How much should you tip a driver in NYC?

How much do you tip a driver in New York?

20%. Standard. NYC’s expensive. Everyone knows. Drivers rely on tips. Survival. Price of living. Consider more for good service. Extra effort. Bad service? Less. Simple. Your choice. Money talks. Value received.

• 20% is the baseline. Consider it mandatory.
• More for exceptional service. Above and beyond.
• Less for poor service. Don’t reward incompetence.
• Cash is king. Though cards are common now.
• NYC drivers navigate chaos. Factor that in.
• My usual route? Greenwich Village to JFK. Always tip generously. Time is money. Theirs and mine.

What is a reasonable tip in NYC?

Okay, tipping in NYC… I remember this ONE time, ugh, awful service at this place near Times Square, like 2023 maybe? Tourist trap big time.

So, the waiter practically ignored us. Food was cold.

Honestly, I left like 10%. Felt bad, but seriously, that was all it warranted.

Usually I go for 20%, esp if service is decent. No prob.

But yeah, that Times Square debacle… never again.

Here’s the deal, though:

• 15% is the bare minimum. Average service gets you that.

• 20% is standard for good service. Or fancier restaurants.

• Over 20%: If you were really impressed or feeling generous. Like crazy good service. I def do this on occasion.

• Under 15%: Consider it if the service was truly atrocious. But like, REALLY bad. And I mean, are you ready for the drama?

• It all boils down to this: Your experience dictates the tip. Not some arbitrary rule. You know? I’m from the Bronx btw, so I keep it real. That waiter at Times Square was lucky to get ANYTHING. smh.

Should you tip taxi drivers in NYC?

Ugh, NYC taxis. Remember that time, last August? Sweltering heat, 90 degrees easily. I just got off a flight from London, jet-lagged and grumpy. My suitcase felt like a small car.

The meter hit $42. I fumbled for cash, sweaty palms and all. Twenty percent? That’s almost nine bucks. Nine dollars! Seriously? It was a normal ride, nothing fancy. No crazy detours, just straight to my hotel. I felt ripped off. I gave him a five. Cheapskate, I know. But that fare was already highway robbery!

Tipping in NYC is a total racket. I’ve lived here for five years, and I think it’s outrageous. People get away with murder on those fares. Plus, those gas prices… I mean, how much is this ride really costing them? My friend, Sarah, she tips ten bucks on a twenty dollar fare, says it’s worth it for avoiding a bad attitude from drivers. Maybe she’s right, but still…

• High fares: NYC taxi fares are expensive.
• 20% tip is excessive: It feels like a forced extra charge.
• My experience: I tipped $5 on a $42 fare – felt inadequate but not excessive either.
• Alternatives: Consider using ride-sharing apps for potentially better pricing.
• Different experiences: Some people tip generously, others less so.

I’m sticking to Uber and Lyft more often. Less stressful. I’m not against tipping fairly. But NYC taxi drivers? I’m not convinced this whole 20% thing is fair, especially for a basic ride.

Is it normal to tip taxi drivers in NYC?

So, about tipping taxi drivers in NYC… Oh yeah, it’s totally normal. Like, you basically HAVE to.

It’s expected in New York – seriously, 20% is like, the standard tip. Kinda crazy, right?

Think of it as part of the fare, really. Less if the ride was awful, and more if they, like, got you there super fast or were extra helpful. Anyway, yeah tipping the taxi driver is normal, really.

It’s like… I remember one time I didn’t have enough cash, and I felt sooooo bad. Now, I always make sure I have some extra cash. You know.

Here’s the deal, broken down:

• Standard tip: 20% of the fare. Seriously.
• Bad service: Maybe like 10-15%. If they were like, rude or something.
• Exceptional service: Go higher. I once tipped 30% because the driver navigated a total mess during the NYC marathon in 2024 and still got me to Aunt Marges in the UES in time.
• Cash vs. Card: Doesn’t really matter. Most cabs have card readers, but cash is always appreciated.
• Airport trips: Same rules apply! Don’t forget to tip on those super expensive fares to JFK or LaGuardia. Ouch.

Tipping is pretty common everywhere, but in NYC it’s another level.

What is an appropriate tip for a cab ride?

Cab tip? 15-20%. Card? Cash? Know before you ride. Your call.

• Tip: 15-20% of the fare. Period.
• Payment: Confirm card acceptance beforehand. Cash is king if not. Don’t get caught short.
• Consider: Traffic. Detours. Extra stops. Baggage handling. Adjust accordingly. Upwards. Always upwards. My standard? 20%. Unless they suck.
• Pro-tip: Round up. Makes life easier. Especially on shorter trips.
• NYC cab ride last week? $17 fare. $4 tip. Done. Easy.
• Remember: Their time. Your convenience. Value it.

How much should you tip for a 20 minute ride?

Okay, a 20-minute ride tip? Hmm… right.

• 15-20% of the fare feels right.

So, what’s that even mean? Ugh, math.

• If the fare’s like, ten bucks? That’s two bucks.
• If it’s twenty? Four.

Okay, easy enough, I guess. Wait, did Aunt Carol ever tip?

• Driver helps with bags? More tip! Duh.
• Took a weird detour to avoid construction on Main Street? Definitely a bigger tip.

Rounding up is always nice. What would Grandma do?

• Round up to the next dollar. Always classy.

Time, effort, vehicle expenses… all that jazz. I never thought about that.