Ola, Uber and Rapido Warned Against Mandatory Tips Before Rides
Cab and bike taxi platforms such as Ola, Uber and Rapido have been warned against demanding tips or extra charges before a ride. Passengers may provide tips voluntarily only after completing their trips.
Prasanth Subramani
Cab and bike taxi services such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido have been warned against demanding additional charges from passengers in the name of tips before a journey begins.
Under the latest direction, drivers and ride-hailing platforms should not ask passengers to pay a mandatory tip or additional amount before starting a trip. Practices such as refusing to provide the ride unless the passenger agrees to pay an extra tip have also been prohibited.
Passengers may provide a tip after completing their journey if they wish to do so. However, tipping must remain completely voluntary and cannot be made a condition for accepting or completing a ride.
The move is aimed at preventing passengers from being subjected to unexpected or additional charges beyond the fare displayed for their journey. It also seeks to ensure greater transparency in app-based cab and bike taxi services.
Passengers are advised to check the fare displayed on the platform before confirming a ride and to report instances where drivers demand mandatory tips or refuse service unless an additional payment is made.
The clarification is expected to strengthen passenger rights and promote fairer and more transparent practices across India's app-based mobility and ride-hailing sector.
