On the subject of tipping your Uber driver, there are a lot of questions and confusion about the right thing to do. How much should you tip? Are you supposed to tip at all? And if you do tip, when is the best time before or after the ride?
There has been a lot of debate surrounding tipping your Uber driver. On the one hand, it’s customary to tip service providers like waiters and even your pet waste removal service, so why wouldn’t you do the same for an Uber driver? They’re providing a service, after all.
On the other hand, drivers for Uber and other ridesharing services are not typically tipped for their services, and many people are unsure of whether or not they should tip them.
We’ve compiled everything you need to know about tipping your Uber driver, so you can make the decision that’s best for you.
What Do Uber Drivers Really Make?
Uber drivers are paid differently than traditional taxi drivers. While taxi drivers make a majority of their earnings from fares, Uber drivers make the bulk of their money through surge pricing and driver bonuses.
What Do Uber Drivers Make Per Hour?
Surge pricing is no different than supply and demand. This means that when demand is high, Uber prices increase until there is enough supply to meet the demand. This surge price can be many times the normal rate, and all of that extra fare goes to the driver.
On top of this, Uber also offers driver bonuses for completing a certain number of rides in a day or week. These bonuses can be significant-sometimes, even doubling a driver’s earnings for the day.
So while it may seem like Uber drivers are only making a few dollars per ride, they’re actually making quite a bit more than that. Average wages per hour for Uber drivers range from $12-$21. Some states also have passed laws for a minimum wage per hour for uber rides and Lyft drivers.
When the right variables exist, this may be one of the flexible jobs to make over 100k in income.
What Do Uber Drivers Make Per Mile?
Uber drivers can also earn money through mileage. For every mile that a driver drives, they earn a small amount of money from Uber. This rate is usually around $0.62-$1.10 per mile.
Location dictates how much an Uber driver can earn per mile. In more rural areas, where fewer riders are, drivers earn less per mile. In urban areas with a high demand for rides, drivers can earn more per mile.
Are You Supposed to Tip Uber Drivers?
Tipping your Uber driver is important for a few reasons:
- It’s a positive way to show your appreciation for their service.
- It helps to ensure that you receive good service the next time you ride with them.
- It helps to ensure that Uber drivers are compensated fairly for the work they do.
While tipping is not required, it is highly recommended. Tipping drivers is also a great way to show your support for the ridesharing industry.
How Much Should You Tip Your Uber Driver?
On the topic of tipping your Uber driver, there are a lot of questions and confusion about the right thing to do. How much should you tip? Are you supposed to tip at all? And if you do tip, when is the best time before or after the ride?
Many people have questions on tipping and are unsure of whether or not they should tip their Uber driver. The main reason for this is because drivers for Uber and other ridesharing services are not typically tipped for their services.
- As a generality, you should tip your Uber driver 10-20% of the total fare. For example, if your fare is $10, you should tip your driver $1-$2.
How Much Should You Tip When Riding With Other Passengers?
For Uber tipping, a lot of people wonder how much to tip when they are with a group of people. After all, you are only paying for one fare, so does that mean you should only tip 10-20% of that one fare?
The answer is no. When riding with other passengers, you should tip 10-20% of the total fare, divided among all of the passengers. So, if there are four passengers and the fare is $10, each passenger should tip $0.50-$1.00.
Can You Tip Uber Drivers in Cash?
Uber drivers can be tipped in cash, but there are advantages and disadvantages to doing so.
Advantages to Tipping Your Driver in Cash
- Allows riders to tip without the use of a credit card
- It gives drivers more control over how much they earn
- Carrying cash on hand is good for hotels that take cash as well
Disadvantages to Tipping Your Driver in Cash
However, there are some downsides to paying cash tips as well.
- Riders may not have enough cash on hand
- Difficult to carry tip amount with them
- Drivers may not have immediate access to the cash for change
Ultimately, paying cash tips to Uber drivers is up to the rider’s discretion. Cash makes a lot of sense if the rider doesn’t have a credit card or if they want to give the driver more control over their earnings.
However, cash can be difficult to carry around, and it may not be immediately accessible to the driver. You can find 7-Eleven check cashing stores to get cash in hand.
When to Tip Your Uber Driver Extra?
You can tip your Uber driver extra for exceptional service. If your driver helps you or goes above and beyond to make sure you have a comfortable and safe ride, a tip of an additional 10-20% is appropriate.
