Tipping or gratuity etiquette for taxi drivers in Scotland

We get the question frequently on what the tipping and gratuity etiquette is in the U.K.
Tipping your driver is not expected in Britain the way it is in some other countries.
Workers don’t officially have to rely on their tips to live and all staff in the UK must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. Although it’s not necessary to tip, it’s always greatly appreciated and will be greeted with that endearing British politeness. 

Gratuity

In Britain it is quite normal to tip taxi drivers and customary to round the total fare up to the nearest pound.
If your driver is extra helpful, offers to load and unload your luggage at the airport, makes friendly conversation, and generally, provides an overall pleasurable taxi ride, than it is advisable to reward them for their efforts.
Consider tipping a 10-15 per cent tip as a nice gesture and should suffice…

Gratuity Scotland
Taxi meter at Starfish taxis St Andrews

What is a good taxi service?

A good cab driver will be friendly and have a thorough knowledge of the area in which they work.
If you ask for advice on where to go in Scotland or St Andrews, the driver should be able to suggest a few popular attractions without much effort.
They should also be aware of alternate routes in case of a traffic jam or accident that obscures the road. A swift service should be always priority. Try to notice whether your driver went a roundabout way or was adapting the route based on rush hour traffic.
Help with luggage is minimum standard, unless the driver has a medical condition of course.