Booking a cab could become a little simpler for passengers. Under the amended Motor Vehicles Aggregators Guidelines, 2025, ride-hailing apps such as Ola, Uber and Rapido cannot show a tipping option before a ride begins.

The government has made it clear that a tip must remain a voluntary payment and cannot be used as an incentive to get a driver to accept a ride faster. The amended rules say the tipping option can appear only after the journey is completed.

What Has Changed for Ola and Uber Users?

Earlier, some ride-hailing apps allowed passengers to add a tip while booking a ride.

Uber's earlier "Advance Tip" feature, for example, suggested that adding ₹50, ₹75 or ₹100 could make a driver more likely to accept the ride. Similar features were also seen on other platforms.

The practice came under scrutiny after consumer complaints, with the government questioning whether asking passengers to pay extra before receiving the service was unfair.

The amended government guidelines have now addressed the issue directly.

When Can You Tip Your Driver?

Under the new rule, passengers can still tip drivers, but the option must be shown only after the journey has ended.

This means the app cannot offer the tip option:

• While booking the ride
• Before the journey starts
• During the journey

The tip must remain voluntary and cannot be presented in a way that pressures passengers to pay extra.

What Happens to the Tip Money?

The government has also specified what happens to the money.

If a passenger chooses to tip, the entire tip amount must go to the driver. The aggregator cannot deduct any amount from the tip.

The rules also prohibit tipping systems that are misleading or manipulative or that violate consumer protection laws.

Why Did the Government Ban Advance Tipping?

The controversy started because some apps were using advance tips as a way to improve the chances of getting a ride.

This created concerns that passengers might feel they had to pay extra to get faster service, especially during busy hours or when demand was high.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority had earlier taken action against Uber over its advance-tipping feature and also examined similar practices on other platforms.

The consumer affairs ministry had argued that a tip should be a token of appreciation after a service, rather than something passengers offer before receiving the service.

Ola, Uber and Rapido Are Affected

The change applies broadly to digital ride aggregators covered by the amended guidelines.

That means passengers using platforms such as Ola, Uber, Rapido and other covered ride-hailing apps should not be shown a tip option before their journey starts.

The exact way each company implements the rule may differ, but the basic requirement is the same: advance tipping cannot be used during the booking process.

Another New Feature for Women Passengers

The same amendment also introduced a passenger-safety related requirement.

Where available, passengers should be able to choose a driver of the same gender. This includes an option for women passengers to select women drivers.

The feature is subject to the availability of drivers.

This means a woman may be able to select a female driver when using a platform that has enough eligible drivers in that location.

What This Means for Passengers

For passengers, the biggest change is that the price shown during booking should no longer be linked to an advance tip.

You can decide whether to reward the driver after the ride, based on your experience.

The change also removes the pressure of feeling that an extra payment may be needed to improve the chances of getting a cab.

Will You Still Be Able to Tip Drivers?

Yes.

The government has not banned tipping completely.

Instead, it has changed when the option can be offered. Passengers can still voluntarily tip their driver after completing the journey.

So if you are happy with the driver's service, you can still give a tip. But the app cannot ask you to make that decision before the ride begins.

Final Words

The Ola and Uber advance-tipping rule is aimed at making cab bookings fairer for passengers.

Under the amended Motor Vehicles Aggregators Guidelines, tipping remains voluntary, but the option can only be shown after the journey is completed. Apps cannot offer or encourage tipping during booking or while the ride is underway.

For passengers, the message is simple: book the ride first, complete the journey, and decide about the tip later.

FAQs

Can Ola and Uber ask for a tip before a ride?

No. Under the amended guidelines, the tipping option should not be available during booking, before the journey starts or during the journey.

Is tipping completely banned on Ola and Uber?

No. Tipping is still allowed, but the option can be shown only after the journey has been completed.

Who gets the tip paid by passengers?

The entire tip amount must be credited to the driver without any deduction by the aggregator.

Why was advance tipping criticised?

Consumer authorities raised concerns that asking passengers to tip before a ride could pressure them to pay extra to get faster service.

Does this rule apply to Rapido?

Yes. The amended aggregator rules cover ride-hailing platforms, and the advance-tipping restriction applies to covered aggregators.

Can women choose female drivers on Ola or Uber?

The amended guidelines require aggregators to provide an option, where available, for passengers to choose a driver of the same gender, including female drivers for women passengers.

When were the new tipping rules notified?

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notified the relevant amendments to the Motor Vehicles Aggregators Guidelines on December 15, 2025.