Comments on: How to Tip a Cab Driver

on 10/8/2008 If you only have enough money for your fare but you think the driver provided a good service, simply apologize and explain that you wish you could tip him but cannot afford to at that time. Cabbies are human (I know, I drove a cab all through college and have recently gone back to it while I finish my emergency management degree) and a little thanks and appreciation goes a long way even if it doesn't help pay the bills or put gas in the cab, which at current prices is my single biggest expense. If the service was truly excellent, ask for their card and call them when you need a ride..and tip well when you can afford it. Assuming that you're not in such a big city that personal service is next to impossible, the average cabbie knows a good customer when they see one and will treat you like gold.

on 7/1/2008 Lots of service positions (cab drivers, restaurant waiters, valet drivers, etc) receive very little from their employer for their work. The way the system is set up, tips are required for these service men/women to receive any take-home pay. As a waitress, my weekly paycheck from my restaurant would usually be only a few dollars and occasionally only change ($2.13 an hour with subtracted taxes). I relied on tips for my salary. A tip should always be given (except for extreme circumstances of maltreatment) and the variance should be in how much. 15% for average service, 20% or more for good or great service.

on 12/9/2007 My question is for anyone who will answer. Why tip a cab driver in the first place, he or she is providing a service. Let's not make it general rule to tip, but tip because of excellent service, these services should include but are not limited to baggage handling, prompt door service, cleanliness both cab and driver. I am sure most of you get the idea. What I do not want to happen is that I only have fare for my destination and feel guilty because I was unable to tip.

on 12/9/2007 My question is for anyone who will answer. Why tip a cab driver in the first place, he or she is providing a service. Let's not make it general rule to tip, but tip because of excellent service, these services should include but are not limited to baggage handling, prompt door service, cleanliness both cab and driver. I am sure most of you get the idea. What I do not want to happen is that I only have fare for my destination and feel guilty because I was unable to tip.

on 12/8/2007 Tipping a cab driver is counterproductive. There is no reason to tip to ensure good future service because you usually get a different driver everytime. Just pay to the nearest dollar and let them keep the change (coin) part.

on 12/8/2007 Tipping a cab driver is counterproductive. There is no reason to tip to ensure good future service because you usually get a different driver everytime. Just pay to the nearest dollar and let them keep the change (coin) part.

on 12/8/2007 Tipping a cab driver is counterproductive. There is no reason to tip to ensure good future service because you usually get a different driver everytime. Just pay to the nearest dollar and let them keep the change (coin) part.

on 3/13/2007 Sorry, one more thing... I'm going to Jamaica, but before that, I want to say: Tip $5.00 for a short trip (no matter what the fare is, even if the fare is $6.00) and $5.00 for every 30 minutes of the cabie's time after 20 minutes. If everyone who gets in a cab follows that guideline you can be assured of a good ride with a happy driver, and a happy driver is a safer driver.

on 3/13/2007 Oh yes. tipping. What a joke. I have been driving a cab in a "wealthy" suburb of New York for 5 years. There is just no excuse I can think of not to tip a cab driver!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Generously!!!!!! It's not like driving around these streets is an easy thing. It takes extreme skill and concentration. That's why you aren't driving, and you obviously don't want to take a bus, or walk. But it's unbelievable how many people will get into a cab, argue with the cab driver over fares, stress the driver out to riddiculous extents, force the driver into hard labor and walk away leaving maybe 1.00 or if you are really felling like a millionaire you might cough up 3.00 Come on people, you are putting cabbies out of work by the thousands. When there are no more decent cab drivers around, there will only be gypsies, good luck in your new world of transportation nightmares.

on 8/8/2006 I drove a cab in Los Angeles for a year and a half. In L.A. and many cities, cabbies are not paid a fixed wage. We lease the cab from the cab company for (in my case) $500 a week, put our own money into the gas tank, and whatever we're left with from meter fares and tips is our income. With gas prices the way they are nowadays, there are many days when I'd work 12 or 14 hours in a day and go home with maybe $50, after the lease fees and gas expenses. Tips can truly make or break a cab driver's living, more so than waiters and waitresses.

Particularly if your cab driver is nice, polite, knowledgeable of the city in which he drives, and gets you where you're going in a safe, yet speedy manner, consider tipping anywhere from 15% to 25% of the meter fare. If you "work a deal" with the cabbie for a long trip where you end up paying substantially less than what the meter fare would have been, factor that into your tip calculation as well.

Naturally, though, if you get a cabbie who barely speaks the language, has no clue where he's going, smells funny, and narrowly avoids multiple crashes in a three-mile trip, feel free not to add anything to the meter fare.

on 6/30/2006 I drove a cab in Los Angeles for a year and a half. In L.A. and many cities, cab drivers are not paid a fixed wage. We lease the cab from the cab company for (in my case) $500 a week, put our own money into the gas tank, and whatever we're left with from meter fares and tips is our income. With gas prices the way they are nowadays, there are many days when I'd work 12 or 14 hours in a day and go home with maybe $50 after the lease fees and gas expenses. Tips can truly make or break a cab driver's living, more so than waiters and waitresses. Tip your driver! Particularly if your cab driver is nice, polite, knowledgeable of the city in which he drives, and gets you where you're going in a safe, yet speedy manner. Consider tipping anywhere from 15% to 25% of the meter fare. If you "work a deal" with the cabbie for a long trip, where you end up paying substantially less than what the meter fare would have been, factor that into your tip calculation as well.

Naturally, though, if you get a cabbie who barely speaks the language, has no clue where he's going, smells funny, and narrowly avoids multiple crashes in a three-mile trip, feel free not to add anything to the meter fare.

on 11/22/2005 Never, never, never discuss fares when you get into a cab. Find out the cost of your journey BEFORE you get into a cab or you will be taken for a rid (pun intended).

Also, in some countries (especially Morocco) beware of loading your luggage into the trunk since it is quite common for the driver to pull away at this point - leaving you standing.