Uber will now let you tip the driver within the app and add it to the fare price. This is parter of a larger ‘180 days of change‘ during which time Uber promises to make life better for their drivers.
The tipping option has already taken affect in Seattle, Minneapolis, and Houston, and it’ll be fully implemented across the USA by the end of July. UberEATS will also have the same tipping option as regular Uber rides.
The full amount of the tip goes to the driver – Uber does not take any sort of commission there. There is a catch is that the rider is forced to rate the drive in order to be able to tip. I’m not sure what the purpose of that is.
Other changes coming within the next 180 days:
- Drivers will receive a cancellation fee for rides cancelled outside a 2 minute timeframe (down from 5 minutes)
- No more unpaid wait time (after two minutes of waiting passengers have to pay)
- All Driver Destination Trips Count Toward Quest
- Quest Earnings are Available for Instant Pay
- Expanded Driver Destinations
- Driver Injury Protection Insurance
- Teen Fare – drivers will get paid $2 extra for teen rides
A lot of people talk positively about the tipping change as a means of giving Uber drivers fair compensation. Personally, I hate tipping – I’d much rather if they just raise the prices to whatever they want their drivers to be making. Theoretically, tipping works for giving a positive experience, but in the end it doesn’t work well, and then there’s the whole driver rating thing with passengers getting bad rating for not tipping, etc.
Obviously, Uber is making a big effort to shape up their game in light of all the recent issues they’ve been having. Let’s hope there are change which help consumers as well.
Hat tip to TPG
