Becoming a Bolt driver comes with many perks: you can make money when you want, be your own boss, and there's no commitment as there's no monthly fee you need to pay!

If you're considering becoming a Bolt driver, here are a few of the lesser-known lessons, costs, and things you need to know to ensure your time as a Bolt driver is long, successful, and happy!

Driving lessons to get you started

Finding a suitable driving school is as simple as opening your favourite web browser and typing in "driving schools near me."

The cost of driving lessons is generally very reasonable, and the skills you gain are worth their weight in gold when it comes to the added layer of safety on the road and the high ratings and tips you'll receive from happy customers.

Get registered and get in business

While we always ensure we do our due diligence with finding the right partners, getting signed up as a Bolt driver is an easy, streamlined process.

Our driver registration form will only take you 5 minutes to complete and submit. Once you've been accepted and registered as a driver, you'll need to complete your driver training either at a Bolt office or virtually.

We'll review the necessary documents and once complete, we'll open a driver account for you in the Bolt Driver application. You'll need to have a working smartphone that runs at least Android 9.0 or iOS 12, so you can pick up passengers and navigate to their destination of choice. 

If you don’t have a smartphone, our team can suggest a budget Android phone to get you started.

Get your vehicle ship-shape

If you've already got a ride, you'll want to get it looking the way you did when you first drove it out of the showroom.

One of the things Bolt riders base their ratings on is the state of your car’s interior. So, it's important to make sure it's as clean and comfortable as possible. You'll want to invest in some upholstery cleaning if it's been a while and be sure to rid the interior of any off-putting stains or offensive smells.

Remember that some air fresheners can just make things worse, so be sympathetic to sensitive noses before you buy that cotton candy air freshener or break out the Christmas-scented option in the middle of the summer.

What if you don't have a vehicle, or your vehicle doesn't meet Bolt's criteria for an acceptable ride?

Bolt can help you find a car from our own fleet or from a partner rental service if you don’t have a suitable vehicle. There are a variety of new and used vehicles available for driving as a Bolt partner. You may choose to rent the car short-term or long-term for an indefinite period, for a fair rate.

Polish up your social skills

Even if you tend to be on the introverted side, that doesn't mean you can't be a fantastic driver. Still, it's important to remember that even though your main activity is driving, you're still in the customer service business.

One of the most important things you can do in every interaction is to verbally establish with your passenger where the final destination is to avoid any misunderstandings. It's important to keep in mind that low driver ratings can mean losing driver privileges and access to the Bolt app.

Be sure to greet your driver warmly as soon as they enter your vehicle. If you tend to be on the more social side, that's great!

Here are 101 conversation starters you can use on your next Bolt ride.

Just try to be sympathetic to the fact that while some riders will be more than happy to have a conversation, others just want to get lost in their thoughts while they watch the world fly by. Be aware and you'll quickly become a pro at reading your passengers so you can gauge whether or not they're in a chatty mood.