Jan 26, 2023
As a frequent Bolt rider, you may think you know everything there is to know about the app. But then suddenly, your friend tells you about a feature you had no idea existed, and it blows your mind.
We’re committed to making your app experience as user-friendly and intuitive as possible, but sometimes features can hide in plain sight. So, to ensure you’re making the most of Bolt, we’ve compiled a list of ten useful features you may not be aware of.
*Bolt products and features vary by country. Those mentioned in this article may not be available in your app. We tailor our features to local conditions to ensure they’re as relevant and helpful as possible.
Typing the same pickup and drop-off addresses all the time can be pretty tedious (not to mention time-consuming). Well, luckily for you, we have a nifty little feature that solves this problem.
You can save your favourite locations as ‘Home’ or ‘Work’ and simply type ‘Home’ or ‘Work’ instead of the full address whenever you need a ride. No more fiddling around with long addresses!
To save a location:
The next time you book a ride, simply type ‘Home’ or ‘Work’ as your pickup or drop-off location.
Not all of us are so lucky to have a driveway or a designated pickup zone at home. Sometimes, a pickup location can be hard to find, even with the correct address.
To make things easier for you and your driver, we recommend tapping the map icon on the right side of the pickup location field. This lets you pinpoint your precise location on the map, so your driver knows exactly where to go.
For a precise pickup/drop-off:
Need to make an extra stop on the way to your final destination? Whether picking up a friend en route or dropping off some things at home, we’ve got you covered.
You can add multiple stops to your ride by tapping the ‘+’ icon on the right side of the address box. And don’t worry if you’re already on a ride — you can add an extra stop mid-journey.
You can have up to four stops in a single ride — the last one being the final destination on your journey.
If you plan on using this feature, remember to share your arrival time with friends, so they know when to look out for the ride (details below).
Sometimes it can be difficult to coordinate meeting up with friends, especially when you’re not sure when you’ll arrive. Other times, you want an extra set of eyes on your journey for increased safety.
With the ‘Share my trip’ feature, you can do both! You can share your estimated arrival time (ETA) and live location with a friend or family member so they can track your progress and know when to expect you.
The best thing about it? They don’t even need the Bolt app — they can follow your trip on the web.
To share your trip details:
Plans can change. And so can your destination. You might suddenly discover that your friend can’t make it after all, or your meeting got moved to a different location. But don’t worry — you can easily edit your destination during a ride.
Here’s how:
But please also note that your destination might not be the only thing that changes during the ride — prices can also change after choosing a new destination.
Also, the remaining stops will be removed if you change the final destination of a multiple destinations trip.
You might need to get in touch with your driver to tell them you’ll be a few minutes late or give instructions on where to find you. Whatever the reason, you can contact your driver directly in the app.
You have two options: call them or send an in-app message. Both have their advantages.
Making a call can be helpful if you need to quickly give your driver further instructions. Apart from being free, our in-app calling feature adds an extra layer of safety when communicating, as you don’t reveal your contact details.
On the other hand, sending a message can be useful if you’re running late and want to let your driver know without interrupting them. Messages are also great when there’s a language barrier, as all messages sent in-app are automatically translated into the driver’s local language.
For a ride to go smoothly, it’s essential that you feel comfortable with your driver. Safety is our top priority, and we want to ensure you’re in safe hands.
Before starting the ride, we provide you with as much information as possible about your driver. You can see your driver’s photo, name, the make and model of the car, and registration plate number in the app. But that’s not all.
By tapping their photo, you can see your driver’s average rating and the number of rides they’ve completed. All this information helps you choose the right driver for your needs.
Despite all these measures, we recommend you double-check the driver’s registration plate number and identity before getting in the car, just to be on the safe side.
Peace of mind also comes from knowing that help is just a tap away in an emergency. Our in-app Emergency Assist button lets you quickly and discreetly alert an emergency response team. It also notifies our Safety team, who’ll make an immediate welfare call.
You should only use the button in critical situations where you, your driver, or another road user is in immediate danger during a Bolt journey.
Simply tap the shield icon at the bottom of your screen. You’ll see an ‘Emergency Assist’ button; press it to alert the emergency response team.
If you don’t feel safe while in the car or just want to end a trip early, you can do so in a few taps without interacting with your driver.
To end a trip:
Once you confirm, the driver will be directed to pull over as soon as possible and won’t be able to continue the trip.
The features we’ve covered are all meant to make your rides as smooth as possible. But we know that features alone aren’t enough – technology can’t always replace the human touch.
Our Support team is always online to help with whatever you need. You can quickly get in touch with us via the app.
To do so:
One of our support agents will then be assigned to your case and help you with whatever you need.
If you knew the features we mentioned in this article, congratulations! You’re a Bolt pro.
But if it’s the first time you’ve heard about some of these features, we hope this article was helpful. Now that you know all there is to know about our app, it’s time to put it to good use and make the most of your rides. Let’s go!
