Many visitors to the area and elsewhere struggle with the question how much to tip a driver?
The short answer is 20% of the fare, however..
While it is true most drivers depend on tips for upwards of 50% of their take home pay, that fact should not take a backseat to rewarding good service with a nice gratuity, tip beyond 20%, say target $5 as your minimum.
Remember, most drivers are NOT paid an hourly wage. Their base wage comes from a percentage of their fares usually around 40%. So drivers normally average between $40 and $100 from tips in addition to what is normally around $80 base wage.
Not much when you consider others involved in the transaction of using transportation here like a doorman (the chap who loads you at the Hotel) can average between 30 and 60 chances at a tip per HOUR. Hotel Doorman and Valets can do easily earn double or triple what a driver can from tips and they are not out risking their lives to do so. Doorman are not even licensed. Hotel employees also earn a hourly wage between $8 and $12 depending on seniority and enjoy excellent benefits and perks.
Generally, A drivers gets paid only when they are actually doing their jobs and the tires are turning. Most drivers have no benefits or equity stakes.
So the question how much to tip a driver? is minimum $3 in my opinion. Unless one feels they were truly not given value for their money using a specific service one should always tip accordingly.
In the end, tipping is not really about the other party, it is about YOU and your connection to Life. If you are cheap, or think you can slide by in Life, that attitude and those actions will return to you always. If you are not happy, maybe part of the reason is you are not fully engaged with life. Give more and you will get more.
Enjoy your ride and thanks for choosing Coastline Transportation, LLC
