Govt orders Ola, Uber, Rapido, InDrive to remove advance tipping features

In a major relief for millions of daily commuters, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has directed Ola, Uber, Rapido, and InDrive—to remove “advance tipping” and “add-on” features from their mobile applications that suggest passengers can improve their chances of getting a cab by paying extra before a trip begins.

The Government stated that demanding extra money from passengers to secure or expedite bookings is a violation of consumer rights and goes against established aggregator guidelines. The Government stated that the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, do not permit such practices.

Complaints regarding pre-ride tip messages prompted the directive. Previously, commuters during peak hours or bad weather were frequently forced to pay premiums ranging from `10 to `100 just to get their rides accepted. Ride-hailing services were previously instructed to cease the practice by the Central Consumer Protection Authority. Passengers will have one fewer choice when making a reservation. Only after your trip is over will you be able to see the tip choice.

Under Clause 14.15 of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, tips must be voluntary and can be offered only after the journey ends. It applies to all motor vehicle aggregators under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The entire tip must go to the driver. The aggregator cannot deduct anything from it. The tip cannot be available: at booking, before the journey begins, or during the journey. The tipping option cannot be shown at the booking stage, before the ride starts, or while the trip is in progress.

“No tipping feature or mechanism shall be provided in the App that is misleading, manipulative, or otherwise in violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019,” the ministry said.

The ministry clarified that no app feature, prompt, payment option or user interface element should create the impression that paying extra could influence driver acceptance, ride allocation, booking confirmation, waiting time or service quality.

The Ministry also reiterated that aggregators cannot deduct any portion of customer tips. The entire tip amount must be transferred directly to the driver, in line with the 2025 guidelines.

It further warned against any tipping mechanism that could be considered misleading or manipulative under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

The ministry has asked all motor vehicle aggregators to review their platforms and bring their apps into full compliance without delay.