📌New feature gives families more control over ride spending, visibility, and flexibility from one account
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, July 23rd 2025: As digitalization standardizes across the nation and smartphone penetration continues to enhance inclusivity, the ride-hailing sector led by Bolt Tanzania has had to rethink and morph to meet recurring demands observed in the market.
According to data by Bolt, 2–6% of local rides are currently ordered on someone’s behalf other than the account holder, often requiring manual coordination and sharing of trip details.
That being said, the ride-hailing giant has introduced for Tanzania a Family Profile feature that allows one person to manage and pay for rides for up to nine other people, all from a single Bolt account.
According to the company, Family Profile is designed to make ride-hailing more practical for families and support networks. 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. These age restrictions are in place for legal and safety reasons and ensure that all riders using the feature remain subject to Bolt’s existing terms and conditions.
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. Since the company has expanded to regions such as Kilimanjari, Mwanza and more recently Kahama, this feature allows professionals from Dar es salaam to support and facilitate trips for their parents or family in those towns through the family feature.
This also means that Family Profile also offers account holders enhanced financial control and peace of mind. A breadwinner can use their visa card so that other members do not have to pay, which better manages expenditure and establishes the transport budget of a household. He/she can also 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.
Bolt engineers continue to improve the app’s routing, mapping, and usability to meet the evolving expectations of riders and drivers. Family Profile joins a growing set of features aimed at building trust and enhancing platform safety.
Dimmy Kanyankole, General Manager Kenya and Tanzania at Bolt said: “At Bolt, our goal is to create ride-hailing solutions that align with the everyday mobility needs of our customers. 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 Tanzania.”
