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My friend who has lived in the city much longer than I have claims that when you take a car service, you don't need to tip because the tip is built into the price. This doesn't sound right to me (or to many others who always tip car services). Is there any glimmer of truth? She's not just cheap, as she always tips well in regular cabs and restaurants and such.
In our experience, car service rates do tend to be slightly higher than those of yellow cabs. In some areas, like the outer boroughs, yellow cabs are hard to come by and one often has no choice but to take a car service rather than a yellow taxi. At first we thought maybe the rates were higher due to the lack of competition, but then we learned the rates were regulated. According to the
New York City For-Hire Vehicle Fact Book, "For-hire vehicles have been regulated by the New York City Taxi and Limousine commission since passage of Local Law 76 of 1987." So why the higher rate? Ask Gothamist called up our favorite Brooklyn car service, Battery Car Service, and asked them how they arrived at their rates. “There are different zones,” we were told. “There are flat rates for travel to areas within each zone.” (Note that not all car services opeate this way: the TLC rules also allow car services to charge metered rates). Gratutities, he added, are up to each individual customer and are not a part of the set rates.
We’re not sure where your friend got the idea that she shouldn’t tip car service drivers at all. After all, the person driving the car is trying to earn a decent living, just like a yellow cab driver. If a driver provides good service, he deserves a tip - whether he’s driving a yellow cab, a livery cab, a horse-drawn carriage, or a pedicab.
Ask Gothamist believes that big tipping equals good karma. When in doubt, tip. If you're not sure if it's enough, err on the side of generosity and tip more. So make sure to tip your car service driver well and tell your friend to do the same.
Want more tipping advice? Ask Gothamist previously weighed in on take-out tipping.
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Tips are definitely not included - when I take a car service from my office, the tip is added on top of the fare (since I'm not paying, my Company adds a standard "tip").
However, I think there's one caveat to this - If you (illegally) flag down a car service car to take you somewhere, and you negotiate a price (which is all going to the driver, since you're off-book), then I don't think a tip is required on top of that.
Yeah, tipping is probably expected, but I do have to say, sometimes the car services are RIDICULOUSLY expensive, so that might give people the impression there's no tipping needed.
There is actually a TLC book that dictates flat fares for certain areas. I learned this on Sunday, taking a yellow cab from LaGuardia to my mom's place in Westchester (which my mother insisted on) and the cabbie pulled out a book that had every city/town in the greater tri-state area listed and a flat fee to said city. I think we got swindled, though, because the cabbie overcompensated for the recent fare hike and tacked on 20% so with tip and everything, it cost almost $100. (See, that's when I would have gotten out of the cab and taken the bus, but, again, Mom insisted.)
I think anybody should feel free to ask the driver if a tip is included in the price. When I travel for work (frequently), I use a car service to get to the airport. It gets billed directly to the company, so I never had any idea of the price. I also always tip the driver about $5, especially if he helps me with luggage.
Today, for the first time, I saw the bill for a trip from my place in East Harlem to Newark Airport. Total: $90. Say what?! Turns out, not only did they charge an extra $18 to stop while I picked up coffee (seriously), but a hefty tip was included in the bill.
I drove for a limo car service for years at night. They offered rides in limos, not stretch, and sedans , Like Buick Park Avenues, fully loaded. The rates were high and the tip was included, but a cash tip for the driver was always nice since a driver usually only answers 3 or 4 calls a night. If the driver gets out and opens doors for you or helps you with luggage be a sport and tip generously believe me you're not spoiling them. If the driver just drives and the tip is included, it's up to you. Did he drive carefully and give you a comfortable ride or did he drive like a yellow hack?
Hello. I liked your coments on tiping. I am a mechanic of 28 years. Very few people are compeled to tip. I won't do a better job if some one tips me. I just will know that my efforts are aprecieted that's all.
Pedro.