In Chicago, I believe tipping is a common practice and even mandatory in some industries. The question here, though, is if this also applies to taxis? Another question is how much to tip cab drivers? Obviously, taxi drivers aren’t really rolling in the dough so a tip is always greatly appreciated. A large portion of a cabbie’s income comes from tips. So for those who want to become better acquainted with the tipping protocol when it comes to taxis, below are some points that you might be interested in.
Tipping Taxis
If you happen to be one of those people who do not tip taxi drivers since you think that paying them the fare that is indicated in the meter is enough, then you are wrong. It is actually a common practice to tip cabbies. Also, if you are in the habit of tipping, but you do not really think too much about the amount and just give them whatever change you have in your pocket, then you may be violating tipping protocol. According to experts, if you tip your taxi driver less than 12.5% of the total amount of your fare then you are not tipping properly.
The thing here is that even though riders today tend to be more generous with their tips as compared to people back in the day, the amount of the tips they give isn’t really up to par with fare rates today. In New York, the Taxi and Limousine Commission found out that the average passenger that paid with a credit card would only tip about 15.5% since the fares went up. That is down a couple of points from the 17% that they gave back in 2010 and 2011. In 2009, they tipped more at 22%.
Some riders may be opting to tip less so they can lower the overall cost of taking a cab especially since fares have increased. This is according to Michael Lynn, a professor of consumer behavior and marketing at Cornell University.
The Right Amount to Give
According to Peter Post, managing director of The Emily Post Institute and author of Essential Manners for Men, he suggests that it is good to start at 15% of the total fare and just round it up from there. He also stated that drivers who exhibit extra courteousness and service may be deserving of a dollar or two extra. So for instance, if the driver helps with your luggage and knows what shortcuts to take so you reach your flight on time, then he definitely deserves more than just 15%.
For those who are travelling in Chicago, you may want to keep these rates in mind. This is the standard tipping practice and you may want to increase or decrease the tip according to your overall taxi experience.
Another thing you may want to know is that you can easily call for a cab in Chicago using the Universal Taxi app. This app by Universal Taxi allows you to call for a cab using your mobile phone.