The customary practice when tipping cab drivers varies, sometimes depending on the city or the country. A good basic rule to follow when calculating how much tip cab drivers should receive is around 15 percent of the fare. If traveling abroad, ask locals what the tipping customs are. You can go more or less than the standard tipping amount depending on how happy you are with your experience.

Two Ways to Tip

When trying to figure out how much tip to give a cab driver, one of your options is to round up the fare to the closest highest tenth. For instance, if the fare is around $16.50, then pay a single $20 bill and tell the cab driver he/she can keep the change.

Another way to determine a good tipping amount is to do some math and calculate by percentage. It is acceptable to tip at the very least 10 percent of the fare, but tipping less than a dollar would be considered rude.

When to Tip More

You certainly have the option to be generous with how much tip to give a cab driver. Some tip-worthy qualities that deserve more than the standard tipping amount are:

– Strong knowledge of the local area: A good cab driver should know his service area like the back of his hand, including alternate routes to take around the city. If you give a street address, he would not need any more directions or should ask for directions only once. He should also be able to tell you the top attractions in the area when you ask.

– Speed: While you don’t want your cab driver to drive in breakneck speed, you also want to get to your destination in the quickest time that is safely possible. If the cab driver is able to do that, even escaping a traffic jam, then that is certainly worth a tip.

– Attitude: Being a cab driver is not easy, and many have become accustomed to many unpleasant things that come with their job, which has unfortunately affected their demeanor. If you happen on a cab driver who is pleasant, helpful, professional, and polite, that in itself is a reason to tip the person.

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