Bolt has launched its ride-hailing service in Liverpool, expanding its transport offering in the city and introducing the Bolt Flex Liverpool fare model.
The launch took place on 26 August 2026. Bolt already operates e-scooter and e-bike services in Liverpool, and the addition of ride-hailing brings cars into the company’s existing local transport offering. Liverpool is the tenth UK city where Bolt Flex has been introduced.
How Bolt Flex Liverpool Works
The Bolt Flex Liverpool model differs from the fixed-fare approach commonly used by ride-hailing platforms.
Instead of the app setting the final price of a journey, Bolt provides passengers with a suggested starting fare. Passengers can then adjust their offer before a driver accepts the booking.
A passenger can offer a lower fare if they are prepared to potentially wait longer for a driver. Alternatively, they can offer a higher amount to increase their chances of securing a quicker pickup.
Drivers can either accept the proposed fare or respond with a different price. The journey is confirmed only when both the passenger and driver agree on the fare.
| Feature | How Bolt Flex Liverpool Works |
| Suggested fare | Provided by the Bolt app |
| Passenger choice | Can adjust the proposed fare |
| Driver response | Can accept or counter the offer |
| Final price | Agreed between passenger and driver |
| Booking confirmation | Confirmed when both sides agree |
More Fare Control for Drivers and Passengers
According to Bolt, Bolt Flex Liverpool is designed to give both passengers and drivers greater involvement in the pricing process.
Passengers can make decisions based on the balance between the amount they are willing to offer and the potential waiting time for a vehicle. Drivers, meanwhile, can accept an առաջարկ or counter it with another price.
The ability to counter a proposed fare may also allow drivers to consider circumstances surrounding a booking, such as longer pickup distances, congestion or periods of increased demand, when deciding whether a journey is worthwhile.
Bolt Reports Higher Driver Earnings in Flex Markets
Bolt has shared data from cities where Flex is already available, stating that drivers using the model earn more than 25% extra per trip and complete 14% more orders per hour.
These figures are based on data supplied by Bolt and should therefore be understood as company-reported results rather than independently verified performance figures.
Bolt also says the Flex model uses a flat commission structure, allowing drivers to see in advance what proportion of an agreed fare will be retained by the platform.
Driver Research Highlights Transparency
Research conducted by Bolt across its Flex pilot markets found that 77% of surveyed drivers cited transparency as a reason for recommending the model.
Meanwhile, 74% of surveyed drivers highlighted the freedom to set their own prices.
As with the earnings and productivity figures, these results come from research conducted by Bolt and relate to drivers surveyed in its Flex pilot markets.
What the Launch Means for Liverpool Drivers
The Bolt Flex Liverpool launch gives licensed private hire drivers in the city another platform through which they can receive booking opportunities.
Rather than automatically accepting or rejecting a platform-generated fixed fare, drivers using Flex can respond to a passenger’s proposed price. This negotiated approach gives drivers a more direct role in determining whether the fare offered for a particular journey meets their expectations.
However, a journey is not confirmed until both the driver and passenger agree on the price.
An Alternative to Fixed-Price Ride-Hailing
For passengers, Bolt Flex Liverpool introduces an alternative to the immediate fixed-price quotes commonly associated with ride-hailing apps.
The model allows passengers to adjust what they are willing to pay, while drivers can decide whether to accept the proposed fare or make a counter-offer.
Bolt has positioned this approach as a way to give users more flexibility, although a higher fare does not guarantee an immediate pickup. Instead, according to Bolt, it can increase the likelihood of securing a driver more quickly.
Bolt Continues Its UK Ride-Hailing Expansion
Kimberly Hurd, Senior General Manager at Bolt UK and Ireland, described Liverpool as an important step in the company’s UK ride-hailing expansion.
With Liverpool becoming the tenth UK city to introduce the Flex model, the launch gives Bolt another major urban market in which to operate its negotiated fare approach. The rollout also expands the company’s presence in Liverpool beyond its existing e-scooter and e-bike services.
Conclusion
The launch of Bolt Flex Liverpool brings Bolt’s negotiated ride-hailing fare model to the city for the first time.
Rather than relying solely on a final price determined by the platform, passengers can adjust their fare offer while drivers can accept or counter it. A booking is completed only when both sides agree on the price.
The Liverpool launch also gives licensed private hire drivers another platform for receiving bookings and provides passengers with an alternative to traditional fixed-fare ride-hailing. As Bolt continues expanding Flex across the UK, Liverpool will become another market for the company to operate and assess its negotiated pricing model.