Tipping Uber Drivers
 

Tipping Uber drivers

I never use Uber because they do not have a customer service telephone. When I tried to sign up there were fraudulent charges on my account immediately afterwards and I could call no one at Uber to discuss it. I had to deal with my credit card company directly.

Assume that was a long time ago.

LOL, that's a good one.

While I might add points for speeding if we were going to miss our flight otherwise, the Metallica would reduce the tip drastically. Having the check engine light on would make me nervous that the car might peter out before we got there, so if anything that would also be a minus.

Having said that, it's been cheaper and more reliable to take a taxi to the airport for at least 5 years, esp now that you are also expected to tip Uber drivers, which was originally not the case. So not sure why anyone would Uber to the airport in the first place.

YMMV

And you don't tip the taxi driver?

I love UBER and use it regularly. But it tends to be expensive in the Villages. I believe tipping generously helps the future experience. Passengers are rated, and if you have a good rating you are more likely to get a driver to take your ride promptly when it is busy.

I'll take an UBER over a taxi any day of the week.

Upon reading your message I looked on the APP. Yup, they still have passenger ratings. Mine is 4.85.

Of course I tip taxi drivers.

When Uber first came on the scene, there was no tipping. And the prices were comparable/cheaper to taxis, so using Uber saved you at least 15-20%.

Now Uber is more expensive than taxis, and you are expected to tip. No longer the deal it once was.

Totally agree, my best tip for an Uber driver is to get a real friggin job.

I just had an Uber driver in CLT. I asked him how long he had been doing this and he responded it was part time until he got laid off from his “real friggin” day job so now he was Ubering full time until the next “real friggin job” came along. I did thank him for having a job and not instead expecting handouts at the corner of a major intersection. Please tip as the full tip goes directly to the driver. Yes, I gave him a respectable tip.

Like a taxi driver? Or a bus driver?

Uber drivers don’t make good money. It’ll go away one day but in the meantime, I use it or Lyft all the time when traveling. Also, from here to the airport is pretty expensive but had to take an uber from MCO back here once and it was only 68.00 before tip. A bargain imo

My friend in Columbus is a retired dentist and loves his Uber gig.
Gets him out of the house and meeting people.
He had a “real friggin job”

Tipping Doesn't Affect Your Uber Rating
 

Uber drivers have to rate you immediately at the end of the trip and before they can see whether you left a tip. So tipping generously won't affect your rating.

I used to think I’d drive for Uber in retirement because I like socializing and driving. I tried it out in Wyoming and the money was decent for the flexibility. And I’m smart enough to figure in the wear and tear, gas costs, etc.

Then I move to Florida. Land of non-tippers and laws that allow you to make less than minimum wage before calculating expenses. You literally burn up your depreciating asset (car) to convert its value to cash today, but will be left penniless and without transportation in the end.

So, what I thought would be a fun thing to do for mad money in retirement turned out to be a dud. But the self-driving cars are coming hard and fast. I cannot wait until it is illegal to drive your own car. That will eliminate the jerk-off drivers issue completely.

My two cents. Which is more than you make driving for Uber in this state full of non-tippers.

I’ve taken many Ubers where this is their second job. In fact, they do it either because they love to drive or want some extra spending money. Why would you think that this isn’t a real job?

Interesting, maybe that is why it is sometimes harder to get an UBER in the Villages than in other parts of the world.

I've never used Uber or Lyft. Someday I may need to use one of them. How do you tip the driver on these ride services? Is 15/20% considered respectable?

❤️
 

Over UBER. Once you have an account it’s great. No looking for cash for tips and fare. Totally seamless. Most have nice vehicles. In STL one time we discussed the job with driver. Her income was excellent.

Had one incident in MIA when driver did not show. I was charged anyway. Immediately I contacted UBER for resolution. 10 minutes the charge was removed. Easy.

You tip through the app so no cash is required.

For many of my trips I tip $3 or $5. If the trip is particularly long and expensive I would likely tip 15% to 20%.

As Saucy essentially pointed out, taxi and bus drivers don't ruin their own personal vehicle while driving.

