A lot more Kenyans are using less and less cash on a daily basis. It’s safe, convenient and saves a lot of time. So why not try out going cashless with Bolt? 

Whether it’s your credit card, Mpesa or debit card, you can set up cashless payments in Bolt in a matter of minutes. It’s easy and more importantly, your data will be secure, encrypted and kept private.

Here’s how to do it:

If you would like to add a card and change your payment method, follow these simple steps:

• Go to the Main Menu (top left corner)
• Tap on Payments
• Select Add Your Card
• Manually enter or scan your card details and then tap Confirm
• Enter your card expiry date and your CVC code (three digits on the back of your card)

Now that you have three payment options, you can choose which one to use:

• Tap on Payments
• Choose your payment method by tapping on the one you prefer

To activate M-Pesa as a payment method for Bolt rides in Kenya, you must have a SIM card (Safaricom) that supports M-Pesa.

Then follow the steps below:

• Go to Payments under the Main menu and select M-Pesa
• Enter your PIN when the PIN code window pops up
• Wait for a confirmation message on the app screen and an SMS sent by M-Pesa

When you’ve done all of the steps, you should be able to pay for your rides using M-Pesa. After finishing a ride, you will be asked for your PIN to confirm the payment.

Questions? We’ve got you covered

Why can’t I use my Mpesa payment?

Please note that M-Pesa is only available on iOS users.

Is my card information safe with you?

We want to assure you that it is 100% safe to pay with card for your Bolt ride. We do not store any payment information on our platform, so you don’t need to worry about anything getting lost or stolen.

Why have I been charged twice for one ride? What’s this unknown charge I see on my bank account?

If you notice an unknown or a double charge on your bank account, please send us a screenshot/proof of that deduction from the card-issuing bank. You can redact any information that you feel is sensitive and just have the bank statement show the charges you refer to. After that, we can look into it and give you an answer about what’s happened.

Why did the driver reject my card payment ride? I ended up being charged for a ride that I did not take…?

We encourage all of the Bolt drivers to accept all the rides – be it card or cash – that come to their way to increase their earnings, keep up their driver rating and ensure a positive activity score. In case your request was rejected for unclear reasons, please let us know by sending a message to kenya@bolt.eu

What is a pre-authorisation charge?

The pre-authorisation charge is a temporary card verification hold to make sure the payment card you’re using for your Bolt account is valid. It’s not deducted from your bank account, but reserved for a short period of time and then reversed by the card-issuing bank.

Can I pay with cash if I chose the card payment?

Please note that it is not possible to switch your payment after you have placed the order. However, clients sometimes pay in cash when they realise they have insufficient funds in their card or Mpesa. If you happen to be in such a situation, please write to our customer support at kenya@bolt.eu and then have the amount refunded to your card. However, keep in mind that all Bolt drivers are instructed not to accept cash for a card trip.

Why can’t I add my card?

If you’re experiencing issues adding your card, please see our handy guide on what to do in such cases. Didn’t help? Please write to our 24/7 customer support at kenya@bolt.eu