# Tipping cabdrivers: when did this become the norm? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 30, 2021, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200 "2021-05-30T01:38:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Something](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Something](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Something)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/1 "2021-05-30T01:38:29Z")
This is kind of a poll, So I’m putting it here. When did tipping cabdrivers become a tradition? I mean… Tipping your cab driver? Really? I’ve googled it, and read a little bit about it, but let me know what your take is. P. S. When are we going to start tipping or bus drivers? 🕶 ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/2 "2021-05-30T01:42:20Z")
Always? I’m fifty five years old and you have always tipped your cab driver. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/3 "2021-05-30T01:43:42Z")
If we are talking about the United States, my cousin who picked me up from JFK when I first landed here 35 years ago, tipped the cabbie who took us to his apartment in Flushing. So at least that long in NYC and any other place I’ve taken a cab in that time. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/4 "2021-05-30T01:45:56Z")
As long as I’ve been taking cabs in the Chicago area, and so, at least since 1989. It didn’t seem to be a “new thing” when I started taking cabs, either. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/5 "2021-05-30T01:47:48Z")
It’s been the norm for over a hundred years. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/6 "2021-05-30T01:49:07Z")
All my life. And in EVERY city I’ve travelled in. Where DON’T they tip cab drivers? I’m very curious now. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/7 "2021-05-30T01:50:50Z")
Yes, I’m curious about where the OP is from, and their experiences with hiring cabs. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/8 "2021-05-30T01:55:25Z")
In the US? My entire life and I’m 55. My first cab ride was in 1990 or so. Heck, tips came up often in dialogue on the sitcom _Taxi_, which ran 1978-1983. I’m curious where tipping is just now becoming a norm. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/9 "2021-05-30T01:59:48Z")
I’m in my 60s, and cab drivers have always been tipped. In the US. In Thailand, if you’re using a metered taxi, which are largely just in Bangkok but some upcountry too, it is customary to round up to the next 10 baht. Flag fall is 35 baht, which is just over a buck American, and the fare increases in two-baht increments. Most places in Bangkok you can get to for 60, maybe 70 baht tops, so you’re not talking a lot of money. If the fare is 43 baht, you give 50. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/10 "2021-05-30T02:05:17Z")
I’ve traveled to a lot of countries, and this approach of tipping by rounding up is common to many of them, probably more common than the percentage rate used in the US. That said, we were given guidance when we traveled, and I can’t think of a single country where we were told not to tip drivers at all. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/11 "2021-05-30T02:06:46Z")
Hansom Can drivers were tipped, so it was started no later than 1939 which is when the movie was made where I saw this. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/12 "2021-05-30T02:06:59Z")
I’m nearly 70, and cab drivers have been tipped for as long as I can remember. In the USA, anyway; I can’t speak for everywhere in the world. – didn’t mean to direct that to Siam\_Sam in particular, but to the thread as a whole. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/13 "2021-05-30T02:15:35Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > That said, we were given guidance when we traveled, and I can’t think of a single country where we were told not to tip drivers at all. Japan? I’ve not taken a cab in Japan, but tipping at all is considered so outrageous there that I could not imagine cabs being the sole exception. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/14 "2021-05-30T02:17:34Z")
In my personal experience (I’ve taken cabs in 17 countries if you count Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Cayman Islands as countries) the only places I have seen tipping cabs NOT being de rigueur are Japan (absolutely not done) and Mainland China (they will not refuse, but most people don’t). Though recently (say last five years before COVID) almost all “cabs” I have taken were of the Uber type, not the meter type. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/15 "2021-05-30T02:26:15Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > … and Mainland China (they will not refuse, but most people don’t). Mostly true, but I remember the cab driver who took the wife and me to our hotel from Beijing airport. He flat-out asked us for a tip. That was indeed very unusual for China though. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/16 "2021-05-30T02:49:31Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > Though recently (say last five years before COVID) almost all “cabs” I have taken were of the Uber type, not the meter type. I drove for Uber and Lyft for 6 months and its appalling how many people don’t tip them. The companies had a policy of tips not required, which doesn’t mean you couldn’t tip which was very irritating. Not sure if that policy is still being pushed since just about all drivers complained. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/17 "2021-05-30T03:07:57Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Japan? I’ve not taken a cab in Japan, but tipping at all is considered so outrageous there that I could not imagine cabs being the sole exception. Aha! I did not travel to Japan, so I didn’t get that particular bit of guidance. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/18 "2021-05-30T03:08:26Z")
Hijack I know, but I must say I tip every time I use Uber of Lyft, unless the ride was really unpleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/19 "2021-05-30T03:12:12Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > > [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > > > Though recently (say last five years before COVID) almost all “cabs” I have taken were of the Uber type, not the meter type. > > I drove for Uber and Lyft for 6 months and its appalling how many people don’t tip them. The companies had a policy of tips not required, which doesn’t mean you couldn’t tip which was very irritating. Not sure if that policy is still being pushed since just about all drivers complained. Even if tips are optional, the users of the service get rated just like the drivers, and if the rating gets too low, they’re not going to be able to get rides, so I always tip when I use Uber. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200/20 "2021-05-30T03:15:05Z")
But Uber drivers had to rate riders before they saw if they were tipped or not. At least 3 years ago that was the case. And you could not revise your rating. I think this may have changed since then. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-cabdrivers-when-did-this-become-the-norm/943200.md?page=2)