Remove pre-ride tipping prompts, government directs ride-hailing aggregators
The Union road transport and highways ministry said tipping shall be entirely voluntary and be offered only after completion of the journey
India's road transport and highways ministry has instructed ride-hailing companies to eliminate pre-ride tipping prompts, asserting such features could unfairly sway passenger decisions and suggest extra payments could enhance service quality. The ministry emphasized that tipping should be fully voluntary and provided only post-journey.
This directive stems from Clause 14.15 of the 2025 Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, in response to concerns raised about prompts such as "Advance Tip" and "Choose an Add-on," which allegedly encourage additional payments to expedite ride confirmation or secure driver acceptance. The ministry instructed that no booking, pre-ride, or in-ride prompts should encourage riders to pay more to influence ride allocation, waiting times, or service quality.
All credits for tips must go directly to drivers without any aggregator deductions. The ministry also prohibited misleading or manipulative tipping systems that contravene the Consumer Protection Act of 2019. Motor vehicle aggregators have been directed to promptly revise their apps and digital platforms to align with these guidelines.
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