In my experience as a mechanic, it’s not necessary to tip mechanics for an oil change. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tip a mechanic.
There’s this misconception that all mechanics are paid decent hourly wages, so you shouldn’t tip them. Not all mechanics receive decent wages, at least those outside the States. Whether you are in the States or not, I’ll show how I receive tips for oil changes right from my early days as a young mechanic. Seat back and enjoy my cruise in the mechanic garage.
Important tips for Mechanics to get tips for an oil change
Tipping mechanics is not a must. This is the first thing you need to understand as a mechanic. With that in mind, it’s okay if you follow the below tips and the customer does not tip you. Here are my strategies for getting tips as a mechanic.
Provide excellent customer service.
Greet every customer in a friendly and professional way. Listen to their concerns and answer any questions they may have. You don’t necessarily have to do extra services, but a good attitude towards the customer’s concern will create a good impression.
Be informative and knowledgeable.
Explain the process and recommend suitable oil and filters for customers who want to switch from their current oil viscosity. However, you must be knowledgeable about this. It is better not to give information at all than to give wrong information.
Conduct thorough inspection
When doing an oil change, I always check essential vehicle components like the drive belts, brake fluid levels, hoses, and tires. You can also do this and recommend repairs or maintenance to the customer if necessary. Most car owners know nothing about their vehicles and can’t run even the simplest inspection.
Respect customers’ time
I can’t emphasize this enough. Most customers appreciate service technicians who respect their time. But there’s a catch; you must achieve this without compromising quality. It’s better to focus and quality than trying to be fast. But you’ll likely receive tips if you can offer quality service and respect customers’ time.
Be transparent and honest.
Transparency and honesty are crucial to building long-lasting business relationships. If any unexpected issues arise in changing the engine oil, communicate with the customer on time, and don’t hype spare parts prices.
Ask for feedbacks
When I was working with my brother on a small mechanic garage, one of the things that retained customers and made some of them tip me was asking for feedback. I do this on virtually any service we offer, and the end result is long-lasting customer relationships.
However, I don’t recommend doing this on all oil changes unless you encounter an issue during the oil change. For example, if there were oil leaks from the sump or oil pan gasket leak you fixed during an oil change, it’s best to call the customer and ask if the leak returns.
While asking for feedback is pretty cool, I do not recommend it if you work in a company. It may be against the company policy. Many mechanic garage owners will see that you want to drive their customers away. If this happens, the company may lay you off.
Do You Tip for an Oil Change?
As a car owner, do you tip mechanics? Tipping a mechanic after a major repair or minor maintenance task is not compulsory. It is rude for a mechanic to ask you for tips. However, if you are asking if you should tip mechanics after an oil change, it’s left for you.
If the mechanic did an excellent job or respects your time and you want to appreciate it, tip the service technician. And how much you tip the service technician depends on you. For an oil change, I recommend $5 to $10. But you can make it up to $15 to $20 if the service technician did extra services.
If you are going for an oil change and wondering how long does an oil change take? It takes 20 to 45 minutes. Although, tipping a mechanic upfront will reduce your wait time. This is one of the advantages of tipping a mechanic. Also, a mechanic you tip regularly will pay more attention to your vehicle.
But before tipping a mechanic, ask him if he can accept tips. Some companies have a policy that tips go to the company rather than the service technicians. It’s best you go with your money if the company takes the tip.
Do you tip for an oil change at Jiffy Lube?
You can tip service technicians at Jiffy Lube automotive centers during an oil change. How much to tip the mechanic depends on you. Depending on the services rendered, you can tip between $5 and $20. If the mechanic goes above and beyond what is required, you can tip up to $20. But if the mechanic did regular work and you want to show appreciation, then $5 is okay.
Similarly, if you are wondering, do you tip mechanics for a tire rotation or do you tip for car wash, the answer is yes. You can tip if you want, and it’s still okay if you don’t want to tip the service technician.
Is it legal to Tip an Oil Change?
No law prevents you from tipping a mechanic for an oil change. Also, it is not customary to tip a mechanic for an oil change. So, whether you tip or not is a personal choice. However, the mechanic company may have a policy preventing the individual mechanic from taking the money into his personal purse.
Final Words
This article has answered the contemplation – do you tip for an oil change? Tipping a mechanic for an oil change, tire rotation, wheel alignment, or any service should be an act of goodwill and satisfaction from his services. $5 to $20 is the best tip range you should offer.
And before tipping the mechanic, ask him if he can receive the tip. Some mechanic garages have a policy requiring every tip to go to the business instead of the individual mechanic.