Some situations where you may want to tip your driver extra include:
- Your driver helped you with your luggage
- Your driver got you to your destination quickly
- Your driver made an effort to avoid traffic
- Your driver was friendly and personable
- Your driver went out of their way to accommodate you
Many people tip drivers extra for extra service such as the tasks above. Additionally, if a driver helps with grocery bags or helps you get out of the vehicle, most riders have no problem giving extra cash.
Demonstrated Excellent Service
Some riders also tip their drivers extra for 5-star services, such as allowing them to use a phone charger during their uber ride. These extras help boost the passenger rating after the ride.
On Long Trips
If you are traveling a long distance to your drop-off location, such as a rural area, you should tip more money as there are fewer passengers for your driver to pick up on their return.
When drivers are unable to pick up a new passenger on a return trip, those miles are called “dead miles.” A driver still has a cost, but there isn’t a ride fare to offset the costs because the driver doesn’t have a passenger to charge the fare to.
So, a longer trip may be less profitable than several short trips a driver could pick up by staying in an urban area simply due to dead miles.
While this isn’t required to tip people extra dollars, it’s a nice way to show your appreciation for great service.
How Much to Tip Uber Driver to Airport
When you call an Uber to take you to the airport, you should expect to tip at least 20%. This is similar to the service a curbside skycap would provide. They will help you with your luggage and make sure you get to your destination safely. If your Uber driver goes above and beyond, you can always adjust your tip accordingly. A little extra money can go a long way for someone who is trying to make a living. So, the next time you schedule an Uber to the airport, be sure to keep this in mind.
When to Not Tip Your Uber Driver
There are some isolated situations where you should not tip your Uber driver. Many drivers expect tips, but there are some situations where a tip is not necessary.
- If the driver was rude or disrespectful, you are not obligated to tip.
- If they deny you Uber rides because of your service animal. Note: They can lose their ability to drive for Uber.
- If the driver got lost or took a long time to get you to your destination, you are not obligated to tip.
- If the driver was unsafe or made you feel uncomfortable, you are not obligated to tip.
- If the driver had a, I don’t want to work attitude.
- If the driver made multiple stops for personal reasons.
In general, you should only tip your Uber driver if you have had a good experience. If the driver did not meet your expectations, you are not required to tip.
Do You Tip Uber Drivers Before or After Your Uber Ride?
Ride-hailing companies work similarly to taxis in that you pay for your ride before you get out. This is when you also tip your driver. After the ride has ended and you have arrived at your destination, you can rate your experience and leave a tip if you choose.
It is considered proper etiquette to tip your driver after your Uber ride has ended. There are many Quora responses on this topic. This is because you are able to see how the driver performed and if they provided good service before you leave a tip.
Some people prefer to tip their drivers before the ride ends so that they do not forget, but this is not necessary. You can go back into the app after your ride and leave a tip after your ride has ended.
What Happens If You Don’t Tip Your Uber Driver?
If you don’t tip your Uber driver, nothing will happen. The driver will still get paid the same amount and receives compensation. You will not be charged extra after the trip ends.
How to Tip Your Uber Driver
If you are curious about the best ways how to tip your driver, we have a few suggestions.
1. Tip in Cash
The best way to tip your driver is in cash. This is because the driver can immediately receive the tip and does not have to wait for it to process. There are instant online check cashing options to get your cash fast.
If you tip with cash, be sure to hand the tip directly to your driver. Many drivers keep a small jar or container in their car for tips. If you are unsure if your driver has a tip jar, you can always ask before giving them the money.
2. Tip Through Uber App
Another way to tip your Uber driver is through the app. You can add any tip after rating your experience at the end of the ride. The tip will then be processed and added to the total fare of the ride, which is charged to the credit card on file.
3. Tip Through Other Payment Apps
If you don’t have cash or don’t want to tip through the Uber app, there are other ways you can tip your driver. You can use apps like PayPal or Venmo to send money directly to your driver.
4. Tip Through PayPal
- To tip through PayPal, open the app and select “Send Money.”
- Enter your amount you want to tip, and the email address or phone number associated with your driver’s account.
- Tap “Next” and then “Send Now.”
You can also send money anonymously on PayPal to other places besides Uber.
5. Tip Through Venmo
- To tip through Venmo, open the app and tap “Payment.”
- Enter the exact amount you want to tip and the name of your driver.
- Tap “Pay” and then “Charge.”
Both of these methods require an account with the respective payment app.
