How to tip a Valet

Tipping the Valet:
The Valet is the person who parks your car when you arrive to your destination. And the person who brings your car, from where the previous person parked it, to you when you're ready to leave. You will want to tip the valet at least $2.00 every time the valet parks your car and another $2.00 when he brings it to you. You should tip at least $5.00 every time the valet brings you your car if you didn't tip anything when the valet parked your car.

My 2 cents worth:
Sometimes valets will pool their tips. The rule to pulling tips will vary. But the idea and concept is pretty simple to grasp. Pooling tips means that all the valets share their tips. If 5 valets are working and valet 1 has $10.00, valet 2 has $30.00, valet 3 has $15.00, valet 4 has $10.00, and valet 5 has $35.00 at the end of the designated time frame, each valet will receive $20.00 each. Which means the pool gets divided up evenly. One great reason for the valets to pool tips is because it keeps them from fighting over who parks a car and who brings a car from the garage. Because some times people only tip when the car is brought to them and not when its parked. Also, sometimes people just don't tip at all. To clarify, some people don't tip when the car is parked or brought to them. These people are rude and impolite... and a few other adjectives I'll refrain from using.

Calling Ahead for your Car:
Sometimes people will call ahead to have their car brought to the driveway so it will be waiting on them to depart. These guests sometimes to do this to avoid waiting for the valets to bring the car around or for other reasons like running late for a dinner reservation.

My 2 cents worth:
If you do this make sure you tip more than whats been suggested to tip. The reason to tip more is because you have asked them to skip ahead of other people who are bringing their claim ticket in person and waiting on the vehicle in person while the guest who called ahead has their vehicle in the driveway clogging it up and slowing down service. Also the valet that brought the car down and parked it on the driveway could have been bringing a car down for a guest that was waiting and get tipped for it. When you arrive and the car is waiting for you because you called ahead, ask for the valet that brought your car around and hand him the tip personally. And my 2 cents worth says you should be tipping at least $10.00 if you call ahead for your car to be waiting when you arrive.

My 2 cents on Common Courtesy when using Valet Parking:
1. If you call ahead and see your car parked on the side, don't just walk to it and get in. Make sure you speak to a door man or valet and show them your claim ticket. I'm sure you'd hate to get your rental car confused with another person's and take theirs instead of yours. (oh, yes, that's happened quite a few times because of impatient people.)

2. Be patient and plan ahead.

3. NEVER tip a valet or anyone coin change! There are several things that they will do with it. Sometimes they will let it slip through their hands and let it hit the ground and spill everywhere to let everyone know you're tipping change (quite embarrassing). Other times they will refuse to take it for several reasons. One of the main reasons is because it jingles in their pockets and if other people hear it jingling, they too will get the misconception that its OK to tip coins. And last but not least, and not limited to, of their response is to accept the coins and then proceed to toss/throw them into the lovely fountain of the establishment wishing to never get coin tips again.

4. If you arrive to a place that has mandatory valet parking, DO NOT argue. Just get out the car and let them park your vehicle.

5. When staying at a hotel and you see a valet charge or parking in the garage fee, do not assume under any circumstance that any of this money is going to the valets. Some of it might be going to them to pay their hourly rate, of less than minimum wage, but that's all. Valets make their living on tips.