Private Bike Owners Can Now Earn By Renting Their Bikes For Taxi And Delivery Services

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has updated its Motor Vehicles Aggregator Guidelines, enabling private bike owners to rent out their motorcycles to bike taxi operators and app-based delivery services for a fee.

The revised policy, announced on Tuesday, allows state governments to authorize private bike owners to function as shared mobility providers, effectively legitimizing the use of personal bikes for commercial passenger transport and hyperlocal deliveries-a sector that has expanded rapidly in India.

"The state government may allow aggregation of non-transport motorcycles for journeys by passengers as shared mobility through aggregators, resulting in reduced traffic congestion and vehicular pollution, along with providing, inter alia, affordable passenger mobility, hyperlocal delivery, and creating livelihood opportunities," the guidelines state.

In a communication to chief secretaries of states and union territories (UTs), the ministry explained that the revisions aim to align regulations with the evolving motor vehicle aggregator landscape. "The new guidelines attempt to provide a light-touch regulatory system while attending to issues of safety & security of the user and the welfare of the driver," the note said.

States have been given three months to implement the updated guidelines.

The Central Government will set up a dedicated portal for streamlined aggregator license applications, including fee payments and security deposits. Until the portal is operational, states will handle license processing under existing rules.

The guidelines also outline compliance measures for driver onboarding and vehicle engagement. "The aggregator shall develop and maintain a website disclosing details of its ownership, registered address, fare structure, contact information for customer services, e-mail address, services offered by it and other relevant details," the document added.

Major ride-hailing and delivery platforms like Rapido, Ola, and Uber are expected to gain from the policy change, as it allows them to expand bike-based services in participating states.