Paid wait time fee is a per-minute charge which starts a few minutes after a driver arrives at your location and continues until the driver starts the trip. This fee helps to compensate for the driver's efforts and time spent waiting. If your trip is cancelled, you won't be charged for the waiting time.

Excellent question! “Paid waiting time” on Bolt is a small additional fee that drivers receive if they have to wait for you at the pickup location beyond a free waiting period.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how it works:

1. The Free Waiting Period

When a Bolt driver arrives at your pickup point, a timer starts. You have a set amount of free time to get to the car and begin your trip. This period is typically: 2 to 5 minutes for standard Bolt rides. Up to 10 minutes for Bolt Premier or other premium categories (as these often involve more complex pickups like airports or hotels).

The exact duration is shown to both the driver and passenger in the app when the driver arrives.

2. When Paid Waiting Time Starts

If you are not in the car and ready to go when the free waiting period ends, the driver can tap a button in their app to start charging paid waiting time.

• Rate: This is charged per minute and varies significantly by city and country. It’s usually a fraction of the standard per-minute driving rate.
• Purpose: It compensates the driver for their lost time and incentivizes passengers to be prompt.

3. Key Points to Remember

• Driver’s Discretion: The driver must manually activate the waiting fee. Some drivers may wait a little longer as a courtesy, but they are not obligated to.
• Cancellation Fee: If you take too long, the driver may cancel the trip. If they cancel after the free waiting period has ended, you will likely be charged a cancellation fee, which