How Much Gratuity Do You Give A Limo Driver

Chauffeured transportation is no different from any other service. When securing yourself a limo driver for airport transportation, there always is a question of how much I should tip.

How Much Gratuity Do You Give A Limo Driver Without
How Much Tip Do You Give A Limo Driver
How Much Gratuity Do You Give A Limo Driver For A

There definitely are some things to consider when estimating the value of the tip. These would include the number of passengers, luggage, service and type of vehicle.

Finally, you need to also understand what is included or isn’t included in your cost of the rental. Some companies might include a standard gratuity and others may not.

So let’s review the items most important in determining if a tip should be included for your limo driver when utilizing a limo service.

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Limousine Driver/Procession Officials: Anyone helping you with transportation should receive a 15 percent tip above and beyond the traditional fare. Like hiring a cab, this kind of gratuity is appreciated, but not required. In many cases, the tip might actually be included in the overall costs, so be sure and check the fine print first. Why You Should Tip Your Limousine Driver While there has always been a standard for showing gratitude for good service with tips, gratuity has evolved into an important piece of a service professional’s compensation. Limo drivers, for instance, make an average of a little more than $11 an hour. Remember, a tip of 20% should apply to the total amount of limousine rental. While it may seem generous to tip a limo driver $20, a stretch limo could cost more than $100 per hour. If a limo is charged at $500 for the night, a 20% tip of $100 for excellent service would only be fair. Like any service, as a passenger, you should take in the entire experience before making any decision. However, a gratuity of $10-$40 is common for tipping a limo driver for driving you to or from the airport. Like other people in service positions, from waiters and waitresses to bellman in a hotel, tips are the primary income for chauffeurs. Typical gratuity is 15-20% of base hourly rate. Some companies charge this gratuity amount upfront, in this case it is your choice whether you want to tip extra or not. Any tip on top of the prepaid gratuity would do it.

How Much Do You Tip a Limo Driver?

When determining the right amount to tip your limo driver, keep these 5 things in mind.

1. What type of vehicle are you in?

The type of vehicle, from Stretch Limousine to a traditional sedan like a Cadillac XTS, should be considered. Specialized vehicles require more training and skill and the cost of the ride should be commensurate with your tip size.

2. Did you pack for a year’s vacation?!

When your driver has to unload 10 pieces of luggage that has all of the clothes you own, that should be taken into consideration when estimating a tip. Traveling with just an overnight bag, a bump in the tip likely isn’t necessary.

3. How was the service?

Service still matters! Did you have a good experience? Was it great? When deciding how much to tip your limo driver for a ride to the airport, take into consideration if there was fresh bottled water, maybe a newspaper or other convenience, making your trip that much more comfortable.

4. Was there a lot of traffic?

Why does traffic impact the tip? If your driver, out of his control, gets stuck in a lot of traffic, he may lose the ability to pick up other runs, impacting his compensation. While totally up to the passenger, a few extra dollars in tip may make the difference on how your chauffeur’s day goes and if deserved, is probably the right thing to do.

5. What if the tip is included?

How Much Gratuity Do You Give A Limo Driver Without

If the tip was included in the set price for your trip, consider tipping more only if one of the previous points made the effort given by the chauffeur above and beyond. Otherwise, the standard tip for your limo driver is probably enough.

Tipping Limo Drivers Outlined

Clearly, we see that many factors go into how much to tip a limo driver for a ride to the airport. Like any service, as a passenger, you should take in the entire experience before making any decision. However, a gratuity of $10-$40 is common for tipping a limo driver for driving you to or from the airport.

Like other people in service positions, from waiters and waitresses to bellman in a hotel, tips are the primary income for chauffeurs. So while they are motivated to do well, it takes an aware passenger to recognize the difference between average and above average service.

How Much Gratuity Do You Give A Limo Driver

How Much Tip Do You Give A Limo Driver

So the next time you have a limo driver take you to the airport, whether it is in a Mini Bus or a Party Bus, assess their skills and effort and tip accordingly.

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When a couple or a group of friends take a limousine out for the evening or a day trip, they often wonder how much they should tip their chauffeur. Some people may not even realize that they need to tip the driver and think that the gratuity is part of the amount they pay for the limo service. For the majority of limo service companies, the gratuity or tip is not included in the price of services.
If a group of friends have hired a chauffeur driven limousine for the evening, say to bring them to and from a concert, and maybe dinner before hand and drinks afterwards, it might be a good idea for everyone to pool their money; just as they did for the ride, and tip the man or woman before the ride is over. This way they won't forget at the end of the night.
When calling to check prices on a limousine service for a special evening, a concert, sporting event, wedding day, bachelorette or bachelor party or other occasion in which a limo ride would be appropriate, it is always good to figure in a 10 to 15 % gratuity after receiving the price. This should be included into ones budget so that there are no last minute rushes to find an ATM machine or trying to come up with the funds. If it's planned for, then it will make the evening easier and better, less stressful and nothing to worry about.
If a chauffeur has done an exceptionally good job, for a wedding or a business customer, then an individual could tip them more than the customary 10 to 15 percent. They may have gotten your party to everything on the agenda on time, kept quiet, opened the doors and been very polite and then this would warrant the high range of the tipping scale or a higher tip. If a chauffeur was 'off their game', first, we would like to know, and then tipping them the low range of the scale would be appropriate.
For those special evenings when a couple wants to be left alone to talk or simply enjoy a quite ride in the limo, there is a privacy partition. It is perfectly acceptable to ask the driver to engage the patrician so that a couple can have their privacy, that's what it's there for. A diver will not be offended or get upset. If someone might find this difficult to ask for, they could request that the privacy divider be deployed when the make their reservations for the limo ride. That way the diver will already know not to disturb you and your guest.
There is a radio communication system from the back of the limousine to the front and the driver. This is put in place in case there is a change of plans and the couple or group wants to add a stop to their evening or needs to cut their night short for any reason.