Why did Bolt charge me a cancellation fee?

A ride cancellation fee compensates the driver for time and distance once they've accepted and started heading to you. You **won't** be charged if you cancel within about 2 minutes of the driver accepting, or if the driver cancels without waiting the required 3 to 8 minutes (varies by market). Scheduled rides avoid a fee if cancelled at least 1 hour before pickup. If you think a fee was unfair, contact Support in-app.

Will I lose my Bolt Plus benefits if I cancel?

Not immediately. When you cancel Bolt Plus, the termination takes effect at the **end of your current billing cycle**, and you keep discounted rides and delivery benefits until then. The exception is if you're in a free-trial or cooling-off period, in that case benefits can expire immediately on cancellation. After the cycle ends, auto-renewal stops until you subscribe again.

Can I cancel Bolt in the app or do I have to call?

Everything is done **in the app**, Bolt has no cancellation phone line for consumers. Manage or cancel Bolt Plus under Profile → Subscriptions, and handle ride refunds or disputes through the in-app Support section. There's no dedicated cancellation email either, though you can send a withdrawal/refund notice to notices@bolt.eu or info@bolt.eu as a paper trail.

What if Bolt ignores my refund request?

Users report slow, circular support on billing disputes. Put your request in writing with the date and charge details, cite your 14-day statutory withdrawal right where it applies, and email notices@bolt.eu / info@bolt.eu alongside the in-app ticket. If Bolt still refuses a legitimate refund, raise a **chargeback with your card issuer**; UK users paying by credit card over £100 may also have Section 75 protection.

Can I get a refund for a Bolt Food or Bolt Market order?

Bolt **does not manage product returns or exchanges** for Market/Food merchant orders, those are handled directly by the merchant under their own store policy. Identify first whether your issue (e.g. a missing item, a driver problem, a wrong charge) is Bolt's responsibility or the merchant's, then contact the right party. Delivery-service issues go to Bolt in-app Support; product refunds go to the merchant.

How do I cancel a Bolt ride?

In the app, tap the slider on the home screen and select **Cancel**. You can cancel before or after being matched with a driver, but a cancellation fee may apply once a driver has accepted. You get a notification about any fee when cancelling, so you can choose to accept it or wait for the driver instead.

REFUND GUIDE

How to Get a Bolt Refund Within 14 Days.

Q: How long does a Bolt refund take?

Bolt's policy states refunds can take **up to 14 days**. For rides cancelled by the driver, the hold is often reversed immediately or within about 10 working days depending on your bank. An authorisation hold (a temporary card check) is separate and is released within 14 business days. If more time passes and you still haven't received your money, contact Bolt Support via the app.

Bolt refunds are per-order, and their own policy gives you a 14-day window. Miss it and you still have tools, a clear email, a card-issuer chargeback. Here's the playbook.

Last verified today against Bolt’s own Terms · UK, US, and EU rights covered below

The short answer

Bolt Plus is refundable only if you cancel within the first 14 days of a new subscription (the Right of Withdrawal Period), and the refund is prorated for the remaining period. After 14 days the fee is non-refundable, though your benefits stay active until the end of the paid cycle. Withdrawal refunds are paid within 14 days, sometimes to your Bolt Balance. For rides, charges and cancellation fees can be refunded via in-app Support and typically take up to 14 days; Food and Market product refunds are handled by the merchant, not Bolt.

Or let yoink chase the refund.

30 seconds to set up. yoink emails Bolt, cites the policy, escalates if ignored, and surfaces the win when the money lands.

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What Bolt actually says

“Please also note that the Subscription Fee is non-refundable, meaning cancellation of your ongoing Bolt Plus subscription will not result in any refunds from Bolt to you, except for cancellations during the initial Right of Withdrawal Period.”
, verbatim from Bolt’s terms

14-day cancellation windowPro-rata refund: yes

How long does a Bolt refund take?

Most merchants agree to a straightforward refund within 1 to 3 working days of a well-written email request. Once agreed, the money itself takes another 3 to 5 working days to land, that part is card-network processing and no merchant can skip it. If nothing has arrived 10 working days after a written “refund approved”, reply on the same thread asking for the ARN (acquirer reference number), which your bank can trace.

Note Bolt’s own policy works on a 14-day window, ask inside it and the request is routine; outside it you’re relying on goodwill or statutory rights.

What you can claim

The law where you live is the strongest hook, lead with it when you contact the company.

European Union

Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU
14-day withdrawal across all EU member states.
EU-wide statutory right to withdraw and recover any payment within 14 days of subscription start. Mirrored in local law in every EU country.
ECC-Net cross-border escalation
EU Consumer Centre network mediates against EU sellers.
If Bolt is based in another EU country, your local European Consumer Centre will mediate the dispute for free. List of national contacts at commission.europa.eu.

Worldwide

Card-issuer chargeback
Visa/Mastercard chargeback works everywhere they do.
Open a chargeback for “subscription not cancelled” or “services not as described”, your bank initiates, Bolt has ~45 days to defend. Works regardless of where Bolt is headquartered.
PayPal Buyer Protection
If you paid via PayPal, open a dispute.
PayPal’s Buyer Protection covers “item not as described”, applies to services that didn’t deliver. Resolution typically within 20 days.

Rights in other regions (United States, United Kingdom)

United States

Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA)
Dispute any credit-card charge in writing within 60 days.
For US credit-card payments, the FCBA gives you 60 days from the statement date to dispute a Bolt charge in writing. Your card issuer is required to investigate and may withhold the disputed amount during the process.

United Kingdom

Section 75, Consumer Credit Act
Credit card issuer is jointly liable. £100-£30,000.
For UK credit-card charges between £100 and £30,000, your card issuer is jointly liable with Bolt for any breach. Call your bank, say “Section 75 claim”, send evidence. Usually resolved in 2-4 weeks.
Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013
Full refund within the 14-day window.
Inside 14 days of starting any Bolt subscription, you’re entitled to a full refund of any payment taken, no questions, no policy override.
Citizens Advice + Trading Standards
For repeated bad-faith refusals.
Free escalation lane: file with Citizens Advice (08082231133), they pass it to Trading Standards. Slow (8-12 weeks) but creates a paper trail Bolt can’t ignore.

The Bolt refund email

Email the right address
Use kyiv@bolt.eu, the route yoink has verified actually gets read for Bolt.
Use a clear subject line
Subject: Refund Request, [your account email]

Send this body

Hi Bolt team,

I'm requesting a refund for my Bolt order (reference [order number], placed on [date], for [amount]). I'm within the 14-day window your policy allows for this.

Please process the refund to my original payment method and confirm by reply.

Best,
[your name]

Wait 7-14 days, then escalate
If you haven’t heard back in 14 days, escalate via the regional route above, a card-issuer chargeback works in every market.

Refund FAQ for Bolt

Only if you cancel within the **first 14 days** of a new Bolt Plus subscription, the Right of Withdrawal Period. In that window Bolt refunds a **prorated** amount and must reimburse you within 14 days. Outside that window the fee is **non-refundable**, though your benefits run until the end of the paid cycle. Request a refund via the Support section of the app, or notify Bolt at notices@bolt.eu.