Baby Boomers lead use of car-hailing services in India, younger users opt for bikes

Latest research from YouGov highlights that car services remain the most widely used ride-hailing option in India, with 61% of respondents saying they booked a cab through platforms such as Uber, Ola, or Rapido in the past 12 months. This is followed by auto rickshaws (53%) and bike or scooty rides (44%). Only 15% of urban Indians say they haven’t used any of these services during this period.

Gender gaps and generational divides

While car and auto rickshaw usage is nearly identical between men and women (around 61% and 53%, respectively), a significant gender gap emerges for two-wheelers: 51% of men report using bike or scooty ride services, compared to only 37% of women.

Generational patterns also stand out. Older generations, such as Baby Boomers, prioritise comfort and reliability, reflected in their high car usage (82%) and low bike use (14%). They also lead in auto rickshaw usage (62%). On the flip side, millennials are the top users of bike services (51%), followed closely by Gen Z (46%), valuing speed and affordability.

Regionally, South India shows the highest auto rickshaw usage (60%), while West India tops in car usage (69%) but ranks lowest in bike services (36%). East and Northeast India present more balanced usage across categories, though their auto rickshaw use is comparatively lower (42%).

Convenience drives adoption

For those who do use ride-hailing services, convenience is a key driver. 46% book rides to avoid parking hassles or for long-distance travel (such as to the airport), while 44% use them for commuting to work or college, and 42% for social outings. These use cases are especially prominent among millennials and Gen X, who lead in ride-hailing usage across all these situations.

Among the 15% of respondents who have not used these services in the past 12 months, the reasons vary. Around 32% say they rely on public transport, while 30% prefer using their own vehicle. Cost remains a barrier for some, with 13% saying these services are too expensive, and 12% reporting that ride-hailing options are not available in their area. Trust and safety also play a role: 9% express a lack of trust in these apps, and 6% are concerned about their personal safety when using them.

Ride-hailing behaviour post pandemic

Despite growing concern around health and hygiene related to Covid19, 39% report no change in their ride-hailing habits. 14% say they use such services more frequently, while 30% report a decline in usage.

Older users (Gen X: 44%, Boomers: 52%) are more likely to report stable usage. In contrast, more than a third of millennials (35%) say they’ve scaled back, indicating growing caution among younger but frequent users.

Methodology: YouGov Surveys: Serviced provides quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. The data is based on the responses of 1012 adults aged 18+ years in India, collected online in June 2025. Learn more about YouGov Surveys: Serviced