Ride-hailing apps like Lyft, Bolt and Uber have revolutionized urban transportation worldwide, but do they work in Bulgaria? The short answer is No. Neither Uber nor Bolt or any other similar service currently offers car rides in Sofia or other Bulgarian cities. However, Bulgaria has reliable taxi services with modern apps that provide similar convenience.
Why Don’t Uber and Bolt Work in Bulgaria?
Uber briefly operated in Sofia in 2015, but it faced strong opposition from taxi unions and regulatory challenges. Bulgarian authorities ruled that Uber drivers needed taxi licenses, which led to the company’s exit. Unlike in other European countries, Bolt does not offer car rides in Bulgaria. The reasons are same as in the case with Uber. Hoewever, Bolt is not unknown brand in Bulgaria. It operates e-scooters in Sofia.
Instead of Uber or Bolt, Bulgaria has well-regulated taxi companies with their own apps, offering similar convenience.
Yellow Taxi
Yellow Taxi is one of the largest taxi companies in the city. Its services are reliable and it is official contractor for the taxi services at the Sofia airport.
Yellow has an app Available on iOS & Android. The app features online tracking and this way you can see your taxi’s location in real-time.
The drivers accept cash or card payments and POS terminals are installed in all cars.
Yellow has more than 1000 taxis in Sofia and this guarantees wide coverage.
Download the app on the App Store and Google Play
Volt, the Premium Taxi Service
Volt is relatively new company and its management shares that they created the taxi brand concentrated on the needs of the passengers and in a way, out of frustration with the traditional taxi companies.
Volt has slightly higher prices, but it offers much better experience. All their drivers speak English and follow a strict no-smoking policy. It is a rare find in a business that is usually criticized for low customer service.
Their cars are electric BMW and Mercedes, featuring free Wi-Fi, phone chargers, and complimentary bottle of water. Upon request you can have a child seats in the taxi.
TaxiMe
TaxiMe is praised for one of the best taxi apps on the market. It is available for iOS & Android and allows you to interact with the driver, track the car and so on.
Drivers can be paid for the service in cash or card and the pricing is transparent, no hidden fees.
The company behind TaxiMe has more than a decade of experience and their app features algorithm-based driver matching which makes the service fast and makes the app one of the best-rated in Sofia.
Any Other Suggestions?
Neither Uber nor Bolt and Lyft operate ride-hailing services in Bulgaria due to past regulatory challenges, leaving traditional taxis as the main option. Sofia offers reliable taxi services like Yellow (affordable and widespread), Volt (premium luxury), and TaxiMe (best-rated app-based service), all accepting card payments. There are also other options such as car sharing, ebikes, escooters, you can check this article to learn more:
Enjoy your ride in Sofia!