Wedding transportation can mean a lot of things: a stretch limo, a party bus, shuttles for guests, vintage car rentals, or just valet parking at the venue. The tipping approach differs for each.
Here’s how to handle all of them.
Limo and car service drivers
$50 to $100 per driver, or 15-20% of the fare.
If your limo costs $500 for the day, a tip of $75-100 is appropriate. For a shorter ride (ceremony to reception only), $50 is fine.
The driver has to:
- Show up early
- Keep the vehicle spotless
- Handle traffic and timing
- Often stand outside waiting while you take photos
That’s worth recognizing.
Guest shuttle drivers
$50 to $100 per driver, same formula.
If you hired a shuttle bus to take guests between the hotel and venue, the driver deals with a full vehicle of your tipsy wedding guests. They deserve a tip.
For multiple round trips with 30+ guests, lean toward $100. For a single trip each way with a smaller group, $50 works.
Check your transportation contract first
Many limo and car services include gratuity in the contract. Look for these terms:
“Gratuity included” — The driver will receive a tip through your payment. You don’t need to add more unless they were exceptional.
“Service charge” — This might not go to the driver. Same issue as with caterers. Ask the company: “Does the service charge go to the driver?”
If gratuity isn’t mentioned at all, assume you’re tipping separately.
When to tip the driver
End of your last ride. When you arrive at the reception (or wherever your final transportation stop is), hand the driver an envelope before getting out.
If you have multiple vehicles with different drivers, prepare separate envelopes for each.
For shuttles running multiple trips, have someone at the venue (coordinator, family member) give the driver their tip after the final trip.
Vintage or specialty car rentals
If you rented a classic car with a driver, same rules apply: $50-100 depending on the length of service.
If you’re driving the car yourself (some rentals allow this), there’s no driver to tip. But tip the person who delivered the car if applicable: $20-50.
Valet parking
This is where it gets interesting. Valet tipping can be handled two ways:
Couple pays for all valet tips upfront. You give the valet company $2-5 per car multiplied by expected cars. They handle everything. Guests don’t tip. This is common for upscale weddings.
Guests tip valet directly. Guests pay $2-5 when their car is returned. You don’t prepay anything. This is more traditional.
Decide which approach ahead of time and make sure it’s clear. If guests are supposed to tip but don’t know it, the valets get stiffed. If you prepaid but guests also tip, the valets make out like bandits.
For couple-paid valet with 100 guests, assume about 40 cars (people carpool and some don’t drive). At $3/car, that’s $120 prepaid tip.
Example: multi-vehicle wedding
You have:
- One stretch limo for the bridal party: $600
- One sedan for the couple: $300
- A 30-person shuttle for guest transport: $400
Limo driver tip: $90 (15%) Sedan driver tip: $50 Shuttle driver tip: $75
Total transportation tips: $215
Not huge compared to other vendor tips, but drivers work long days and deal with traffic stress. Worth it.
What if the ride was late or problematic?
Transportation issues can derail a wedding day. If your driver was late and caused problems, you’re not obligated to tip well. A reduced tip or no tip is reasonable for genuinely poor service.
But if traffic made them late despite their best efforts? That’s not their fault. Tip normally.
Planning tips for transportation and all your vendors? Our free calculator handles drivers, valets, and 16 other categories.