No matter how you choose to tip your driver, be sure to do it after your ride has ended and, you have had a chance to rate the experience. This will ensure that your driver gets the tip and knows that you appreciate their service.
How Do I Tip My Driver Through The Uber App?
Tipping your Uber driver through the app is easy and convenient. To tip your driver:
- Open the Uber app and go to “Your Trips.”
- Select the trip you want to tip and tap “Rate & Review.”
- Leave a star rating and write a review of your experience.
- At the bottom of the screen, select “Add Tip.”
- Enter the extra amount you want to tip and tap “Done.”
- Tap “Submit” to finish rating your trip.
Many riders prefer to include a few extra dollars in-app tipping to guarantee that their tip will make it to the driver.
With the service industry and the gig economy, an Uber or Lyft driver is the one who has to cover most of the taxes because they are working for themselves.
That’s why you should absolutely tip your driver. It’s a kind way to say thank you for getting you from point A to B, and it’s the right thing to do.
Do Uber Eats Drivers Know if You Tip?
Yes, Uber Eats drivers and rideshare drivers have their own apps on their phones, and they’ll see your tip amount for each order. When the tip after delivery is included, the driver will get a push notification, and their income breakdown will be updated if customers pay after delivery.
However, if you tip in cash, the driver will not be able to see the tip amount in their app.
Does Uber Eats Drivers See Your Tip Before Delivery?
Yes, the tip is visible in the app before the driver decides to accept the delivery order. It’s always a good idea if you have a tipping option to add a couple bucks to the tip to make sure the driver accepts your order.
Unless you want to eat off your basic college grocery list for the rest of your life, tipping and knowing how much to tip is smart.
How Much Do Uber Eats Drivers Make Without Tips?
Tips are a big part of Uber Eats drivers’ income, and without tips, their earnings would be significantly lower.
According to the site Glassdoor, the average hourly pay for an Uber Eats driver is $11.77. But, when you factor in average tips, the average hourly pay jumps to $15.00.
That’s a difference of $3.23 per hour, or almost $13 extra per day.
Without tips, a delivery could pay an Uber Eats driver as little as $2.50 if it’s a delivery under 2.5 miles. That’s without any average tip. If it’s a delivery trip around 5 miles, your base delivery pay is around $3.50.
If the food isn’t ready and the driver has to wait for the food, then the driver loses more money in lost time.
So, if you’re wondering about the protocol on whether or not you should tip your Uber Eats driver, the answer is a resounding yes! Even the smallest of tips can make a big difference in their earnings.
What Pays More Uber Eats or Uber?
In general, tips tend to make up a higher percentage of Uber Eats drivers’ income than they do for Uber drivers.
According to data from 2018, the average tip received by an Uber driver was $1.78, while the average tip received by an Uber Eats driver was $2.83.
This may be in part because tipping is built into the Uber Eats app, making it easier for customers to tip than it is for those using Uber.
Additionally, since there is no surge pricing for food delivery, customers are not as incentivized to tip their drivers more during high-demand times.
That said, it’s always a great idea to tip your driver if you’ve had a good experience, regardless of which service you’re using.
There are other options, such as make money with PayPal $1000 per day if you are looking for a side job.
Remember, your Uber driver is providing a valuable service, and it’s always appreciated when riders show their appreciation with a tip. So, next time you take an Uber, be sure to tip your driver!
Additional Reasons To Tip Uber Driver
While it’s always a good idea to tip your driver, there are a few additional reasons to consider tipping a little extra.
They Are Independent Contractors
First, as we mentioned earlier, Uber and Lyft drivers are considered independent contractors. This means that as independent contractors, they are responsible for their own taxes, which can be a significant expense.
Tipping your driver is one way to help offset this cost.
Drivers Faced Alleged Pay Discrepancies
Second, Uber and Lyft have both been criticized for their treatment of drivers. In 2017, Uber was accused of using its software to deliberately reduce the amount of money drivers earned per fare.
And in 2019, Lyft was sued by a group of drivers for allegedly failing to pay them minimum wage. Tipping them is a great way to do it if you want to show your support for rideshare drivers.
Many Delivery Services Rely on Tips
Finally, it’s worth noting that Uber and Lyft drivers are not the only ones who appreciate tips. If you use a delivery service like Postmates or DoorDash, you should tip your driver as well.
While these noted companies have been criticized for their low pay, most drivers still rely on tips to earn a livable wage.
So, tipping is important. A tip can make a big difference in your driver’s earnings, and it’s always appreciated.