Persons A + C had their cars MOTd at a Test Centre that does only MOTs and charges the maximum legal amount of £54.85 which the Test Centre stipulates can only be paid in cash. It's an open secret in the town that this is most likely for tax avoidance reasons.
A, B and C met up in a pub recently.
B asked A if their car passed it's MOT and how much it had cost.
A said "£54.85 but obviously I just handed the £55 cash over."
B was horrified and commented that the done thing is to round it up £60 as you are supposed to include a tip for an MOT.
A seemed shocked and said they weren't aware this was a "thing" and asked C to back them up.
C agreed that you don't have to tip for MOT and agreed with A's argument that this particular garage avoids paying tax and that neither A, B or C get tipped in their respective jobs (carework, NHS and education) and also pay tax on all income. If it makes any difference, A is hard up and £55 is a significant amount of money at the moment.
B probed C further, only for C to admit they always tip an extra £10 when they get their car MOTd.
B thinks A is very rude and has committed a faux pas and the staff at the centre will be laughing at them being tight for handing over £55 exactly.
A thinks B is crazy and that most people don't tip when they get an MOT as it's a legal test and not a repair (though they admitted to tipping the mechanic that services/fixes their car).
C has a tendency of tipping everyone for fear of offending someone and is on the fence and isn't sure whether it's the done thing or not.
Who is in the right here?
YABU - It's the done thing to tip when you get your MOT done
YANBU - You don't have to tip when you get your MOT done