DiDi cancellation fees in Australia
DiDi gives you a few minutes after the driver arrives. Cancel after that waiting time, or fail to show up, and a cancellation or no-show fee can apply. Each city sets its own rules.
How DiDi's cancellation policy works
DiDi's rule for Australian riders comes down to time:
- You can cancel a request while the driver is on the way.
- Once the driver arrives, you get a few minutes to meet them.
- If that waiting time runs out and you cancel, a cancellation fee is charged to cover the driver's travel and time.
- If that waiting time runs out and you have not appeared, the driver can cancel and a no-show fee may apply.
Each city has its own cancellation rules, including how long the free window lasts and the amount. DiDi keeps the city details in its Cancellation Policy, which drivers find in the DiDi Driver app under Account, Settings, Legal. Riders see any fee before confirming a cancellation and in the fare breakdown after.
Where the money goes
Under DiDi's "Dynamic Cancellation Fees" approach, a fee is triggered when the driver has reached the pickup point and waited longer than a set time. All of the cancellation fee goes to the driver. DiDi describes it as compensation for drivers whose trips are cancelled late.
Cancellation fee versus waiting fee
| Situation | What you pay |
|---|---|
| You arrive within 5 minutes of the driver | Normal fare |
| You arrive after 5 minutes | Normal fare plus $0.55 per extra minute until the trip starts |
| The trip is cancelled after the waiting period | Cancellation or no-show fee only, no waiting fee |
More on how fares are built in fares.
Tips to avoid a fee
- Request the ride when you are ready to leave and watch the driver's ETA.
- Set the pickup pin precisely, and use Edit Pickup rather than cancelling if you need to move it (how to book a ride).
- If you will be a minute late, call the driver from the app; numbers are anonymised.
- Bring your own child restraint if you need one, since a driver may not be able to take the trip without it.
- Tell the driver in advance about a pet that is not a service animal; they may cancel otherwise.
When the driver is the problem
If the driver is not moving towards you, takes far too long or asks you to cancel, report it rather than paying a fee for their delay. Driver behaviour like starting trips without the rider or cancelling repeatedly can get a driver suspended. Use the Help Center in the app (contact support).
A driver must not refuse a rider with an assistance animal. If that happens, DiDi refunds any cancellation charge.
Cancelling a DiDi Delivery
A delivery cannot be cancelled once the trip has started. To stop it, change the destination to your return address and the driver brings the parcel back, with the fee adjusted for the extra distance. At pickup the driver waits only 5 minutes before they may cancel and charge a fee. See DiDi Delivery.
Disputing a fee
Open the trip in My Trips, go to the Help Center and explain what happened (for example, the driver never reached the pickup point). While a fare dispute is under review, the trip may show as payment pending and you may not be able to book again until it is resolved (payment).