Ride-hailing platform Bolt has introduced a new Family Profile feature that allows one person to manage and pay rides for up to nine other people from a single Bolt account.
- •According to data by Bolt, 2–6% of Bolt rides are currently ordered on someone’s behalf other than the account holder, often requiring manual coordination and sharing of trip details.
- •The new feature simplifies that process, offering a built-in solution that allows customers to invite others to join their profile, set monthly spending limits, and receive live trip notifications.
- •Members can request rides independently if they use the app, while the account holder retains oversight.
“Family accounts do not change Bolt’s core policies around rider eligibility. Each member added to a Family Profile must have their own Bolt account and meet the platform’s minimum age requirement of 18. This means the feature cannot be used to book rides for unaccompanied minors,” Bolt said in a statement announcing the new feature.
According to the platform, the feature is especially helpful for parents, caregivers, or anyone supporting older relatives who may not use smartphones or ride-hailing apps regularly. Data shows that ride-hail usage is growing fastest among older adults, but practical barriers, like app complexity or payment requirements, still limit adoption. Family Profile helps close that gap by letting one person handle ride management and payments for others, even if they don’t use the Bolt app themselves.
“The launch of the Family Profile feature marks a significant step in empowering our customers to provide safe, seamless, and convenient transportation for their loved ones. By combining control, transparency, and flexibility in one feature, we’re proud to bring greater value and peace of mind to households across Kenya,” Dimmy Kanyankole, General Manager Kenya and Tanzania said.
In addition to greater flexibility, Family Profile allows account holders to monitor ride activity per member, receive real-time alerts when trips start or end, and take immediate action if needed, for example, checking a ride’s live location or contacting the rider or driver in the event of an unexpected route or stop.
