Card machines for street food and food trucks

Take card payments from your van, at festivals, markets, and events - with a portable terminal that doesn't need Wi-Fi.

Common challenges

Losing sales when customers don't carry cash
No Wi-Fi at your pitch - need 4G connectivity
Battery runs out before the end of a busy event
Need fast contactless for quick-service food orders
Don't want a long contract for seasonal trading

Why food vans choose uno

Food vans and street food traders operate in challenging payment environments - no mains power, no fixed internet, and high-volume quick-service transactions where speed is everything.

We’ve helped mobile caterers across the UK find card machines that actually work in the field, not just on paper.

Built for mobile trading

The PAX A920 connects over 4G, runs on battery all day, and processes contactless in under a second. Perfect for the pace of a busy food van queue.

No Wi-Fi required

4G connectivity means you’re not dependent on venue Wi-Fi that’s shared with fifty other traders. Your own mobile signal, your own reliable connection.

Seasonal flexibility

Many food traders work seasonally or at events. The terminal options we offer include no long-term contracts, so you’re not paying monthly fees through the quiet months if you choose to pause.

Speed matters

When there’s a queue of hungry customers, contactless payment needs to be instant. Every terminal we supply handles contactless, Apple Pay, and Google Pay at speed.

What you get from uno

A portable terminal matched to your trading pattern
4G connectivity — no Wi-Fi dependency
Competitive rates compared across providers
Flexible contract terms for seasonal traders

Common questions from street food and food trucks owners

I trade from a van at different locations - will the card machine work everywhere?

Yes. 4G connectivity means the terminal works at festivals, markets, roadside pitches, industrial estates, car parks - anywhere with mobile signal. You don't need venue Wi-Fi or a fixed broadband connection. Pull up, trade, take payments.

I get long queues at busy events - how fast is the card machine?

Contactless processes in under a second. At a busy festival or event where you're serving a customer every 30 seconds, the card machine isn't the bottleneck. The speed of serving food is what sets your pace - the payment keeps up.

I trade in all weathers - rain, wind, direct sun. Can the terminal handle it?

The terminal is designed for regular retail use, not rated for submersion or extreme conditions. In practice, thousands of food truck and van operators use them daily in British weather. Keep it under your serving hatch or canopy - the same way you protect your till - and it handles normal outdoor trading conditions without issues.

General questions about uno

Which card machine is right for my business?

It really does depend on how your business operates - there's no one 'best solution' for all, as a Fine Dining restaurant in Covent Garden has completely different operational requirements to a Market Trader in Glasgow's bustling Barras, or a Cardiff Arms Park pub. We make the effort to truly understand how your business actually operates - before recommending the best solution from a range of providers, not just one.

How much does a card machine cost?

It varies by provider and model. With some providers, your first card machine comes with no upfront cost, no monthly rental, and no per-transaction fees - so your only cost is the processing rate on each sale you make. Additional terminals - or those from other providers - may well carry rental or per-transaction fees. The exact cost depends on your terminal type, provider, and monthly card turnover. Because uno works across multiple providers, we compare the real-world, overall costs and then find the most competitive deal for your specific situation.

How long will it take for me to receive my takings?

We know for many UK independent buinesses cashflow is a daily struggle. We can offer various options, with settlement times ranging from just a few hours, to the full three days it takes providers to actually receive your customers money. Whatever your working requirements are, we'll find the ideal solution to match those needs.

Do all uno card machines accept contactless payments?

Yes. Every payment terminal we recommend accepts contactless payments, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and standard contactless cards. Contactless is now the default way most customers pay in the UK.

Will I be able to take 'over-the-phone' payments?

For most merchant-types this will be offered as a default payment option, available on-screen along with contactless and Chip'n'Pin. There are a small number of exceptional businesess operational-types where this is not the case - but for most, 'over-the-phone' payments will be offered as standard.

How can we process refunds?

Any terminal uno suggests would allow you to easily identify the original transaction. If still within the same day as the sale, then the transaction could then be 'voided'(aka 'reversed'). Voids/Reverses are typically instantaneous. However, if that trading day's 'banking window' had closed (typically at Midnight) then it would technically be classed as a 'refund' - which would be subject to the bank's standard 3-5 processing timeframe to complete.

Will we need to do complicated PCI compliance like we do with our current provider?

The great news for you is none of the providers uno works with have complicated anything! For those that require PCI of any sort atall, it really is a simple, painless process that just takes a few minutes per year!

Am I locked into a contract?

Not with every provider. Several of the solutions we offer have no long-term contract - you can switch or cancel without penalty. We'll always be upfront about contract terms before suggesting you commit to anything.

How long does it take to get set up?

Most businesses are up and running within a few days. We handle the supply, installation, and configuration so you can focus on serving your customers. We walk you through everything on-site - so you're confident from day one.

Why go through uno instead of going direct to a provider?

Going direct means you only see a single provider's products, at a single provider's prices. Because uno works across multiple providers, we can genuinely compare options and recommend the solution that suits your business - not just the only one we happen to sell! You also get a dedicated point of contact for ongoing support.

Ready to find the right card machine?

We make the effort to your business, understand how you take payments, and recommend the solution that genuinely fits - not the one with the biggest commission.

Call 07395 451520 Get in touch