We recommend tipping a London taxi driver 10% of the fare, then rounding the total you pay up to the next pound.
Do you tip taxi drivers in London?
Yes. We recommend 10% of the fare, then a round-up of the total to the next whole pound. On a short trip, rounding the fare up to the next pound can be the whole tip, even when that is less than 10%.
Scotland uses the same rule on its own page: Tipping taxi drivers in Scotland. This page is London only. Restaurants, hotels, and the rest of the country are on Tipping in the United Kingdom.
How much to tip a taxi driver in London
- Take 10% of the fare.
- Add it to the fare.
- Round that total up to the next whole pound. If it is already a whole pound, keep it.
The fares below are examples for the math only. They are not London tariffs.
| Example fare | 10% tip | Total before rounding | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| £7.20 | £0.72 | £7.92 | £8 |
| £14.50 | £1.45 | £15.95 | £16 |
| £22.00 | £2.20 | £24.20 | £25 |
| £41.80 | £4.18 | £45.98 | £46 |
A £7.20 fare paid as £8 is the 10% version, rounded. Rounding the fare alone, with no percentage, would pay £8 as well on this row, because £7.20 already rounds to £8. A £14.50 fare at 10% pays £16. Rounding £14.50 up with no percentage pays £15, which is the short-trip version.
Cash or card
Pounds and coins cover it. If you pay by card, tell the driver the total you want to pay before they charge the card. If the card takes the fare only, hand the tip in cash.
What a London black cab fare already covers
Transport for London says there are no extra charges for luggage, additional passengers or carrying assistance dogs, and that all taxis must have a working card payment device and accept contactless. (Transport for London: Taxi fares, checked October 24, 2026) A bag does not add a fee to the fare. If the driver loads it, use the 10% version, then round up. Minicabs are a different service: Transport for London's advice is to always book your minicab. (Transport for London: Taxis & minicabs, checked October 24, 2026)
When to use the 10% version
Use the 10% version, then round up, when the driver loads bags or waits at a stop you asked for. A short direct hop can be the round-up alone. We do not recommend a tip when the driver is rude or takes a route you did not agree to.
Use the same 10% rule in a black cab and in a minicab.
Scotland's matching page is Tipping taxi drivers in Scotland. The country page is Tipping in the United Kingdom.