Govt directs ride-hailing platforms to stop advance tip prompts before trip completion

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has directed ride-hailing platforms to stop displaying tipping prompts before a trip is completed, stating that such features can influence passenger choices and create an impression that paying extra may affect the service they receive.

Transport Ministry directive

"Tipping shall be entirely voluntary and shall be offered only after completion of the journey," the ministry said as quoted by the Hindustan Times.

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Referring to Clause 14.15 of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, it stated that any tipping option must appear only after a ride has ended. Passengers should not be shown tipping prompts while booking a ride, before the journey starts, or at any point during the trip.

Prompts under scrutiny

The instruction was issued on Tuesday (August 11) after the ministry reviewed the practices of some aggregators. Among the features that drew attention were prompts such as "Advance Tip", "Choose an Add-on", and messages suggesting that an extra payment could increase the chances of quicker driver acceptance or faster ride confirmation.

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The ministry said platforms must not display any feature, message, payment option, add-on, or interface element before a ride is completed if it directly or indirectly pushes users toward paying more for benefits connected to ride allocation, driver acceptance, waiting time, confirmation speed, or service standards.

Concern over pressure on passenger

According to the report, officials said even subtle prompts can place pressure on passengers to spend beyond the advertised fare. Their concern extends beyond direct requests for extra payment.

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Any feature that gives the impression that better treatment may follow an additional payment falls under the restriction.

The ministry also set out rules for post-ride tipping. Any gratuity paid by a passenger must go entirely to the driver, with aggregators prohibited from keeping any share of the amount. The order also says tipping systems must not mislead users, influence decisions unfairly, or violate the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Compliance required

Ride-hailing companies have been asked to immediately review their mobile applications and digital platforms. Any feature that does not comply with the guidelines must be modified or removed without delay.