Aimee,

I always heard that the standard is 20 percent for tipping. I think tips can be better when the order is dispatched rather than a street fare but I don't think it's because the driver went out of his way. I think it's because dispatched orders are more often than not by better customers because they are planners. This is not always the case though.

Generally for fares that are between 3 and 4 dollars I'll get $5. They will round up. If it's over $4 but less than $5, I'll get either $5 but a lot of times I'll get $6.

$12 fare gets me usually $15, give or take.

A lot of passengers will "round up and add a buck" I have found for lower to medium fares (Between $3 to $11)

For bigger fares over $25 I'll get $5 on average.

I hope this helps.

Karim

I don't think gratuity for cab drivers can be looked at the same way as it is for wait staff at a restaurant. The companies I have worked for, past and present, have a lot of poor, regular customers who go back and forth to work and cannot afford a car. These folks usually want all their change back--even on a $5.80 fare. The tips add up for them, so they don't tip. It doesn't mean that they have any problems with the service they receive. They simply can't afford it. Bottom line: There are no hard, fast rules about tipping cab drivers.