimum 4 seats)
Passengers can then select the ride that suits them best.
How it works:
- Open the Bolt app and enter your destination
- Select the Flex category
- Adjust the suggested fare up or down
- Receive ride offers from drivers
- Pick your preferred option and get picked up within minutes
To celebrate the launch, Bolt is offering a part-payment discount on the first Flex trip for eligible passengers. The promotion is applied automatically in the app.
What Does Bolt Flex Mean for Drivers?
Bolt says the move follows feedback from thousands of UK drivers who wanted greater autonomy over how they earn.
The update introduces two driver profiles:
- Bolt Standard – includes Bolt Boost with National Living Wage equivalent top-ups, holiday pay supplements, and access to an optional pension scheme.
- Bolt Flex – allows drivers to set their own prices, receive passenger offers, and make counter-offers.
Key features for Bolt Flex drivers:
- Set your own minimum price per mile and automatically accept any ride offers that match
- 18% commission rate (with reduced rates at launch)
- See exact passenger payment, tolls, fees, and net earnings after each trip
- Switch between Standard and Flex profiles anytime (but not mid-trip)
Bolt Flex also enhances Bolt Link, enabling drivers to delegate trips to other licensed drivers in real time — a potential way for owners of multiple vehicles to keep their cars earning even when they’re not behind the wheel.
What’s Next for Bolt Flex?
Bolt confirmed that the new Flex model is initially available only in Sheffield, Newcastle, Nottingham, Derby and Leicester, but more cities will follow.
The company emphasises that drivers can choose whichever model best suits them — Standard for stability and benefits, or Flex for freedom and higher earning potential.
Passengers, meanwhile, now have the ability to balance speed, price and convenience on every trip, making Bolt a more flexible alternative to Uber and other ride-hailing platforms.
Final Thoughts
Bolt’s new Flex system marks a significant shift in the UK ride-hailing market. By handing pricing power to both drivers and passengers, the platform could change how fares are negotiated — creating a more dynamic, marketplace-style system.
Whether this leads to greater earnings for drivers and better deals for passengers will be closely watched across the industry, especially as Bolt looks to expand the service nationwide.
Bolt for Passengers / Bolt for Drivers
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