Pizza delivery q&a Do you still tip when there is a $2 delivery charge? It's unusual to have a delivery charge that high. The most I've seen is $1.30 and it did not go to the driver's tip, so you should still tip. A high delivery charge is a sign of a small local store instead of a national chain. Please ask the store -- you might have to ask a manager. Find out how much goes to the driver's tip and not to other things like mileage compensation or hourly wage. In small stores, the $2 covers the driver's hourly minimum wage, so you should still tip. Some of it might go to the driver's tip or nothing might. How they use the fee varies from store to store. It costs the store more to have your pizza delivered. They have to cover auto liability insurance and a few other things. Having a delivery charge is one way to compensate. This is a business fee. Most of the time, the driver doesn't see it. I'm surprised the store tells you there's a delivery fee. I wish they would not. They go out of their way to mess up the driver and confuse customers. Some places advertise "free delivery" which tricks people into not tipping. Some stores mention a delivery charge, making people think it's a gratuity. It was completely unnecessary for the order taker to mention the delivery charge when the driver receives none of it. Our advice is to look past the delivery charge -- it's part of the bill. In national chains like Domino's, Pizza Hut, and Papa John's, the delivery charge does not benefit the driver. Their delivery charge is usually below $2 but some local franchisees are getting close. If the $2 fee does not go to the driver's tip, you should consider it part of the bill. After all, it goes to the same place, the store. You should still tip the driver. If some of it goes to the driver's tip -- not mileage or hourly -- you may reduce the tip by that amount. Last updated: June 8, 2006 return to top