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‘Pay More, Get a Cab Faster’ ? Centre Says NO to Advance Tips on Ride Apps
New Delhi : Getting a cab faster by paying an additional tip could soon be a thing of the past, as the Centre has directed cab aggregators to remove features that encourage passengers to make extra payments before a ride is confirmed. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has instructed all motor vehicle aggregators to immediately review their mobile apps and digital platforms and remove options or messages suggesting that passengers can improve their chances of getting a quicker ride by paying more.
Features such as “Advance Tip,” “Choose an Add-on” or messages such as “Improve your chances of quicker ride confirmation” have come under scrutiny, with the government maintaining that passengers should not be made to feel that paying extra will help them get a cab sooner, persuade a driver to accept the ride faster or secure better service.
The ministry has clarified that such practices violate the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, particularly the provisions governing tipping and passenger payments. Under the guidelines, passengers may choose to tip a driver only after completing the journey, and the tip must remain completely voluntary. Importantly, the entire amount tipped by a passenger must go directly to the driver, with aggregators not permitted to deduct any portion from it.
The latest direction is aimed at ensuring greater transparency and preventing passengers from being pressured or influenced into making additional payments merely to secure a ride. The government has asked aggregators to immediately remove any non-compliant features from their platforms and ensure that their booking systems do not create the impression that an extra payment is necessary for faster confirmation.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has also previously raised concerns over such practices. The new directive means passengers should no longer be encouraged to pay an advance tip or additional amount before a ride simply to increase their chances of getting a cab quickly. In short, passengers can still tip drivers but only voluntarily and after the ride, not as a payment to ‘boost’ their booking chances.
