Your car breaks down and so you call a tow truck driver. It’s the middle of the night, it’s raining, and yet someone comes along gets your car to where it needs to be. Pretty awesome, right? Should you tip them? Depending on whom you ask, you’re going get a lot of responses. It all comes down to you and what you think the situation warrants. As with other professions, if the person who tows you is also the owner of the towing company, you should not tip him or her unless you’re feeling especially generous. However, if the driver is clearly an employee, you might consider it.
How much you tip really depends on what kind of job he or she did for you. Some towing companies also provide routine jump or tire changing services. It may be difficult for you, but to them it’s as simple as changing a lightbulb. For these kinds of jobs, $5 is a good tip. However, if you needed your car towed from one end of town to the other in the middle of the night, consider a larger tip, such as $10 or above. He or she won’t be expecting it, which is all the more reason they deserve it. It’s very logical: Tow truck drivers have to work insane hours because people’s cars break down at all hours of the day. No matter when you call, they’re expected to get to you fast. For these reasons, if the driver treated you like a human being and gave you great service, reward him or her for their exceptional service.