It sounds like the driver suspected or knew you were a visitor to Sydney, tried it on and won! The driver was wrong to ask for a tip and no, you don't need/have to tip, not in Australia!

if i take a taxi i never wait to be asked for a tip,, i gladly tip whomever is driving me around so that i don't have to ,, Edited 11-Nov-23 05:22am

If it’s a policy of Taxi’s not to ask we’ll follow the rule! Although if not, they work hard if you get the opportunity go for it!!

You were a bit silly to hand over your cash . My response to a tip request or.. here's a tip be good to your mum or here's another tip go home and shower you stink or here's another tip get yourself another brand of mouth wash cause what you're using now just ain't making it.

I have never heard of a taxi driving asking for a tip. Mind you here in Perth I haven't used them much. For me - if the fare was say $18 - I would hand them a $20 and say keep the change but never been actually asked.

One well known taxi company in SA is charging a$2.00 booking fee to help to keep the Call Centre in SA. Does any Taxi Company have their only call centre in one state only

pretty much every one is starting to ask for tips its very much copying american ideals

That is a bit cheeky. We normally don't tip in New Zealand.

If you have lots of money share it, if not th e you probably can't,

cheek!!

i drove taxis in regional nsw n got tips often bi=ut never asked , i h tried to make it a happy trip for all , my best night for tips was xmas day

Called taxis place up and ask. I same time will say keep the chance as I feel can have a coffee.

I would only tip Travis Bickle as you never know what he might do if you don't.

We don’t tip anyone in New Zealand

used to drive a taxi in Sydney back in the 1960s & never asked for a tip & if one always thanked them

Haven't been in a taxi for about 10 years. Am not aware what is the correct thing to do with Uber drivers. My last Uber driver looked about 19 but refused my tip offer. Oh well!

Taxi drivers should not ask for a tip. He should be reported. If you come to Sydney again get an Uber. We got one in May and it was driven by a very nice man in a brand new car. He said he has been forced to Uber because his mortgage has gone up so much.

Taxi drivers should never ask for tips....I drove for nearly 5 years....I did get tips but I never asked...I did sing once and was rewarded with a $5 tip...my biggest tip was $40....the fare was about $10 and when the guy got out he threw a $50 note at me then took off..

We shouldn't tip in Australia as the wages are very good here, not like they are overseas where many depend on tips to bring them up to the wages that are paid here.

Businesses and workers in Australia shouldn't be asking for tips. How far have we fallen? Edited 10-Nov-23 16:42pm

Hubby did this for awhile and honestly they work for pittance. He would do a hungry driving more than 12 hours for a $100. Quite often he would only get $50 or $80 for the day. I think the driver may have been desperate for some extra money. It is however usually up to the customer to decide wether a driver deserves a tip or not. If they are nice, polite and do a good job a little tip goes a long way.

the fare is expensive enough but i usually round it up but no tip

If the driver was exceptional, assisted you in and out of car, carried your luggage inside where you stayed, you might think about it but just to drive you around Sydney "No Way".

This is AU not the USA where Taxi Drivers get paid to the minimum wage at least which is a lot better than what their counterparts in the US Get. He was wrong to ask you where wrong to give but you should have asked who was employing him and report them to the Fair Work Commission as they may have been like 7/11 and underpaying their workers.

Tipping is mostly an Americanism. There isn't really any tipping in New Zealand.

"tips" should be at the discretion of the person receiving the 'service'; if service is poor, there is never a reason to tip, nor when the service is so expensive - such as taxi rides (ubers are cheaper!).

asking for tips is against the law and you ca fired for it

I have never been asked for a tip. But rarely use them. When I have I have usually given them extra as most drivers don't carry alot of change.

I all a taxi only when I absolutely nee one. I generally round up to the nearest dollar.

I have nothing to do with Taxi's

tips are recognition of good service asking for a tip is not kosher.

Not sure I haven't heard of that before

I think that most of the negative remarks refer to Uber drivers. Taxi drivers are good people

Most taxis now don’t accept cash and it’s all on card so they can alter the cost

Very Un Australian

I'll give them a tip...Charge a reasonable fare...

Some taxi drivers are very corrupted. They try to grab as much as possible given the opportunity. For the same trip back and forth, 2 taxi drivers from the same company charged me 2 different rates, about $30 difference. This is very wrong! Tips shouldn't be given at all as they make enough money for themselves!😙

I think it really all depends on the driver - in the last taxi I took I actually had to direct them where to go!

Youre right, they have no right to ask for a tip

bugger them,this isnt the US where tips are expected,they charge like wounded bulls anyway

In America, we always tip the drivers, but I'm not sure about Sydney.

