WHAT IS BOLT FLEX? Operator lets passengers haggle over fares as Flex pricing rolled out across 29 areas this summer
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 29
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 30
In June Bolt introduced a new fare category allowing passengers to adjust the price they are willing to pay for a private hire journey before a driver accepts the booking across 29 areas across the UK.
The feature, called Bolt Flex, aims to give riders greater involvement in determining the cost of their trip while leaving the final decision with drivers.
The new category presents passengers with a suggested fare when requesting a journey. Users can then increase or reduce that amount within a predefined range displayed in the app before submitting their request. Drivers receiving the booking can independently accept the proposed fare, reject it or make a counter offer, with passengers then deciding whether to proceed.
Bolt said the feature is designed to offer passengers greater flexibility when travel conditions or personal priorities change. Rather than applying a fixed fare, Bolt Flex allows riders to balance cost against factors such as estimated arrival time, driver rating and vehicle type before confirming a booking.
The company suggests the feature may appeal in different situations. During periods of high demand, such as after major events, during public transport disruption or in poor weather, passengers may choose to increase their offer to improve the likelihood of securing a driver more quickly. During quieter periods, riders with more flexible travel plans may reduce their offer if they are prepared to wait longer for a vehicle.
Bolt has stressed that selecting a higher or lower fare does not guarantee a booking. Final pricing remains dependent on driver availability and whether a driver chooses to accept the proposed fare or submit a counter offer. The company said passengers remain free to tip their driver after the journey in the usual way.
For private hire drivers, the introduction of Bolt Flex represents another change in how work is offered through app-based platforms. While passengers can propose a fare within the permitted range, drivers retain control over whether they accept the booking, allowing them to make decisions based on demand, distance and current operating conditions.
Bolt Flex is now available in Windsor, Maidenhead, Knowsley, Chester, Preston, the New Forest area, Peterborough, North Somerset, Rotherham, Chesterfield, the Cambridge area, Southampton, Walsall, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Portsmouth, Birmingham, Coventry, Bristol, Greater Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Cardiff, Newport and Edinburgh.
