Bolt South Africa Reviews | 1.6 TrustIndex | Hellopeter

Bolt South Africa Reviews | 1.6 TrustIndex | Hellopeter

Review Distribution

1.1|336 Reviews

Jul '25 - Jun '26

Frequently Asked Questions About Bolt South Africa

What do customers say about Bolt South Africa?

Based on recent customer reviews, Bolt South Africa faces severe customer dissatisfaction across nearly every service dimension. Riders and drivers describe systemic billing failures, unresolved refunds, lost belongings, unsafe incidents, and a support function that consistently fails to take ownership. Positive experiences exist but are rare exceptions against a backdrop of automated bot replies, driver misconduct, and refund processes that stretch for weeks or months without resolution.

What are the most common complaints about Bolt South Africa?

The most common complaint about Bolt South Africa, based on Hellopeter's AI analysis of recent customer reviews, is Pricing, Billing & Refunds. Pricing, Billing & Refunds (0.6) is the most damaging theme. Customers describe pre-authorisation holds that never reverse, double charges, fares that balloon beyond quotes, refund cycles of 14 to 30 days that lapse without payment, and bank authorisation letters that Bolt refuses to issue.

Recent reviews (336)

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Popular mentions

refund overcharged cancelled ride lost phone no support double charged rude driver pre-authorisation polite driver quick arrival

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

26 May 2026, 12:37

Disgusting and disappointing service by Bolt - Now they refuse to delete my account

Bolt SA is the worst app to date. Took a ride to Olive Convention Centre and the driver was driving at 40k which is below the speed limit. His interest in his music was more than concentrating in getting me to my destination. When questioned about it he reverted to making ****** remarks against Indians and also further highlighting the comments made by Whites against Indians and how he was supporting this. He also stated that he did not like me, like I cared about what he thought about me. I sat in the vehicle silently as I feared what he could do as I was alone in the vehicle with this arrogant and aggressive driver. When I jumped off the vehicle. I told him that he should not be a Bolt driver as he was a ****** and he swore at me with vulgar languages. He later lodged a complaint against me claiming that I threatened to assault him which was a lie. If that was the case, why didn't he report the matter to the police officers present at the spot I jumped off. I now am trying to delete my account and Bolt is not allowing me to. The various agents I spoke to are also refusing to delete my account. I am now in the process of reporting Bolt to the Dept of Transport.

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

26 May 2026, 12:37

Disgusting and disappointing service by Bolt - Now they refuse to delete my account

Bolt SA is the worst app to date. Took a ride to Olive Convention Centre and the driver was driving at 40k which is below the speed limit. His interest in his music was more than concentrating in getting me to my destination. When questioned about it he reverted to making ****** remarks against Indians and also further highlighting the comments made by Whites against Indians and how he was supporting this. He also stated that he did not like me, like I cared about what he thought about me. I sat in the vehicle silently as I feared what he could do as I was alone in the vehicle with this arrogant and aggressive driver. When I jumped off the vehicle. I told him that he should not be a Bolt driver as he was a ****** and he swore at me with vulgar languages. He later lodged a complaint against me claiming that I threatened to assault him which was a lie. If that was the case, why didn't he report the matter to the police officers present at the spot I jumped off. I now am trying to delete my account and Bolt is not allowing me to. The various agents I spoke to are also refusing to delete my account. I am now in the process of reporting Bolt to the Dept of Transport.

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

25 May 2026, 20:27

More money going off from my account

If I could give it a zero star I would. Today I requested my trip was R59 but Bolt deducted R82 from my account. Why are you taking more money from our cards that is total BS. I wouldn't have requested if my 4km drive was R82 I want my money. Stop ****ming clients how long should bolt keep ****ming clients? Or your untrained and unprofessional drivers don't end our trips? First we are unsafe with your unverified drivers now you are deducting your desired money from our cards. I want someone to call me and I want my refund.

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

25 May 2026, 20:27

More money going off from my account

If I could give it a zero star I would. Today I requested my trip was R59 but Bolt deducted R82 from my account. Why are you taking more money from our cards that is total BS. I wouldn't have requested if my 4km drive was R82 I want my money. Stop ****ming clients how long should bolt keep ****ming clients? Or your untrained and unprofessional drivers don't end our trips? First we are unsafe with your unverified drivers now you are deducting your desired money from our cards. I want someone to call me and I want my refund.

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

24 May 2026, 16:04

VERY BAD RECOVERY PROCESS FOR LOST ITEM

Very disappointed with Bolt’s handling of a serious situation. A driver confirmed he had my house keys, then became unreachable. For over 24 hours, support kept repeating scripted responses telling me to “be patient” while we were left unable to properly secure our home. No urgency, no meaningful escalation, and no practical solution despite us offering to pay for delivery of the keys. Customers should not feel helpless when dealing with something this serious. Communication and accountability from both the driver and support team were extremely poor.

