Tipping Etiquette for Taxi Services
Many people become confused over the proper tipping etiquette for services rendered. Should I tip a waitress for bad service? Should I tip the owner of a beauty salon if she does my hair? We all know the basics of tipping but there may be some instances where you are not sure of who or how much to tip. The following is a brief guide for tipping etiquette for taxi services.
It is always important to tip your taxi cab driver when you reach your destination. Though it is not required, it is customary to tip for good service. It is reasonable to assume that the tips he receives from a fare will count towards the main portion of his salary. If he is a good driver and goes above and beyond, consider tipping him generously. If he is rude and unhelpful, then give him a smaller tip.
Taxi drivers earn their tips according to the service they provide. He is considered a good driver if he handles baggage, opens doors and provides pick-up for a return trip. It is also important to notice the cleanliness of the taxi and whether or not safe driving is involved.
The rule of thumb for tipping taxi drivers is 15% of the total fare. If the driver helps with baggage or makes additional stops, then he should be tipped up to 20%. The least amount for tipping should never be under 10%. Once you realize that you are going to be using a taxi service, make sure that you have at least 10% of the fare to give as a tip. Consider carrying a small amount of money with you just for this purpose. Most people do tip closer to 15% with 10% being the bare minimum.
When paying your fare and preparing your tip, it can be difficult to figure out what is expected for the tip. Sometimes it is more convenient to tell the taxi driver to keep the change from the fare than it is to try to figure out the cost of a tip. This is a great idea as long as the change is not less than 10%.
Consider tipping the driver more if you ask him to wait for you while you stop at your apartment to pick up something you forgot or need to change clothes. Additionally, consider an extra tip if he is willing to wait for a period of time to return you home.
Helping with baggage can also be dealt with by paying him a tip per bag. It is common to pay $1 per bag and $2 if they are extra heavy bags.
Always be sure that if someone else is picking up the tab then he/she should also be responsible for the tipping of the driver. If this is not done, then take on the responsibility yourself.