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A bill in progress in Rio de Janeiro promises to revolutionize the rules of ride-hailing! Uber and 99 drivers may be required to pay compensations to passengers for cancelled rides. Find out how this will impact drivers and platforms, and what is at stake for everyone involved!
A new bill in progress in the City Council of Rio de Janeiro could change the rules for ride-hailing drivers.
If approved, drivers from Uber, 99, and other transportation platforms will be required to pay a compensation to the passenger whenever they cancel a ride after accepting it.
Bill number 254/2025, authored by councilman Márcio Santos (PV), proposes that passengers receive a credit equivalent to 5% of the estimated fare directly in the app.
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The credit would be automatically available in the user’s account and would be valid for 30 days.
According to the proposal, the measure aims to compensate the inconveniences caused to passengers and encourage platforms to improve service quality.
What The Bill Says
According to the text, the credit will be granted in cases of cancellations made by the driver or by the platform itself after the ride confirmation.
However, cancellations made by the passenger would not entitle them to compensation.
Additionally, situations of “force majeure” and violations of app rules by the passenger would also be exceptions.
Ride-hailing companies will be required to maintain detailed records of cancellations and credits granted, as well as provide customer support channels for questions and complaints.
According to the text, the platforms must inform passengers about the credit policy at the time of ride request.
If companies fail to comply with the requirements, they will face penalties ranging from warnings to fines of R$ 10,000 per infraction.
In case of recurrence, the penalty amount may be doubled and, in more severe cases, the company may even face temporary suspension of its activities in the municipality.
Who Should Pay the Bill?
Despite providing compensation to the passenger, the bill does not clarify who will be responsible for paying the compensation.
The lack of definition may cause concern among drivers, who fear that the amount will be deducted directly from their earnings.
Currently, the cancellation policy varies by platform. Uber, for example, charges a fee from passengers who cancel a ride after a certain waiting time, while drivers can cancel freely without penalty.
If the new law is approved, the relationship between drivers and apps may change significantly.
Ride-hailing drivers report that, in many cases, they are forced to cancel rides for safety reasons, such as inappropriate passenger behavior or suspicion of robbery.
Without a clear definition regarding exceptions, the new rule may unjustly penalize drivers who cancel for legitimate reasons.
Progress of the Bill to Fine Uber Drivers
Bill 254/2025 was filed on March 24 and still needs to go through six committees before being voted on in the City Council plenary.
If approved, it will proceed to the sanction or veto of Mayor Eduardo Paes (PSD).
The proposal has generated controversy among drivers and passengers.
While some passengers support the measure as a way to ensure greater commitment from drivers, drivers argue that they often cancel rides due to safety issues or due to the lack of accurate information about the final destination.
The lack of definition regarding who will bear the costs of compensation is one of the main points of criticism of the bill.
Currently, other cities in Brazil and around the world are discussing similar regulations to balance the rights of passengers and drivers.
In some areas, laws require apps to provide more transparent information about cancellations, while other legislations seek to penalize excessive cancellations.
What do you think of this proposal? Should drivers be penalized for cancellations, or should the responsibility be shared with ride-hailing companies?
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