Is it Ever Okay to Not Tip Your Rideshare Driver?

Tipping is a part of American society and culture. It is not mandatory by law, but it is a mandatory practice deemed so by the social powers that be. People in the service industry often depend on tips to make a decent wage. That being said, you do not have to tip your rideshare driver. It is not mandatory, just common practice. 

Rideshare drivers receive tips for a job well done. So what happens when they do not do a great job? You can leave them a smaller tip than you would have, or you can leave them no tip at all. There are times when a driver doesn’t do a great job for any number of reasons. This can be frustrating. If you feel they did not provide a service worthy of a tip, then tipping is at your discretion. 

Tips are nice. It’s money. It also give the driver a warm fuzzy feeling of a job well done. If your driver goes out of their way to help you, tipping is the right thing to do. You should definitely tip your driver if they help with your luggage or go above and beyond. Tipping in cash is always a great way to tip as the driver is aware immediately that you tipped. Rideshare drivers, and workers in all service industries, prefer cash tips. It is easier for them. You don’t have to tip in cash, though. You can always add it on to the amount charged. When tipping, 10% is a low tip and 20% is a good tip. For rideshare drivers, anywhere in between is great. 

We always encourage tipping because it is the nice thing to do, but you do not have to. Tipping is not mandatory, so you do not need to feel obligated to leave your terrible rideshare driver a tip.