On a $60 cab ride in Vancouver, a tip between $6 and $12 is the usual range, which is 10% to 20% of the fare. Most riders settle on $9, which is 15%, and many round it to $10.
Tipping guides for Canada do not agree on one number. Some put the standard taxi tip at 10% to 15%, and others say 15% to 20% is expected. Both ranges are reasonable, and the difference comes down to how the ride went.
What the percentages mean on a $60 fare
- 10% is $6, a modest tip for an ordinary, uneventful ride.
- 15% is $9, a comfortable middle ground that works for most trips.
- 20% is $12, a fair thank-you for a driver who went out of their way.
A flat $10 sits between the middle and upper figures and is easy to hand over without any maths.
When to tip more, and when less
Move toward 20% when the driver loads and unloads heavy bags, waits while you sort out a door or a key, picks a sensible route around traffic, or keeps the car clean and the ride smooth.
Stay near 10% when the trip was fine but nothing special. If the driver was rude, drove unsafely or took an obviously poor route, tipping less is a normal response. Nobody is obliged to pay extra for a bad ride.
How to pay the tip
Cash handed to the driver at the end of the trip is the simplest way, and it reaches the driver directly. Many cabs also have a card reader that lets you add a tip before you pay. Taxi companies set this up differently, so it helps to ask the driver before the ride ends if you plan to pay by card and want to add a tip at the same time.
Estimating the fare first
Tips are easier to plan when you know roughly what the ride will cost. The taxi fare estimator gives a rough figure for a trip, and you can then work out your tip with the percentages above. Meters decide the final price, so treat any estimate as a guide only.
A tip is a thank-you and not a legal charge, so the amount stays your decision. Within the ranges above, $9 to $10 on a $60 ride will be seen as a fair tip by most drivers.