Uber's In-App Tipping Feature Expands to 121 Cities Across North America

Uber in June announced plans for a "180 Days of Change" initiative that added a new long-desired tipping feature for drivers.

Tipping was initially limited to Seattle, Minneapolis, and Houston, but Uber said tips would be available to all U.S. drivers by the end of July, and the company is making good on that promise.

Starting today, tipping is rolling out in 121 cities across North America, including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and several cities in Canada. TechCrunch has a full list of all of the areas where tipping is now available.

The tipping feature will continue to expand to additional cities throughout the month of July, and Uber says it is still planning to have the feature available to all U.S. drivers by the end of the month.

Tips are optional for Uber riders, and the tipping screen will show up after a driver has been rated following the conclusion of a ride. Passengers have up to 30 days after a ride to provide a tip, and there are three custom preset tipping amounts ($1, $2, and $5) along with an option for a custom tip total.

Uber long resisted tipping even as competitors like Lyft implemented tips for drivers, with the excuse that it kept the service hassle-free. Uber is now aiming to bolster its public image and improve working conditions for drivers through the addition of tipping and other "180 Days of Change" features, such as a per minute waiting fee for riders, a shorter cancellation window, and a new Driver Injury Protection insurance option.

Tag: Uber

Top Rated Comments

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SkippyThorson

18 months ago

I pay Uber for a service, and they pay the drivers... there is NO WAY I'm gonna give out extra shekels to the driver. The only tip ill give the driver is to get a better job.

Possibly the cheapest, most pompous low-ball comment I've ever read here. A few bucks to a driver who signed up to provide you a service as a second income or side job who may appreciate a tip? The stark nerve. Really? Karma.

Rating: 23 Votes

yg17

18 months ago

Tipping needs to go away, not be expanded. I'm tired of subsidizing businesses who are too cheap to pay their employees a decent wage.

Rating: 13 Votes

SteveJobs2.0

18 months ago

Increase the base fee by 10% and be done with it. I prefer the European system where tipping should not be expected. This simply adds the hassle of figuring out percentages etc to something that should be a straightforward service.

Rating: 12 Votes

yg17

18 months ago

I have no issue tipping someone who performs a service for me.

Do you tip your grocery store cashier, mechanic, mail carrier, pilot and doctor too? Because they are all performing services for you.

I tip where it is expected, such as at a restaurant or when having food delivered because I'm not a prick. But the point is, I shouldn't have to. All that should go away and be replaced by their employers paying a decent wage. Instead, now we are expanding tipping to services that didn't used to have them.

Rating: 11 Votes

AskMcG

18 months ago

I pay Uber for a service, and they pay the drivers... there is NO WAY I'm gonna give out extra shekels to the driver. The only tip ill give the driver is to get a better job.

I have an idea.. how about you drive for uber for one weekend and see how you feel about being tipped? And what shame is there is working as a driver? For some people it is called "paying your bills", not everyone is as privileged as I can only assume you are.

Rating: 7 Votes

OldSchoolMacGuy

18 months ago

You're using UBER which means you're opting for the cheapest service option. If you believe employers should pay a decent wage, you shouldn't be using UBER. You can't have both.

Rating: 7 Votes

iJon

18 months ago

So many people complaining and whining about this feature. People need to realize this doesn't change anything about Uber or how you interact with the driver. Everything is the same, and if you want to give the driver a little extra at the end of a trip, you can. The driver doesn't know if you left a tip, so that means they won't be able to rate your negatively or positively.

If you don't like to tip, nothing changes and you keep using Uber as you have been. If you are someone that likes to tip, then throw the driver a few extra bucks after you get out the car and rate the driver.

It's a smart feature to add because it helps drivers feel valued, something Uber hasn't done well over the years. Without drivers, you don't have Uber.

Rating: 6 Votes

Cronowerx

18 months ago

I pay Uber for a service, and they pay the drivers... there is NO WAY I'm gonna give out extra shekels to the driver. The only tip ill give the driver is to get a better job.

Rating: 6 Votes

Rychiar

18 months ago

It's really not that hard. Move the decimal over one spot and double if it you good service. That will give you 20%. If service was only ok, just give full 20%.
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I have no issue tipping someone who performs a service for me.

everyone who works performs a service for someone. I'm a graphic designer and a photographer. i've never been tipped and wouldn't expect it and as with most artists i make just enough to survive. . No one likes the confusing guilt trip that tipping is. i was so much happier on a european trip i took once where every price was exactly what ya had to pay

Rating: 6 Votes