Ride-hailing apps asked to stop asking for tips before ride
The Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has directed ride-hailing apps to stop prompting passengers for tips before or during a trip. The government clarified that tipping is voluntary and should only occur after a ride is completed to prevent unfair service incentives.
Why it matters
This regulation aims to protect consumer rights and ensure fair practices in the gig economy by preventing manipulative UI patterns.
Ride-hailing apps may soon have to stop prompting passengers to add tips while booking a ride, with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways directing aggregators not to display tipping prompts before or during a journey.
In a communication to motor vehicle aggregators, the Ministry emphasised that tipping is voluntary. It discouraged prompts that could be construed as advance tips, incentives for quicker ride confirmation or add-ons before a journey begins.
Referring to Clause 14.15 of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, the Ministry said passengers may tip drivers only after completing their journey. The guidelines also require aggregators to credit the entire tip amount to the driver without making any deductions.
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