In 2017, Uber unveiled a tip feature on its app to allow customers to leave their driver a tip. It turns out many customers do not leave a tip.
According to a study conducted by Bharat Chandar, Uri Gneezy, John A. List, and Ian Muira with the University of Chicago, only about 16% of rides end with a tip. The study also found that 60% of Uber customers never tip, while 1% always leave a tip.
List's study included 40 million trips in the cities of Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Asheville, North Carolina, and Bloomington, Indiana.
List's study found the average of those who do tip is $3.11, about 26% of their fare.
The survey found that customers were more likely to tip between 3 to 5 a.m., as well as around 6 p.m. on Fridays; that female drivers, especially younger females, were more likely to earn tips; and that 5-star drivers were twice as likely to earn a tip as a 4.75-star driver.
So should you tip? That is up to you, but know that according to the Economic Policy Institute , Uber drivers generally make $9.21 an hour after accounting for fees and vehicle costs. In some states or cities, Uber drivers make below minimum wage.
