How Much to Tip Your Rideshare Driver

Posted on June 1st, 2022

With the increased popularity of ride-hailing and ride-sharing services comes the question of tipping. How much should you tip a rideshare driver for a ride? Should you tip if the driver was rude or didn’t follow the route properly?

When it comes to tipping, you want to know precisely how much you need to tip your driver. We have answers to all your tipping-related questions below.

Why Should You Tip Your Rideshare Driver?

When you take a ride through ridesharing, you might think the rate alone is adequate, especially given the cost of the ride. However, the driver might be getting a very meager amount from the total fare. Here are some reasons why:

Ride-sharing companies take a percentage of the driver’s income. Although Uber calculates that it only takes 25%, the percentage can be as high as 42% in some cases, which leaves the driver with very little.

Drivers don’t only have to pay for fuel. They also have other expenses like maintenance, repairs, taxes and more.

The initial distance that the driver travels to come to your location is referred to as “dead miles” since the driver doesn’t get paid for them.

Arden Clise, the author of Spinach in Your Boss’s Teeth and President of Clise Etiquette says, “The drivers don’t make much money to begin with… so tips help drivers to make a somewhat livable wage.”

If a ride’s fare is $30, you might think it’s sufficient for the distance you’re traveling. But the driver is not getting paid $30 – more like $15, and that’s before calculating their expenses. At that rate, it’s best if you compensate them through a tip.

How Much Should You Tip Your Uber or Lyft Driver?

If you’re wondering how much to tip a Lyft driver, it’s similar to what you would be expected to tip at a hair salon, nail salon or restaurant.

Brett Helling, the owner of Ridester and a former Uber driver, says you should tip 10% to 20%, depending on how good the service was.

Meanwhile, Julia Boyd, an etiquette consultant, says you should tip 15% to 20% if the service is exceptional, 15% if it’s good and 10% if it’s average.

Original Post:https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/financial-planning/how-much-to-tip-your-uber-or-lyft-driver/