# Tipping for a tow - need answer fast! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 30, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199 "2015-05-30T15:45:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mithril](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mithril/32/3517_2.png) [@Mithril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithril)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/1 "2015-05-30T15:45:55Z")
My motorcycle broke down at a gas station and the tow guys are on the way. Two guys are coming because it’s a big bike. It won’t start at all so it’s going to have to be pushed up on the flatbed. I’m only about five minutes away from their shop. What kind of tip should I give? It’s the Boston area. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/2 "2015-05-30T16:20:19Z")
I’ve been towed before, me & my bike. I didn’t tip. But if you chose to tip, you probably can’t go wrong with anything $10 or higher, I imagine. ETA: I changed it to $10. I had $20 before. On second thought, $10 is a more reasonable lower limit. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Mithril](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mithril/32/3517_2.png) [@Mithril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithril)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/3 "2015-05-30T16:50:41Z")
Thanks! Apparently the answer is $10 per person if you do tip (according to front desk lady), but they won’t actually accept the money when you try to push it at them. Probably has something to do with being a lady on a bike. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/4 "2015-05-30T17:00:32Z")
Wow, I considered myself a good tipper, but I have never tipped a tow guy. It didn’t even occur to me. Excuse me while I examine my priorities… ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/5 "2015-05-30T17:10:23Z")
I’ve never tipped for a tow and it wouldn’t even occur to me to do so. I think you guys in the US are raising the tipping bar constantly. Next we’ll all be expected to tip convenience store clerks. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/6 "2015-05-30T17:26:07Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Wow, I considered myself a good tipper, but I have never tipped a tow guy. It didn’t even occur to me. Excuse me while I examine my priorities… > [@Leaffan](#): > > I’ve never tipped for a tow and it wouldn’t even occur to me to do so. > > I think you guys in the US are raising the tipping bar constantly. Next we’ll all be expected to tip convenience store clerks. Same here. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/7 "2015-05-30T17:29:57Z")
It would never have occurred to me to tip the tow guy. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/8 "2015-05-30T17:42:26Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > It would never have occurred to me to tip the tow guy. Same here. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/9 "2015-05-30T18:06:09Z")
If my motorcycle was towed and arrived without incident, no scratches etc, I would be elated and tip the tow people. As for towing a car, I wouldn’t think of tipping. Unless there were unusual circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/10 "2015-05-30T19:14:26Z")
Haven’t had many tows. Only one I can remember was when I snapped my car’s serpentine belt. It was July in central VA and baking hot. I’m not sure how much these guys get paid when it’s a AAA job. I gave the guy a $10: “Get something cold; it sucks today.” He didn’t act like he was expecting anything, but thanked me. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/11 "2015-05-30T19:32:10Z")
If you pay them, no tip\*. If they are doing it for free, since you’re taking it there, then sure, a fiver each. \*but buying a box of donuts for the shop or something is always a nice gesture. ---
**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, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/12 "2015-05-30T20:00:13Z")
I give them $5 to $10 around here, or a six pack if I’ve got one around. I don’t think it has to be any more in Boston. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/13 "2015-05-30T20:25:21Z")
Yep, count me in those for whom it never occurred to tip the tow truck drive. ---
**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, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/14 "2015-05-30T20:37:26Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Yep, count me in those for whom it never occurred to tip the tow truck drive. I don’t think it’s that common, they seemed surprised some of the times I tip. I tip a lot in general but around here one company does the vast majority of the towing and I’m likely to see these guys again. It’s paid off a couple of times. In the Boston area the OP may never see the same driver or company again but it’s still ok to be nice. And they might drive more carefully and be more careful when they unload that vehicle later. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/15 "2015-05-30T21:18:34Z")
Best tip you can give a tow truck driver is “go back to school.” ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/16 "2015-05-30T21:37:07Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I think you guys in the US are raising the tipping bar constantly. Next we’ll all be expected to tip convenience store clerks. I’ve got you covered on that. I have tipped convience store clerks for various things before. For example, I locked myself out of my place one night and the convenience store down the street helped me find and call a 24 hour locksmith late at night. He got $10 for it. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-for-a-tow-need-answer-fast/721199/17 "2015-05-30T22:09:57Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Best tip you can give a tow truck driver is “go back to school.” Although you might not want to do that if you park on the street.