How to Tip Your Uber Driver

Co-authored by Christopher Batchelor and Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: September 2, 2021

When using an Uber, all ride fees are charged directly to your preferred payment method (PayPal or a credit/debit card). This means that, in order to provide a tip, you'll need to hand your driver cash at the end of the ride. Before doing so, you may want to reflect on the quality of the ride and calculate your tip accordingly.

Steps

1
Determine how happy you are with your ride. You should ask yourself the following questions:^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Did the driver arrive on time?
- Was the ride smooth?
- Was the car clean?
- Did the driver have a good attitude?
- Was a reasonable route used?
2
Consider your own requests. If your driver has been receptive to unusual or difficult requests during your ride, their patience might warrant a tip.
- This especially applies if you were sick--or otherwise afflicted--during your ride.
Advertisement
3
Consider your fare total. Generally speaking, you'll want to tip between fifteen and twenty percent of your total fare for an average tip. If your driver was truly exceptional, you might want to tip higher.
- If you don't have access to a calculator (e.g., your smartphone), take a tenth of your fare (for example, a tenth of twenty would be two) and double it to make a twenty percent tip.
4
Send a digital tip if you can. Uber now has a way to send tips right through the app, and they advise using it.
- Rate your ride on the Uber app you have on your phone.
- Look for the "Add a Tip for (name)" section underneath the button for "Give a compliment".
- Tap the dollar amount you'd like to apply as a tip to the driver or tap the "Enter Custom Amount."
  - Type in your amount and select "Set Tip", if you've went the Custom Tip route.
  - Tap the "Done" button to save this tip and apply this tip to your driver.^{[2]
    X
    Research source}
- You have a 30-day grace period for which to send the driver a tip through Uber's digital form, unlike a paper tip.
5
Hand your driver a cash tip once you arrive at your final destination, if needed. Although you may choose to tip the driver with a digital tip, you can also give the driver cash. However, Uber would like to eliminate this possibility in some locations, so be aware of local tipping conditions. Based on your consideration of the ride and both your driver's behavior and your own, put together your tip before arriving at your destination.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Some drivers won't take a tip outright. You can choose to leave the tip anyway at your discretion.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I compliment an Uber driver?

Christopher Batchelor
Former Lyft & Uber Driver
Christopher Batchelor has been driving for Lyft since July 2017 and Uber since August 2017. He has made more than 3300 combined rides as a driver for these ride-sharing services.

Christopher Batchelor

Former Lyft & Uber Driver

Expert Answer

Use tips and digital stickers to show your appreciation. You can either tip a driver through the app or give them cash. If you tip through the app, you have 30 days to add it after the ride. Uber also gives you the option to give your driver a digital sticker called a "Driver Compliment". They're free, and they're a nice way to say thanks to your driver.

Warnings

Review your trip's projected fare in the app beforehand so you don't have to bring along more cash than necessary.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0