Uber and DoorDash challenge upcoming NYC law that encourages tipping on food delivery apps, . The two entities filed a joint federal lawsuit ahead of the ruling that will take effect next month.

In 2023, many urban food delivery apps have switched to tip suggestion box after purchases are completed. This is kind of how rideshare apps work. It follows the NYC rule a the first in the country. The new law simply moves the tip box back to the checkout, with a tip of ten percent. Customers are still free to set it to zero, if that’s their thing.

The two companies say this law violates the First Amendment by requiring them to “communicate a message that is mandated by the government.” They also say the rule will cause customers to use the app less because they suffer from “tipping fatigue.” As a customer of food delivery apps, I was never struck by fatigue. But, I have a serious case of “what are all these mysterious charges on my bill and why is my burrito $45?” fatigue.

Food delivery workers in NYC have of tips since apps moved the suggestion field after the purchase was completed. It’s so easy to ignore an app notification while in a food coma on the couch.

“Removing the tipping option is keeping workers in poverty and making them dependent on taking large orders,” said Ligia Guallpa, co-founder of the Workers Justice Project.

Food delivery is still growing in the city. New Yorkers spent more than $265 million on restaurant deliveries in the first half of 2025, up from $183 million in the same period in 2022. Current estimates suggest there are nearly 80,000 delivery workers in NYC.

This particular law has been a small part of the city’s recent mayoral campaign. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani that he supports giving customers the option to tip at checkout. DoorDash donated $1 million to his opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo.