Whether you're stuck in a snow bank, on the side of the road with a blown tire or in a parking lot with a dead battery, a tow truck driver from a company like Exit 48-24 Hour Repair is always there to get you out of a jam. As a result, many appreciative drivers feel obligated to give their drivers a tip for their troubles.
But before you tip your tow truck driver, you might want to find out if it's necessary at all. If you choose to tip anyways, it's a good idea to find out how much you should tip.
Is It Normally Customary to Tip the Tow Truck Driver?
No, it's not customary to tip your tow truck driver, nor should you feel pressured or obligated to do so. In fact, the only time you should probably consider tipping your driver is when they've gone above and beyond the call of their services to help you with your vehicle. In short, it's completely up to you whether you want to give your driver a little something extra for their troubles.
If you're using a roadside assistance service, then there's no need to tip, either. It's not expected and many have remarked that it's rare to receive one from a customer.
How Much Should You Tip?
The folks at The Original Tipping Page have a few suggestions for tipping your tow truck driver. Tips for ordinary towing and recovery should start at around $5. Considering that most tows start at around $65 to $75 a pop, that figure works out to around 7-8 percent as a starting tip.
If you need your tow truck or roadside assistance guy to get you back in your car, The Original Tipping Page recommends a $5 to $10 tip as a matter of courtesy. The ideal tipping amount for changing a tire or jump-starting your car runs in the $3 to $5 range.
Don't forget that if you're particularly impressed by how well the job is done, you can always add a little extra to your tip.
What to Do in Lieu of Tipping
If you don't have the extra cash to offer a tip, don't worry about giving one. You can simply offer your gratitude for their service without mentioning anything about a tip. Anything beyond that would simply be superfluous and unnecessary.
Remember that a tip is always appreciated, but it's not mandatory to offer one. Keep this in mind the next time you need to call someone for a tow.
Share