In May 2026, Bolt South Africa began a major crackdown on profile sharing — suspending and permanently banning drivers who let other people use their accounts. For thousands of SA drivers who rely on this arrangement, the rules just changed dramatically.
Profile sharing is when a registered e-hailing driver lets another person use their account to accept rides. The registered driver gets all fares in their bank account, then pays the actual driver in cash or via transfer.
Why it's so common in SA:
Estimates suggest 15–30% of Bolt rides in South Africa are completed by someone other than the registered account holder, based on driver community discussions.
| Offence | Consequence |
|---|---|
| First detection | Warning + 24-hour suspension |
| Second detection | Suspension of 1–4 weeks |
| Third detection | Permanent account deactivation |
Bolt may also withhold unpaid earnings during investigations and block the associated bank account from future payouts.
If an unregistered driver causes an accident while using a shared account, Bolt's insurance may not cover it. Massive liability risk for the platform.
The National Public Transport Regulator requires all drivers to be individually vetted. Profile sharing means unvetted drivers operating under the platform's licence — a direct violation.
Registered drivers undergo background checks. Shared profiles bypass these entirely, allowing anyone with phone access to pick up riders.
With WANATU and inDrive gaining NPTR registration, Bolt needs to demonstrate strong regulatory compliance to maintain its market position.
If you rent a car with a Bolt account, get your own account. The days of using the rental company's shared account are numbered. Most reputable rental companies will register you individually if asked.
The biggest impact group. If you own 3–5 cars with shared accounts, you need to register each driver individually. Takes 2–5 business days per driver — start now.
Family members who split day/night shifts on one account are at risk. Register both drivers separately — you can share the same vehicle on different accounts.
Uber has similar rules and detection methods. Enforcement has historically been less aggressive, but if Bolt's crackdown proves effective, Uber is likely to follow. Get compliant on all platforms now.
| Driver type | Weekly earnings | 2-week suspension cost |
|---|---|---|
| Owner-driver (Dzire, 50hrs/wk) | R3,500–R5,000 | R7,000–R10,000 lost |
| Rental driver (R2,500/wk rental) | R2,500–R4,000 | R5,000–R8,000 + rental debt |
| Fleet owner (3 cars) | R10,000–R15,000 | R20,000–R30,000 lost |
When a registered driver lets an unregistered person use their account to accept rides. Fares go to the registered driver's bank, then they pay the actual driver separately.
Insurance liability, NPTR regulatory compliance, rider safety concerns, and competitive pressure from newly registered platforms like WANATU and inDrive.
First offence: warning + 24hr suspension. Second: 1–4 week suspension. Third: permanent deactivation. Unpaid earnings may be withheld.
Yes. Each driver needs their own registered account. Use Bolt's fleet management tools to register all drivers individually.
Random selfie verification, GPS location tracking, device fingerprinting, ride pattern analysis, and rider reports.