Canada is a tipping friendly country. We tip our waitresses/waiters, our baristas, our valets. It’s common practice to tip our taxi drivers. But what about an Uber driver? Are we expected to tip them? Is the tip included in the price?
If you’re unsure you’re not alone. There is still a lot of confusion over whether tipping is included, required, or appropriate when paying for a ride.
Since ride-sharing is still new to many people, there is still a lot of uncertainty about how the payment process works for ride-sharing. It is often presumed that a tip is already included in the fare price.
Some of the confusion also stems from the fact that Uber’s tipping policy has changed over time. While it used to be communicated that a tip was unnecessary, that has now changed.
Uber's Tipping Policy
Uber’s stance on tipping used to be that it was not necessary. This was reinforced by the fact that tipping was not possible through the app. It is still not possible to tip through the app because Uber wants to keep the process cashless. This policy resulted in drivers receiving tips from only 1 out of every 100 customers.
Uber maintained that tips weren’t necessary because the drivers made around $6 more per hour than traditional taxi drivers. However, Uber drivers argued that unlike taxi drivers, they were responsible for additional costs. These costs include gas and car maintenance. Additionally, they received no employer-sponsored benefits. Because of these additional costs, their salary was often less per hour than taxi drivers.
A Misleading Policy?
Uber drivers have said that the company prevented them from accepting tips and led riders to believe that tips are included in the price of a ride. However, tips are not included when you pay for your ride through the app.
Tipping Your Uber Driver
Uber now notifies riders that tips are not included in fares and drivers can post tip signs in their vehicles. Tipping with Uber is still a choice. However, drivers can give riders a rating on the app after seeing if they tipped and how much they tipped. If a rider has a low rating, this can deter drivers from picking them up in the future.
Final Verdict
In the end, it’s up to you to decide if you tip your Uber driver. What's your opinion on tipping drivers?
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