How much to tip a taxi?

[tvp2003]

I don't take cabs very often -- usually just on days I work late (on the company tab). How much are you supposed to tip? Is it the standard 10-15% or higher than that?

I spent some time in Toronto and they would give crazy tips (I looked once and the guy got $7 tip on a $8 fare); someone told me it's because it's tougher for cab drivers to make money in Toronto so higher tipping is the norm.

Also, does it matter if the fare is $10? $40?

[rubecube]

I used to be very generous when I tipped taxis. Now that I've been ripped off and had quite a few rotten experiences with them, I usually only tip 5%-10%.

[jammies]

They won't topple over until you tip them past 90%, so make sure you have enough friends to get that sucker all the way up.

[CrusaderPi]

0

Unless your taking a taxi to and fro. Then a good tip on the way to wherever you're going could get you a 'cash' deal on the way back.

[gottabekd]

People often talk about tipping their server at their favourite eating/drinking establishment, to ensure good service upon their next visit.

But how often do you get the same cabbie? Cabs are so expensive to begin with, it seems excessive to tip. HOWEVER, I will tip them because it is expected, not because I want to. 10-20%, whatever is convenient based on the cash I have.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

depends on my circumstances, how good of a cabbie they are.

I find if you get talking and carrying on with the cabbie the fare is lower than if you just sit their quietly. (Mind you in a small place like Sydney they don't run meters, more call dispatch and ask how much from Herman's to the River).

If I'm walking, and it's raining, and they stop, I'm so greatful that I'll tip well. I've given $15 on an $8 ride, if it was raining, they stopped, and were good to talk to (which is normally the case here anyway)

[V]

Precisely $0.00

[CrusaderPi]

You probably don't take cabs to often, do you V? Isn't really the mode of transport I envision you in.

[V]

Nah, I'd rather walk than pay that exorbitant fee.

Besides, everywhere I go I go in class. That '87 Buick is all style.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by V

Precisely $0.00

Really $0.00? Like if it's $19.50 and you've got a $20 you'll wait while he counts out the change?

Tipping a cabbie is like tipping in a restaurant you never go to -- tip the good ones and stiff the bad ones. If the person does a good job it's a decent thing to give them a few extra bucks for their trouble, even if you don't get anything out of it.

Considering some of the impossibly bad service we get in all sorts of places, I'm happy to tip for good service. Maybe the next guy will get it too, and the one after that and then it'll come all the way 'round back to me.

[Temporary_User]

I had a cabbie over the weekend, I know the way around the city pretty well, and i noticed him trying to take the long way, so I said to him "turn here", to get him to go the quicker way. he tried to argue with me, but I insisted.
We were talking the whole time, and i found out he was from S. Africa, He got talking about the states, and said he didn't like Americans. (being from the States myself, I took mild offense to this, although I never told him where I was from) He told me he formed this opinion from a weeks vacation in New Jersey.
When I got to where I needed to be, the fare was $24.10. I gave him $25, and he had the nerve to say to me "what no tip?"
haha, I just laughed and said to him that it is in there.
p.s. I normally do tip cabbies fairly well... My fares are normally less than $15, and I will typically tip $2-3

[urban1]

Depends on the situation...

If the guy is a ###### who spends the whole time on the cell phone, takes the long route, and and is rude, then I will make him give me the 50cents backs from the $20 bill.

If the cabbie is friendly, talkative if i want to talk, quiet if i want it quiet, takes some short cuts, and especially if I flagged him down at a busy time, then he will get a good tip.

If you take cabs often, its worthwhile to get their business cards and then call the drivers directly. Especially if you take cabs during rush hour or during friday and saturday nights. Good luck getting a cab thru dispatch or even flagging one down. If you call a driver directly you can get him to pick you up or he'll hook you up with someone who can.

Cabbies are pretty good resources for good clubs, restaurants, etc when youre in a new city. They can tell you whats happening when.

And when travalling on business, dont be afraid to add in those tips.

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Really $0.00? Like if it's $19.50 and you've got a $20 you'll wait while he counts out the change?

Tipping a cabbie is like tipping in a restaurant you never go to -- tip the good ones and stiff the bad ones. If the person does a good job it's a decent thing to give them a few extra bucks for their trouble, even if you don't get anything out of it.

Considering some of the impossibly bad service we get in all sorts of places, I'm happy to tip for good service. Maybe the next guy will get it too, and the one after that and then it'll come all the way 'round back to me.

[V]

I don't know, I've never paid. Every time I've used the cab I've had vouchers after corporate sponsored events. But I don't tip extra. Maybe I would if I hurled in his backseat. Just because I'm nice.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

I had a cabbie over the weekend, I know the way around the city pretty well, and i noticed him trying to take the long way, so I said to him "turn here", to get him to go the quicker way. he tried to argue with me, but I insisted.
We were talking the whole time, and i found out he was from S. Africa, He got talking about the states, and said he didn't like Americans. (being from the States myself, I took mild offense to this, although I never told him where I was from) He told me he formed this opinion from a weeks vacation in New Jersey.
When I got to where I needed to be, the fare was $24.10. I gave him $25, and he had the nerve to say to me "what no tip?"
haha, I just laughed and said to him that it is in there.
p.s. I normally do tip cabbies fairly well... My fares are normally less than $15, and I will typically tip $2-3

The guy's a liar. Who would ever vacation in New Jersey?

[4X4]

Originally Posted by V

I don't know, I've never paid. Every time I've used the cab I've had vouchers after corporate sponsored events. But I don't tip extra. Maybe I would if I hurled in his backseat. Just because I'm nice.

I don't know whether to attack you in this thread or in the tax thread. I guess I'm better shutting my face altogether.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Barnes

The guy's a liar. Who would ever vacation in New Jersey?

Someone from South Africa that doesn't know any better?

[Locke]

It depends on what I've got in cash. I try to tip fairly well unless the guy is a complete psycho.

To not tip a cabbie? I would never do that. I know that if I ever did that, something very Seinfeldian would happen and he'd be the driver the next time I got a cab.

That or he'd see me in the street and run me down like roadkill.

My life tends to be like that.

[Regorium]

I tip based mostly on the route he chooses to take. Especially if I'm familiar and have a pretty good idea of where we're going, and he takes the long way, I give him exactly $0 in tip (maybe rounded up to next dollar if I'm nice). Otherwise I tip 10% to the nearest $5.

[BlAcKNoVa]

Lately I've been lazy so I've been taking cabs home from work. Fare costs about $7 so I usually just give a $10.

I really don't like giving tips (would be nice getting tips doing my job lol) but I do it anyways.

I've really only had one bad experience in a cab. Guy took a long way to my destination after I told him what route to take, so my fare was almost $15 more then usual. I refused to give him the whole thing and payed the usual $30 it costed me. He didn't argue with me, as he saw I was pretty ticked off.

[dubc80]

I always tip, usually based on how much cash I have on me, and how much the fair ends up being. If I'm charging it to my company card, I'll likely give a bit more.

I find some cabbies are absolutely hilarious once you get talking to them. I've had some very fun times going to/from the bar with buddies. Most of them have funny stories to tell. One cabbie told me he got invited into a chicks place cause she had no money for the cab ride, and she was willing to re-imburse using other methods! LOL

On the other hand, Ive also encountered cabbies who haven't showered in days, or are likely under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Some cabbies are actually quite educated but Canada doesn't acknowledge their educational accomplishments obtained in their home country. Some are lawyers, engineers, skilled trades people, accountants, etc. It would be tough to regulate this though, because the requirements to obtain a P.Eng in Zimbabwe for example, are likely different (lower?) than Canada.