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

24 May 2026, 16:04

VERY BAD RECOVERY PROCESS FOR LOST ITEM

Very disappointed with Bolt’s handling of a serious situation. A driver confirmed he had my house keys, then became unreachable. For over 24 hours, support kept repeating scripted responses telling me to “be patient” while we were left unable to properly secure our home. No urgency, no meaningful escalation, and no practical solution despite us offering to pay for delivery of the keys. Customers should not feel helpless when dealing with something this serious. Communication and accountability from both the driver and support team were extremely poor.

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

24 May 2026, 07:10

Two Bolt drivers within 15 minutes - no no

I had two very nasty experiences with two Bolt drivers within minutes last night. I tried to raise complaints on the app, but failed - was the app designed to make customers fail? I was charged for a trip that never took place, and I was charged for a trip that I did not cancel. I want refunds, and I expect someone from the company to contact me.

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

24 May 2026, 07:10

Two Bolt drivers within 15 minutes - no no

I had two very nasty experiences with two Bolt drivers within minutes last night. I tried to raise complaints on the app, but failed - was the app designed to make customers fail? I was charged for a trip that never took place, and I was charged for a trip that I did not cancel. I want refunds, and I expect someone from the company to contact me.

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

21 May 2026, 16:50

Never trust Bolt

I had scheduled a bolt the night before for 18:00, the bolt driver had supposed to arrive at 17:55 to 18:00 and the ride was cancelled on their side at 18:00 , I am very disappointed with Bolt

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

21 May 2026, 16:50

Never trust Bolt

I had scheduled a bolt the night before for 18:00, the bolt driver had supposed to arrive at 17:55 to 18:00 and the ride was cancelled on their side at 18:00 , I am very disappointed with Bolt

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

21 May 2026, 16:05

Unprofessional

Naledi driving a white Suzuki espresso is very rude and unprofessional

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

21 May 2026, 16:05

Unprofessional

Naledi driving a white Suzuki espresso is very rude and unprofessional

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

21 May 2026, 15:30

Bolt shameful assistance and drivers

My son booked a bolt and his phone slipped out in the car, we manage to call the phone and the driver answered and he kept saying he will come back we even offered to pay for the trip back. He kept saying we stay in Westbury which we do not. We contacted Bolt support and they managed to get the drivers number. Contacted driver, it took hours before he arranged a bolt to drop off the phone, brought the phone but demanded extra money and when we refused to pay the additional money he drove off. Contacted bolt support again and they said we needed to resolve with driver, driver called us ungrateful, but we prepared to honour the trip amount, as agreed, and unable to get the phone back, and bolt support wasnt much help, when i indicated we will then have to then go and make a case both bolt support and driver said sure, pls email the case, yet both bolt support and driver acknowledge the driver has the phone. Please watch you items, because there are decent drivers out there, but how many other people are ******ed to get their personnal belongings back.

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

21 May 2026, 15:30

Bolt shameful assistance and drivers

My son booked a bolt and his phone slipped out in the car, we manage to call the phone and the driver answered and he kept saying he will come back we even offered to pay for the trip back. He kept saying we stay in Westbury which we do not. We contacted Bolt support and they managed to get the drivers number. Contacted driver, it took hours before he arranged a bolt to drop off the phone, brought the phone but demanded extra money and when we refused to pay the additional money he drove off. Contacted bolt support again and they said we needed to resolve with driver, driver called us ungrateful, but we prepared to honour the trip amount, as agreed, and unable to get the phone back, and bolt support wasnt much help, when i indicated we will then have to then go and make a case both bolt support and driver said sure, pls email the case, yet both bolt support and driver acknowledge the driver has the phone. Please watch you items, because there are decent drivers out there, but how many other people are ******ed to get their personnal belongings back.

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

20 May 2026, 15:15

Don’t use this app

I am back again with another bad review. If you’re gonna use this app use cash, they don’t refund. Today the driver took a longer route. As he was about to pass my turn I told him and he continued with a longer route. I was charged R13 extra for an issue, as the driver said, is as GOS issue. I haven’t received my refund for another ride from 9 April.

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1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

20 May 2026, 15:15

Don’t use this app

I am back again with another bad review. If you’re gonna use this app use cash, they don’t refund. Today the driver took a longer route. As he was about to pass my turn I told him and he continued with a longer route. I was charged R13 extra for an issue, as the driver said, is as GOS issue. I haven’t received my refund for another ride from 9 April.

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