No ‘advance tips’: Govt issues guidelines for tipping cab drivers, asks aggregators to stop pre-ride prompts — report

No Advance Tips: Govt Orders Cab Aggregators to Drop Pre-Ride Prompts

Theindiapostdaily.com – The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a comprehensive set of guidelines aimed at streamlining the tipping experience for passengers using ride-hailing applications. In a significant move to protect consumer interests, the government has explicitly instructed major aggregators to eliminate features that request payments before the journey begins. The core message is clear: there should be No advance tips required or prompted during the booking phase. This directive ensures that the financial contribution to the driver remains a voluntary act performed after the service has been rendered, rather than a pre-emptive obligation.

Clarifying the Tipping Protocol

According to official reports, the new order was released on August 11, addressing growing concerns regarding the user interface of popular cab services. The ministry noted that several aggregators had introduced functionalities such as “Advance Tip” or persistent messages suggesting that drivers prefer tips upfront. These elements were often displayed prominently on the screen, creating a psychological pressure on users to pay extra before the vehicle even arrived at the pickup point. Under the new guidelines, the system must ensure that No advance tips are forced upon the customer. The prompt should ideally appear only once the ride is completed, allowing the passenger to assess the quality of the service before deciding on the gratuity amount.

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