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In its investigation, the CCPA found that Ola’s app displayed messages during the driver-search process suggesting that passengers could get a ride faster by offering a tip.
The authority examined Ola’s booking data from June 1 to 15, 2026, and found that ride acceptance rates among passengers who offered additional payments were lower than those who did not select the add-on option.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on cab aggregator Ola’s operating company, ANI Technologies, for asking passengers to pay tips or additional amounts for faster ride booking. The authority has also directed the company to immediately disable all prompts and features seeking tips, add-ons or any other additional payments before the completion of a ride.
In its investigation, the CCPA found that Ola’s app displayed messages during the driver-search process suggesting that passengers could get a ride faster by offering a tip. Passengers were also given options to make additional payments ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 40, which were subsequently increased. The company later renamed the tip feature as an ‘Add-on’, but the practice of seeking additional payments remained unchanged.
Paying Extra Did Not Guarantee Faster Rides
The authority examined Ola’s booking data from June 1 to 15, 2026, and found that ride acceptance rates among passengers who offered additional payments were lower than those who did not select the add-on option.
– Delhi: 38% of ride requests with an add-on were accepted, compared to 62% without an add-on.
– Bengaluru: 40% of ride requests with an add-on were accepted, compared to 68% without an add-on.
– Mumbai: 39% of ride requests with an add-on were accepted, compared to 68% without an add-on.
The CCPA said that while the company claimed that add-on payments did not influence a driver’s decision to accept a ride, its app simultaneously suggested that paying extra could help passengers get a cab faster. The authority considered this practice misleading to consumers.
CCPA Flags Unfair Collection Of Money In The Name Of Tips
According to the CCPA, tips are generally voluntary payments made after the completion of a service. However, Ola was seeking additional payments from passengers before their rides had even begun.
This was despite passengers already paying a fare at the time of booking, which includes factors such as peak-hour pricing and the distance a driver has to travel to reach the pickup location.
The authority also found that the add-on amounts, which ranged from Rs 10 to Rs 40 in May 2025, had subsequently increased to as much as Rs 140. The app also offered passengers an option to pay up to Rs 499.
The company failed to clarify the basis on which these additional amounts were determined, the authority said.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) penalized Ola’s operating company, ANI Technologies, for prompting passengers to pay tips or additional amounts before rides were completed in order to book them faster. The authority ruled that this practice constituted misleading advertising and unfair trade practices under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Ask News18About the Author
Saurabh Verma is a Deputy News Editor at News18.com, specialising in Indian politics and breaking global news. With years of experience tracking election strategies, he decodes domestic issues for mil…Read More
November 13, 2026, 16:14 IST
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