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tipping for private car service

I am hiring car to drive me from Heathrow to Stratford upon Avon for 155 pounds. This is in the range of the standard price.The driver owns the car. Should I tip and, if so, how much.

Posted by
23604 posts

I think it depends on the service provided. If he just drives and doesn't say word, maybe not. If on the other hand, he is very helpful, provides good info and service I would consider something in the range of 5 to 10%. Maybe an extras 10 pounds.

Posted by
8293 posts

I agree with Frank that 10 pds would be sufficient. By the way, the driver will expect a tip, owner or not.

Posted by
52 posts

Thank you for the feedback. I contacted the owner of the B & B where we are staying and who suggested the car service. His reply was that tipping is not as common as in the US and none would be needed. So I will take his advice.

Posted by
8293 posts

Your driver will have a different opinion.

Posted by
11507 posts

I would not tip since the driver is the owner,, he is making all the money minus his expenses,, just like any business.
I think the B@B host is the one who would know. I see no point in tipping business owners.. one tips EMPLOYEES only.

Posted by
410 posts

I am not at all sure the driver will have a different opinion. I regularly use a car service generally between airports in the UK, sometimes from an airport to a town. I always pay online and have never tipped or had any reason to think that a tip was expected. The tipping culture in the UK is very different to the US.

Posted by
8293 posts

OK, then, let me say that MY drivers had a different opinion.

Posted by
5449 posts

As you fan out from London in England, tipping of taxi/car drivers becomes less and less common as a general guideline. There is little risk of offending people by offering one though.

Posted by
11507 posts

Norma if your private driver owned the car and still felt entitled to a tip I rather think he may have been a tad greedy,, did a driver actually say something to you??( I find this horrifying I have worked in a tipping industry and would never have thought to say anything ever to insinuate that a customer had better give me a tip,,its really not done)

Posted by
33753 posts

I regularly use pre-arranged and pre-paid private hire cars in central England, provided by the company that I work for. I have never known of a time when I or any of my colleagues has ever tipped in that situation, ven when the journey was well over an hour. They get well paid in the base fee.

Posted by
8293 posts

So I am a minority of one!! Woe is me.