2 weeks ago
India directs cab aggregators to remove pre-ride tip prompts
When you ride in a cab booked through an app, you usually pay the driver for the trip.
Some apps were asking riders to add a tip before the ride even started.
They even said things like "The driver might accept your ride faster if you add a tip."
The government of India said this is not fair.
It told the apps to remove all those messages right away.
Now, tips are only allowed after the ride is finished.
The whole tip must go to the driver, and the app cannot keep any part of it.
This makes sure tipping stays a voluntary "thank you" and not something you feel forced to pay to get a ride.
India's Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has directed motor vehicle aggregators to remove pre-ride tip prompts from their apps with immediate effect.
The directive, dated August 11, 2026, requires compliance with Clause 14.15 of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025.
Passengers may give drivers a voluntary tip only after the journey is completed, not at booking, before the journey, or during the ride.
The full tip amount must be credited to the driver without any deduction by the aggregator.
Platforms must remove features that imply extra payment improves ride confirmation, driver acceptance, driver allocation, waiting time, or service quality.
- Who
- India's Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the motor vehicle aggregators it has directed
- What
- Issued a directive requiring motor vehicle aggregators to remove pre-ride tip prompts and allow voluntary tipping only after ride completion, with the full tip amount passed to drivers
- Where
- India (New Delhi)
- When
- Directive dated August 11, 2026
- Why
- To ensure tipping remains entirely voluntary and to prevent prompts that create the impression extra payment improves ride confirmation, driver acceptance, driver allocation, waiting time, or service quality
Key facts
- Issuing body
- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
- Directive date
- August 11, 2026
- Governing guidelines
- Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025 (Clause 14.15)
- Tipping rule
- Voluntary and allowed only after the journey is completed
- Tip payment
- Full amount credited to the driver, no deduction by the aggregator
- Prohibited prompts
- "Advance Tip", "Choose an Add-on", "Improve your chances of quicker ride confirmation"
- Related law
- Consumer Protection Act, 2019
- Prior action
- Central Consumer Protection Authority had earlier directed platforms to stop the practice
Quotes
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
Indian government ministry overseeing road transport
“"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, and the rules and regulations made thereunder."”
businesstoday.in
livemint.com
“"Any interface or functionality inconsistent with the above provisions should be suitably modified without delay."”
livemint.com
freepressjournal.in
Sources
Booking a cab? Centre asks aggregators to drop pre rid messages, tip prompts
No 'advance tips': Govt issues guidelines for tipping cab drivers, asks aggregators to stop pre-ride prompts — report
No More 'Advance Tip': MoRTH Orders Ride Aggregators To Remove Pre-Ride Tipping Prompts, Allow Voluntary Payments Only After Rides
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