The Ministry of Transport and Road Management has issued a directive prohibiting taxi services, such as Ola and Uber, from displaying tipping options or additional payment choices to passengers before the trip is completed.
According to the new instruction, aggregators are obliged to remove all functions from their mobile applications and digital platforms that offer extra payment before the start of the ride. The Ministry believes that such messages violate the Motor Transport Aggregators rules established in 2025.
In its notification dated August 11, the Ministry specified that during a taxi order, passengers must not be shown messages or options encouraging them to leave a tip. These options include 'Advance Tip', 'Choose an Add-on', and 'Improve Your Chances of Quicker Ride Confirmation.'
Furthermore, any in-app messages suggesting that the passenger should tip the driver to get a ride faster must be excluded. The government emphasized that no application functionality should create the impression that an extra charge, beyond the fare, will lead to quicker taxi confirmation, increased likelihood of the driver accepting the ride, or better service.
The Ministry stated that such options can exert pressure on passengers, so the application interface must be designed so that the passenger can book a ride without any pressure.
Referring to clause 14.15 of the Motor Transport Aggregators, the Ministry stipulated that the passenger has the right to voluntarily tip the driver only after the trip has been fully completed. Furthermore, the entire tip amount must go directly to the driver, and the aggregator has no right to make any deductions.
The rules also require that there are no tipping functions or methods in the app that could cause confusion.
The Ministry demanded that all motor transport service operators immediately audit their mobile applications and digital platforms. Any interface, message, payment option, add-on, or other function that contradicts these rules must be changed without delay.
The Ministry clarified that no options that directly or indirectly prompt the passenger for additional payment should be displayed before the completion of the trip. This government step comes against the backdrop of the Central Consumer Protection Agency (CCPA) previously voicing objections to the practice of requesting tips before booking on ride-hailing platforms.
Thus, the government directive means a complete ban on exerting any pressure or temptation on the passenger to pay a tip when ordering a taxi, whether it is a promise of a better ride, quick confirmation, or acceptance of the ride by the driver.



