Are Bolt drivers self-employed?
Yes for tax. You register with HMRC, file your own return and pay your own tax, exactly as with any other private hire platform.
Last checked 29/09/2026.
Yes, for tax purposes. Bolt treats drivers as self-employed, so you register with HMRC, keep your own records, file a Self Assessment return and pay your own income tax and Class 4 National Insurance.
Employment status for rights is a separate question with a separate answer. An employment tribunal ruled in November 2024 that Bolt drivers who brought a claim are workers, entitled to holiday pay and the minimum wage. Being a worker does not change the fact that nothing is deducted at source, so the tax side is yours either way.
Bolt takes a commission from each fare and pays you the rest weekly. Your turnover is the fares before commission, and the commission is a business expense you claim. Report only the payout and your turnover is understated, which matters because the VAT and Making Tax Digital thresholds are measured on turnover. The Bolt driver guide has the detail.
The mileage claim works the same as anywhere else: 55p for your first 10,000 business miles, then 25p.
Related
Am I a worker or self-employed?
It depends on the platform, and the two answers can both be true - worker for employment rights, self-employed for tax.
Employment rights & legalUpdated 19/08/2026
Do I need to register as self-employed as a delivery driver?
Yes, if your delivery income before expenses was more than £1,000 in a tax year.
HMRC & taxUpdated 19/08/2026
What do I need to drive for Bolt?
A private hire driver licence from your local council, a licensed vehicle, and hire and reward insurance. The same requirements as any private hire work.
Getting startedUpdated 20/08/2026
Driving for Bolt: the full guide
What it takes to drive for Bolt in the UK, how the weekly payout is worked out, what the 2024 tribunal ruling on worker status means, why the 2026 VAT change is Bolt's problem rather than yours, and how to report the income correctly.
Getting startedUpdated 29/09/2026
When each app pays you, and why the date matters for tax
Most apps pay weekly, on different days, with a fee to get it sooner. Evri pays monthly. The pay date decides how much cash you need in reserve and, at the start and end of the year, which tax year the money falls in.
Earnings & profitabilityUpdated 29/09/2026
What the platforms tell HMRC about your earnings
Since 2024 every delivery and ride app has to collect your tax details and report what it paid you to HMRC once a year. There is no minimum for services. Here is what is reported, when, why it will not match your return, and what to do with the copy you are sent.
HMRC & taxUpdated 29/09/2026