1 week ago
Ride-Hailing Apps Continue Advance-Tip Prompts Despite Government Advisory
Four ride-booking apps are still asking some passengers to pay extra before their ride starts.
The extra payment is described using words such as tips, add-ons or additional fare.
The government says passengers should only be offered a tip after the trip is finished.
It also says apps must not suggest that paying more will help find a driver faster.
A review in Bengaluru and Mumbai found these prompts on Uber, Ola, Rapido and Namma Yatri.
Uber showed choices such as Rs 20, Rs 30 or Rs 50 above the fare.
Rapido connected higher prices with a higher chance of getting a ride.
The companies did not answer questions about the government advisory before publication.
Uber, Ola, Rapido and Namma Yatri still prompted users to pay extra before rides were confirmed.
A ministry advisory dated August 11 said tipping must be voluntary and offered only after a journey ends.
The advisory prohibited prompts suggesting that extra payment could improve driver acceptance, confirmation speed or service quality.
Reviews in Bengaluru and Mumbai found advance-payment prompts on all four apps.
The apps did not respond to queries before publication, while earlier statements described the features as voluntary or flexible pricing.
- Who
- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Uber, Ola, Rapido and Namma Yatri are involved.
- What
- The four ride-hailing apps continued showing pre-ride prompts encouraging users to pay more despite a government advisory against the practice.
- Where
- The review covered app bookings in Bengaluru and Mumbai.
- When
- The advisory was dated August 11, and the app review took place on a Wednesday more than a week later.
- Why
- The government said tipping must be voluntary, offered only after a journey, and not presented as a way to improve ride confirmation or service.
Government and Consumer Protection View
Ride-Hailing App View
Whether advance payments are appropriate
Government and Consumer Protection View
The government says pre-ride tipping or add-on prompts can be misleading or manipulative, and may constitute an unfair trade practice if they imply that paying more improves service.
Ride-Hailing App View
Namma Yatri previously said its feature was voluntary and appeared only after nearby drivers had not accepted a request. Rapido said its feature was pricing flexibility rather than tipping.
Effect of paying more
Government and Consumer Protection View
The advisory bars any interface suggesting that extra payment could improve ride confirmation, driver acceptance, driver allocation, waiting time or service quality before the journey ends.
Ride-Hailing App View
Earlier app explanations presented higher payments as a way to increase the likelihood of obtaining a ride, with Rapido allowing riders to move the price up or down.
Key facts
- Government advisory
- Issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on August 11.
- Relevant rule
- Clause 14.15 of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025.
- Apps reviewed
- Uber, Rapido, Ola and Namma Yatri.
- Cities reviewed
- Bengaluru and Mumbai.
- Government requirement
- Tips must be voluntary, offered only after the journey, and credited entirely to the driver.
- Prompts observed
- The apps displayed options including extra fare, add-ons, advance tips and higher prices while searching for or matching drivers.
- Company responses
- None of the four apps responded to queries before publication.
Sources
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