Although most of us are familiar with the general tipping rule of 20% in a restaurant (we hope!), tipping other service people, like limo drivers, can quickly cause confusion.
A Professional Driver Relies on Tips
Before we can answer the burning question of how much you should tip a limo driver, it’s critical to understand how the industry works. Yes, a limo driver is in the business of customer service. Although a chauffeur drives for a living, much of their time is spent accommodating customers as they escort clients to special events and meet important deadlines for airport drop-off.
Working successfully as a professional chauffeur requires patience, punctuality, and attention to detail.
Leading job search engine Simply Hired estimates that the average salary for a limo driver is roughly $34,000. Of course, this amount will vary based on industry, clientele, location, and the company that a driver works for.
Other estimates indicate that a limo driver can make as little as $11.51 per hour. Although this is significant higher than minimum wage, limo drivers rely on tips to supplement their salary far above their set hourly rate. This is the customary practice for the majority of workers in the service industry, whether they are waiters, baristas, bellhops, or drivers.
What Is the Recommended Tip for a Professional Driver?
Now back to the important question at hand. Before you consider tipping your limo driver, make sure to contact the Austin limousine rental company to ask if gratuity or a tip has been automatically added onto the bill. Of course, it’s always at your discretion to tip a professional driver more than the included gratuity amount if they have exceeded expectations.
As you would with any other worker in the service industry, you can base the amount of your tip on the level of service. Nonetheless, the baseline standard of 15% to 20% as a tip should apply. If the service is noticeably subpar, a 10% tip may be appropriate; however, it’s still important to contact a limo company to report any service issues that warranted a low tip.
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.