TIPPING A CHAUFFEUR:
It is probably safe to say that somewhere along the line (if not on a regular basis), you will be using a limousine, sedan or executive car for business, pleasure or vacation. In many cases it will be appropriate to tip your chauffeur and you may just want to be sure you show your appreciation for a job well done.
Below we have outline some simple considerations but before we do, here are 3 other web pages that you may find useful in your research to find the perfect ground transportation solution:
GRATUITIES AND YOUR LIMO, SEDAN OR EXECUTIVE CAR:
Deciding what to tip your chauffeur can be a little confusing if you don’t use a ride service too often, or if you’ve never used one before. So what’s an infrequent or new passenger to do?
First, the good news: there’s no “right” amount for a tip.
Now for the bad news: there’s no “right” amount for a tip.
Most limousine service providers today rely on their tips to supplement the hourly rate their employer pays them. That’s because a professional like a chauffeur, hairstylist, waiter, and bellhop typically earns far below the minimum hourly wage. All of these people, therefore, have an incentive to provide the kind of stellar service that will result in generous tips which, in turn, result in a higher overall hourly rate.
The general rule of thumb is that you should tip your chauffeur between 15% and 20%.
But wait! Before you reach for your wallet, do these two things:
Depending on where you are in the world, some cultures not only frown on tipping, they consider it an insult. If you’re riding in a limousine abroad, find out from your travel agent what your host country’s policy is regarding tips.
Some limo companies, for example, will add an automatic tip to bills for wedding and prom limos: the reasoning here is that certain passengers, such as a bride and groom on their wedding day, or a bunch of over-excited teenagers on prom night, are unlikely to have large amounts of cash on them. Other limo companies have similar policies about bachelor/bachelorette nights, because once the alcohol starts flowing, passengers tend to forget about details like tipping the limo driver at the end of the night. Whatever your reason for renting a limo, make sure you read the fine print to avoid the embarrassment of double-tipping or not tipping at all.
So is it O.K. to tip a chauffeur more than 20%, or less than 15%? Let’s assume you’ve already established that tipping is allowed, and that a gratuity has not already been added to your bill. Can you ignore the 15%-20% rule? In a word, yes. The longer explanation is that you will never go wrong if you simply use your discretion. Remember that the amount you choose to tip is a direct indication of your happiness (or unhappiness) with the service you receive.
If a chauffeur did a fabulous job, then by all means, leave a more generous tip (25% or more). In deciding whether to give that little extra, ask yourself if your chauffeur:
If a chauffeur has gone above and beyond the call of duty, an especially generous tip is always an appropriate way to show your appreciation.
But what if the opposite has happened? If you’ve received truly dismal service from a chauffeur (e.g., the driver was late, rude, took you to the wrong place, etc.), you are well within your rights to make sure that your lower tip reflects how you feel about that sub-par service.
It’s also a good idea to call the limo company personally and tell the customer service department about your experience, whether it’s an extremely positive or negative one. Any reputable firm will want to have your honest feedback so it can ensure high standards of service.
Now that we’ve helped take the mystery out of the art of tipping a chauffeur, here are some final things to keep in mind:
Consider what your chauffeur is probably NOT getting paid for (e.g., driving to your pickup spot, driving back to the limo company from your drop-off spot, cleaning the limo between passengers, etc.)
CONCLUSION:
Use your common sense. You can determine if your limo service provider gave you great service, average service or poor service. Your tip is your way of telling both company and chauffeur how good your experience really was.
We provide limousine service, sedan service and executive car service in 450 cities across the country. We pay attention to all feedback by monitoring how much tip you left and if you use our service again. There is nothing more important to us than providing you with private limo or car service that makes your ride nothing short of excellent. Remember to call us or connect via our website to get a real time, fast limo rate quote or use the button below to ask any questions you have at all. Happy traveling!
Check out what our clients have to say about their experience with us.
Our first experience with your company and it was excellent. The driver was on time, courteous and knowledgeable. The car was clean, comfortable and quiet. We would certainly use your service again and will recommend.
Loretta M. H.
My company had an international artist picked up at JFK and dropped off in Philadelphia, and the artist had the best time. The driver kept in touch with me throughout the day, so we could plan for arrival, and our artist had the most wonderful experience with the driver. That’s really astounding considering our artist had just gotten off a red-eye from across the world. Thank you so very much!
Meredith S.
We pride ourselves on providing the safest and most modern ride for our clients. Our luxury car service is reserved by those who know they can always rely upon us, regardless of where or when their event will take place!
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