# (How much) Do you tip your auto mechanic? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 2, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693 "2003-05-02T18:40:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/1 "2003-05-02T18:40:27Z")
So I dropped my car off for its 60k mile check-up/tune-up at an independent garage. When I pick it up, is a gratuity expected since this is, I suppose, a “service” industry? If so, how much? Side note: How much _should_ a 60k mile tuneup cost? ---
**Author:** ![bayonet1976](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bayonet1976](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bayonet1976)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/2 "2003-05-02T18:46:04Z")
I’ve never tipped a mechanic. I have tipped movers though. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/3 "2003-05-02T18:49:28Z")
Tip… my mechanic? Never heard of such a thing. I tip waiters, my hairstylist, and the person who does my nails. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/4 "2003-05-02T18:56:18Z")
I wouldn’t tip a mechanic if he was standing over me with a wrench. Anyway, my husband does most of my mechanic work. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/5 "2003-05-02T19:19:51Z")
Tip a mechanic? Why? Most of the time you tip people it’s when they are being paid a fairly low base wage in anticipation of getting tips for good service. I don’t think this the model mechanics are paid on. Most of the time I don’t even see the mechanic, just the front end person at the desk. Most hard working mechanics in dealerships I know are paid fairly well with good benefits. It’d be like tipping a doctor, lawyer or real estate agent. If he’s doing you some huge favor maybe, but my auto service invoice listing hourly labor rates tells me someone’s being paid reasonably well. ---
**Author:** ![Contrary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@Contrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrary)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/6 "2003-05-02T19:34:21Z")
I don’t tip my mechanic or my hairdresser. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/7 "2003-05-02T20:00:14Z")
Absolutely not. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/8 "2003-05-02T20:01:15Z")
Ooooh. I always tip the hairdresser. It’s bad hair insurance. I usually tip 25%. They really don’t want to see me freaking out over a bad 'do. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/9 "2003-05-02T21:52:35Z")
Sweety is _my_ mechanic. Heh. We won’t discuss what kind of tips he gets. A 60,000 mile checkup on my Civic could run from $300-$600 depending on what all they have to replace. Some things like timing belts are labor-intensive ~ labor is always the more expensive part of the bill. I don’t tip my hairdresser, either. He makes more money than I do ! ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/10 "2003-05-02T21:54:31Z")
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Puhlease. Why would I tip someone for ripping me off? ---
**Author:** ![Rug\_Burn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a87d85/32.png) [@Rug\_Burn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rug_Burn)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/11 "2003-05-02T22:05:44Z")
This reminds me…How much should I tip the Dr. when he does the anal probe bit? ---
**Author:** ![Pablito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@Pablito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pablito)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/12 "2003-05-03T00:04:18Z")
Admit it. You (the OP) ARE an auto mechanic and this is a thinly disguised effort to propagate an insane practice. You’re busted, dude. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/13 "2003-05-03T00:06:05Z")
Another vote for not tipping the auto mechanic. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/14 "2003-05-03T00:19:03Z")
It would never occur to me to tip a mechanic. Ever. Not at the dealer, not an independent. They’re reasonably paid professionals. ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/15 "2003-05-03T02:08:29Z")
Well, if people are going to start tipping auto mechanics, they’d better start tipping their kids’ teachers too. ---
**Author:** ![FranticMad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@FranticMad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FranticMad)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/16 "2003-05-03T02:36:33Z")
They include the tip in the bill, IMHO. What’s next, tipping your lawyer? Your real estate agent? Your psychiatrist? ---
**Author:** ![Niggle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Niggle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niggle)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/17 "2003-05-03T05:01:53Z")
I pay CAD$80/hr for my mechanic. He isn’t getting a tip. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/18 "2003-05-03T05:06:15Z")
What Meanoldlady said. I want a negative tip from those bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/19 "2003-05-03T05:12:24Z")
1 second after posting I realised that sounded pretty dumb. What I meant to say is I’d like to give them a negitive tip. ---
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693/20 "2003-05-03T05:18:25Z")
I’m facing a crisis of sarcasm. I never thought it could happen to me but even the joke about how much I tip my ass rapist doesn’t seem like enough here. NO FREAKING WAY will I ever tip a mechanic. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-your-auto-mechanic/172693.md?page=2)