Do I tip at a drive-thru?
A bag through a window, then you drive off. That is a quick handoff, not table service, and a tip isn't expected.
Drive-thru tip screens ride the same wave Bankrate has tracked: in its 2025 survey, 41% of Americans said tipping has gotten out of control, up from 35% a year earlier. A fast-food window is exactly the kind of place fueling that frustration.
Tap no and pull forward. Matching the tip to the service is the whole point, and a window order is about as minimal as service gets.
When to tip more
A huge, complicated order they got exactly right, or someone who fixed a mistake cheerfully, can earn a dollar or two if you feel like it.
Quick questions
Do you tip at a drive-thru?
No, it isn't expected. A drive-thru is counter service through a window, the category etiquette guides treat as optional.
Is it rude to skip the drive-thru tip?
Not at all. The worker is on a regular hourly wage doing a quick handoff, not a tipped role.
Related situations
Verdict based on: The Emily Post Institute (2024), CNBC (2024).
Tipping guide · Methodology.
General etiquette guidance, not financial or legal advice. Norms vary by region and situation, and tipping is always your call.