Bolt cracks down on driver profile sharing by introduces multiple weekly verification checks
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Bolt has stepped up its crackdown on driver profile sharing in South Africa, rolling out tighter controls, suspending violators, and increasing identity verification checks to several times a week as part of a broader effort to enhance rider safety.
“Profile sharing is a serious breach of our standards and undermines the trust riders and drivers place in us. We are taking decisive action—any driver found sharing an account will be permanently removed from the platform,” said Simo Kalajdzic, Senior Operations Manager at Bolt South Africa.
This marks a notable escalation in Bolt’s safety measures, with more frequent identity checks aimed at ensuring that only approved and verified drivers are active on the platform at any given time.
Driver profile sharing—where someone other than the registered driver operates under a Bolt account—is strictly prohibited. The company is actively suspending drivers involved in such practices, as well as permanently removing accounts linked to impersonation or misuse.
To support these efforts, Bolt has enhanced its monitoring systems to detect unusual account activity, sped up investigation processes, and intensified audits across its operations, particularly within fleet partnerships.
Dashcams remain an important tool in improving accountability. In branded fleet vehicles, they are included as part of operational agreements with fleet owners. Bolt continues to encourage broader adoption of dashcams as both a deterrent and an investigative resource.
The app also offers several built-in safety features, including driver photos, vehicle details, and an emergency button that provides immediate assistance during trips.
Riders are encouraged to confirm that the driver’s photo, name, and vehicle registration match the details shown in the app before getting into a vehicle. If anything doesn’t match, they should cancel the trip and report it using the “driver was not the same” option or contact support through the app.
“We know trust must be earned continuously. Removing bad actors and strengthening our systems remains a top priority. Safety is not a campaign—it’s how we operate,” Kalajdzic added.