D&V Partners / Guides
Card machine fees, explained.
What you actually pay to take card payments in the UK, where the costs hide on a statement, and the questions to ask before you sign anything.
Updated 7 October 2026 · 6 minute read
The two costs everyone pays
Almost every card machine deal comes down to two things:
- Terminal rental. A monthly fee for the machine itself. With us, rental starts from £15 a month, and some plans have no setup fee.
- Transaction rates. A percentage of each card payment, sometimes with a few pence added per transaction. This is usually the bigger number, and it grows with your takings.
Some providers advertise one rate for everything. Others charge different rates for debit and credit cards, business cards and cards issued outside the UK. Ask which applies, because a low headline rate on debit cards can hide higher rates elsewhere.
The fees that are easy to miss
On top of rental and rates, statements often include smaller charges. None of them are wrong in themselves, but you should know about each one before you sign:
- Authorisation fees: a few pence charged on every transaction, whatever the amount.
- PCI compliance fees: a monthly charge for the security checks card schemes require, often with an extra charge if the yearly questionnaire isn't completed.
- Minimum monthly charges: if your fees fall below a set amount, you pay the difference.
- Refund and chargeback fees: charged when a payment is reversed.
- Exit fees: what it costs to leave before the contract ends.
Contracts
Terms run from rolling monthly up to 36 months. Longer terms often lower the monthly rental, but check what happens if your business changes. Ask for the exit fee in writing, and check whether the rental and rates can change during the contract.
How to check your current statement
Pick a recent month and add up everything you paid: rental, transaction charges and every small fee. Divide by your total card takings for that month. That gives you your real cost as a percentage, which is the only fair way to compare deals.
Or send us the statement and we'll do it for you, line by line, and show you what you'd pay with us. If we can't beat it, we'll tell you.
Questions
How much does a card machine cost in the UK?
You pay a monthly rental for the terminal, from £15 a month with us, plus a transaction rate on each payment. The rate depends on your monthly card turnover, your average sale and the cards your customers use.
Is it cheaper to buy a card machine outright?
Some providers sell terminals outright with higher transaction rates. Renting usually includes support and replacements. Compare the total cost over a year, not just the price of the machine.
Why is my card machine bill higher than the advertised rate?
Usually because of extra fees such as authorisation, PCI or minimum monthly charges, or because some of your customers pay with cards charged at higher rates. A line-by-line check of your statement shows where the difference comes from.
Can I leave my current card machine contract?
Usually, but there may be an exit fee. We'll look at your terms with you and work out whether switching now saves money.
Let's check your fees.
Tell us a little about your business, or attach your statement when we reply. We'll come back with a written quote, usually the same day.