Ola fined Rs 10 lakh for retaining tip feature despite CCPA warning

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on ride-hailing app Ola for seeking additional payments from consumers while they book trips through a feature named ‘tip’ or ‘add-on’.

Terming the practice ‘misleading’, ‘unfair’ and a ‘dark pattern’, the CCPA also directed Ola to discontinue it. The order was passed by the CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam



Mishra.

The ride-hailing app first introduced the feature on April 27, 2025, following which the CCPA issued a show-cause notice on May 28 and advised Ola to discontinue the practice during a hearing on July 4.

Ola, however, continued the practice by merely renaming the feature from ‘tip’ to ‘add-on’.

According to the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, tipping is allowed only after journeys and the entire tip must go to drivers.