e-Hailing service Bolt has recently unveiled a new Family Profile feature to its app, which allows one user to manage and pay for rides for up to nine other people – all from a single account. The addition is part of the platform’s wider effort to enhance safety, convenience, and usability for everyday riders.
Designed to make ride-hailing more practical for families and support networks, the feature targets the growing number of trips that are ordered on behalf of someone else. According to Bolt, between 2% and 6% of all rides are currently booked for other individuals, a process that often requires manually sharing trip details and coordinating via messaging apps. With Family Profile, users can now invite others to join their profile, set monthly spending limits, and receive live trip updates, including notifications when rides begin or end.
Each invited member must have their own Bolt account and be at least 18 years old, in line with the company’s existing rider eligibility rules. This means the feature cannot be used to book rides for unaccompanied minors, which the company says is a deliberate safeguard tied to both legal requirements and safety considerations.
The feature is expected to benefit parents, caregivers and anyone who frequently arranges transport for others, including older adults who may not regularly use smartphones or ride-hailing apps. Bolt says ride-hailing adoption is increasing among senior users, but many still face hurdles such as app complexity or lack of access to digital payment tools. Family Profile helps close that gap by giving one person control over bookings and payments, even if others in the group don’t actively use the Bolt app themselves.
Along with simplifying ride management, the new feature offers enhanced financial oversight and rider visibility. Account holders can view activity per profile member, receive trip alerts in real time and access tools to monitor rides, including live GPS tracking and the ability to contact drivers or riders if unexpected events occur during a trip.
(Source: Bolt Malaysia press release)