Should have tipped him so he didn’t have to ask

If a taxi driver takes you where you need to go without slowing down at lights and finds the fastest root yes i tip them but they are few and far between

i don,t like tipping it,s american thing they bager you al the time even run after you if you don,t leave a tip

Learn to speak English and how to drive in this country is the only tip they'll ever get from me.

I catch taxis all the time and my regular drivers will sometimes give me a discount if I am short, so if the fare is$9.35 l just round it up to $10 usually .

always give taxi drivers tips its a tough job long days long hours ,its a job i wouldn't do

I don't tip and was made to feel guilty about it at times. If you give me good service I will give you a tip. If you make me feel rushed or don't give me any service you won't. I noticed while we were in Europe that the eftpos machines now have a button you have to push to say no tip.

No I don't think they should be asking for a tip, they are being paid to do their job if they don't like the wages they receive then take it up with their employer or find another job. Haven't been in a taxi for about 40 years now.

NO tipping in NZ ... EVER. If you visit our country then please do not tip. We do not want that filthy habit to encroach into our country. Workers are paid fair enough and if not there are remedies to seek a fair pay. Tipping is not one of them.A smile and a thank you would be appreciated however.

Our taxi drivers where I live are really great. they never ask or expect a tip. Because I sometimes take a taxi regularly my taxi driver will charge me less for the ride even though I have a discount card, if you respect the taxi drivers, they will respect you too.😀

We do not have taxis here but we have Uber and they take a tip auto for them so that is that. I take the bus and they have no tipping yet thank goodness, I prefer it that way. I also think I agree with others that they should pay better so that this problem can be resolved. Well have a safe journey all.

I don't believe in tipping (I don't tip, and I don't feel self-conscious when I don't tip). Your employer (taxi drivers are employees) - should be paying you enough - so a customer shouldn't have to TIP YOU (known as subsidized your wages/earnings)! For as I am concerned - this individual (described in your scenario) needs to get a "real" job that doesn't involve tipping!Edited 10-Nov-23 12:14pm

The last taxi i got was a few months ago in Hobart, the driver had limited english and took us to the wrong hotel. My tip would be learn the local language and read the map

It is pretty much expected right or wrong. Also Uber drivers. They don't ask for a tip but if the ride is good and they are pleasant and helpful why not? Can also tip on Uber app, but I prefer point of service tip.

I don't know if people should give taxi drivers tips is because I don't ride taxi.

its getting mandatory to tip so expect a cheery driver

up to you, i feel like it depends on the culture, but also people should pay their workers more so they don't have to ask for a tip

hi again pamela..

If they get me to my destination in one piece they get a tip. They should never ask for a tip though.

NO TAXI DRIVER SHOULD ASK FOR A TIP IT IS UP TO THE PEOPLE THAT RIDE TO GIVE THEM ONE OR NOT I USE TO BE A CAB DRIVER

not sure, never have tipped when i use a taxi,but feel they should not ask,it's up to the person riding how I see it...

I have never tipped taxi drivers in Australia. I have been charged extra because he decided to take a longer route and I suspect deliberately. When I reminded him he became abrupt. I try to avoid using taxis for this reason

They shouldnt ask that

I don't tip can drivers.

As Aussies, we pay the fare & that's it. If the service is good, I give a heartfelt thank you & a smile.

I too have been asked for a tip even when the driver was rude & also wouldn't get out of his car to take out any bags from the back. He just opened the lid from his seat. No way did I bother to tip that kind of demeanour.

Tips should be included in the fare.

It is VERY wrong for someone to ASK for a tip.

Agree. No one should ask for a tip. If a customer wants to tip you it is up to them. In America everyone expects tips and if you go on a cruise it is built into your account and it is very high. I ask them to take it off before I begin the cruise and I tip as I feel suitable for good service etc. Aussies are not tippers usually as our workers are paid much better.

I live in a small town and there aren't a lot of taxis. You get repeat drivers and I'm always kind to them and tip them well. I see it as they're driving me somewhere I cannot get myself because I'm snowed in or too sick to drive myself to the hospital (kidney stone passing). I tip quite well as I know they're doing me a major favour. I feel sick inside when I hear one of them was robbed. They put their lives in a very vulnerable position every time they go out and I treat them as such.

The only time I remember a driver asking for a tip was when my cousin and I were in a taxi in Washington DC during a heatwave and he didn't have the AC on. When we got to the Smithsonian, my cousin paid the fair and that was it. He asked: "No tip today?" and she told him, "No air conditioner, no tip."

One can always ask. You have control of the answer.

You can politely refused. 😂