The Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) has directed motor vehicle aggregators to remove pre-ride tipping prompts and other interface features that encourage passengers to pay an additional amount before a journey is completed. The ministry said tipping must remain entirely voluntary and can be offered only after completion of the journey. The directive comes as ride-hailing platforms increasingly use in-app prompts and add-on options like 'advance tip' during the booking process.
In a directive issued on 11 August 2026, the ministry said its attention had been drawn to certain ride aggregators displaying prompts such as 'advance tip', 'choose an add-on', 'improve your chances of quicker ride confirmation' and 'a driver may be more likely to accept this trip if you add a tip' before a ride was accepted or completed.
MoRTH said such features are inconsistent with Clause 14.15 of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, which governs the tipping facility on ride aggregator applications.
The ministry said Clause 14.15 allows an app to provide passengers with a feature to give a voluntary tip to the driver, but the feature can be made visible only after the journey is complete. It cannot be made available at the time of booking, before commencement of the journey or during the ride.
“The above provision clearly envisages that tipping shall be entirely voluntary and shall be offered only after completion of the journey,” the ministry said in its directive.
MoRTH has also made it clear that aggregators cannot use any interface, message or payment option that creates an impression that paying a tip could improve a passenger’s chances of securing a ride or receiving better service.
The ministry said no 'feature, prompt, message, add-on, payment option, or user interface element' should be displayed before completion of the ride if it directly or indirectly encourages, induces or creates an impression that payment of an additional amount may improve ride confirmation, driver acceptance, driver allocation, waiting time or quality of service.
This effectively rules out pre-ride prompts, suggesting that passengers can increase the likelihood of a driver accepting their booking by paying a tip.
MoRTH’s instructions make clear that a tipping facility cannot be used as part of the process for influencing driver acceptance or ride allocation.
The ministry has also reiterated that the entire tip amount must be credited to the driver without any deduction by the aggregator.
Clause 14.15 further prohibits any tipping feature or mechanism that is misleading, manipulative or otherwise in violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the rules and regulations made under it.
MoRTH has therefore asked all motor vehicle aggregators to immediately review their mobile applications and digital platforms and ensure strict compliance with the 2025 guidelines.
“Any interface or functionality inconsistent with the above provisions should be suitably modified without delay,” the ministry said.
The directive does not prohibit passengers from tipping drivers. Instead, it establishes when and how the option can be presented. A passenger can voluntarily tip a driver after completing the journey, but aggregators cannot offer the option during booking, before the ride starts or while the journey is underway.
The ministry has also specifically addressed indirect forms of encouragement. This means aggregators cannot avoid the restriction simply by presenting a pre-ride tip as an 'add-on' or by using a message that does not explicitly state that the payment is a tip but suggests that paying more could improve the chances of securing a ride.
The focus of the directive is, therefore, not only on the presence of a payment button but also on how the feature is presented to passengers and whether it could influence their decision to make an additional payment.
MoRTH’s direction places the responsibility on aggregators to review their app design and remove any functionality that could make passengers believe that an additional payment is necessary or beneficial for ride confirmation, driver acceptance, allocation, waiting time or service quality.
The ministry has directed all motor vehicle aggregators to make the required changes without delay and comply with Clause 14.15 of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025.
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Since I was missing my train I had to pay Rs 300 to black and Yello cab for 7 minute ride which was booked with Uber. Such anti customer practices of Uber should be punished.