Tipping drivers in India
 

We will soon be travelling throught northern India with a hired car and driver. I have been told that it is appropriate to tip 100 - 200 rupees each day and then a larger sum of about 500 rupees at the end of the trip. Does anyone out there have different information? I want to tip what is appropriate and this amount seems SO small.

Actually this is OK. Given the exchange rate and economics this is reasonable for them even though it is small for us. We rented a cab for the entire day in Delhi (with my tough Indian SIL setting the price) for $12.00. The dolloar does far there.

Yes, the $ does go far in India. Your tipping amoounts are reasonable so do not worry that they seem small. Your driver will also appreciate small gestures like being given 50 rupees at lunch time - he may carry his own lunch but he will still appreciate it!

From what I gather I will be having one driver for a few days at a time. do I understand correctly that it would be appropriate to tip Rs. 100 a day (plus Rs. 50 if lunch is involved) and then a larger sum (Rs. 300-500)at the end of the few days?

I would think that tipping at the end of the trip would be preferable. Drivers get food and lodging allowances enroute, and the tip should be gratitude for a job well done. If he scares you silly on day two, you cannot get day 1's tip back!.

I found that the psychology of everything worked differently in India. However, we tipped our driver - who was wonderful, by the way - each day so that he would really do a great job taking care of us - and he did. He drove safely, graciously took any side trip we wanted and even showed us a few sights not listed in the guide books. The system worked very well with him. However, we had a TERRIBLE and SCARY driver for one day only and he got a very small tip. Luckily we didn't get him on the long hawl.