So you're saying his wife forced him to be an Uber driver under threat of divorce? :jester:

Two months ago, actually. Why, do they have a customer service phone number now? Please post it.

How did you contact Uber? Seriously, I tried but the only phone number I got was the one if you wanted to become a driver.

It sounds like you registered on a site that looked like Uber but was not? If that was the case then you did the right thing by going to your credit card company and getting it resolved (since it was not really Uber). Anyhow, the Uber help menu has multiple sections. You can try the “I think my account has been hacked” and fill out the appropriate sections and submit. Really most companies no longer want to speak to individuals and neither do I, LOL. You can at some point talk to someone but you have to go through the process first. See attached screen shot from their site. Hope this helps?

That screen is for an Uber driver, not a passenger.

In my app the Help section does not suggest that I will ever be given a phone number. I don't want to experiment with a ride I have already completed. Which of the Help articles for a passenger have you been able to follow and eventually arrive at a phone number?

My understanding is once a fare brings you hear can be difficult to get the next fare. Nobody wants to ride around empty

Uber & Lyft. Is one better than the other and do they charge the same?

There is no phone number. You submit a complaint or concern regarding a specific ride within the app. Usually within an hour, someone responds via DM in the app. You can reply to the DM if necessary. I have had issues resolved this way. It is less than ideal, but it works. If you don't get satisfaction, I would then dispute the charge on your credit card.

To be fair, the last time I had an issue with a taxi ride, the process was similar. The days of talking to a live person are mostly over, and AI will prob make it worse.

You are correct, I quickly googled Uber phone number and got that. However, I looked at my app and see the same “I think my account has been hacked” which should help. Velvet was the one asking so are you having issues to? As I said, follow their directions and if resolved why would you need a phone number if an issue can be resolved via filling out a form, etc.?

Different name and different app but same type of service.

Price is determined by length of ride and the number of available drivers. Some cities have a lot of one or the other but in most cities the prices are very close. I check both and frequently find they are within a couple dollars of each other.

Sometimes the prices are much different which is why I check both. On one particular ride, getting to the restaurant was a bit cheaper with Uber but getting back was *far* cheaper with Lyft. My only guess is Uber was more popular in that area and most of the Uber drivers were busy at the time I wanted to go back. Lyft had more drivers available so the price was lower.

Create accounts on both. Before each ride, take an extra 30 seconds to compare both prices and pick the cheapest.

No, I am not having issues. I just saw that there was a potential misunderstanding and so I asked for clarification.

Some still like to talk to a real person to get an answer today rather than submitting a form and waiting to see if they understood the submission or even answer at all.

My (late, 2020) WWII Dad who served in the Navy, in both the Atlantic and the Pacific theatres, took a job as a "cabbie" in Pittsburgh.

He never forgot the 2 biggest tips he ever received.

One was from (the real) Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken. 5 bucks.
Said, "go buy yourself a house, kid."
And, Bing Crosby, who my Dad took to Pennsylvania Station.
He didn't recall the amount, but said he never saw blue eyes like THAT before!

Morale of this story.

Thanks to THE 2025 PASSAGE OF THE BBB for No Tax On Tips.
How can anyone find fault with THAT?!?

Not all tips qualify for the exemption. Are tips for Uber/Lyft/cab drivers included?

Has not been my experience so not sure where you are using Uber. Plus, Uber is easier to book and the updates and security content would be worth more. So if you tip cab drivers why wouldn't you tip Uber?

Why wouldn't they be?

Because, all work related income should be taxed the same for all workers. No special carveouts.

Nice story about your dad, but it doesn't change reality just bc we get sentimental.

Because, as one site put it, hospitality, food service, and personal care positions would benefit but…

Other roles may be included depending on future IRS updates, but gig economy jobs or freelance services that accept tips via Venmo or other apps may not automatically qualify.

More details should be coming from the IRS.

My problem was that I could not open an account at all, on my iPhone with latest iOS or iPad etc. so I could not talk to Uber through the app. I had no way of informing Uber that I cannot open an account with them.

I know most people don’t have this problem with Uber, but my only choice was to cancel my credit card.

Enough difficulties for me. No phone answering, no Uber. Full stop.