An event may get off to a wonderful start
with valet service. It saves time and stress by eliminating the tiresome search
for parking.
Additionally, selecting valet parking at a
hotel or restaurant adds a touch of opulence to the event. You might be
wondering how much to tip a valet once you make the decision to use one.
To properly appreciate your driver for
excellent service, you must understand tip etiquette. Continue reading to find
out the appropriate method to do this.
Things
to know about tipping valet
For valet service, the typical gratuity is
from $2 to $5. If the service is very good, think about leaving a $10 tip.
As you exit the event, leave a cash tip in
your car when you pick it up. Though it's less usual, some individuals
sometimes leave tips when they drop off their cars.
Even if the valet service is free, you should
still tip the attendant since they are still doing you a favor by taking care
of your car.
What
if the service is free?
There are events when valet parking is free.
Although the service is provided without charge, tipping is still customary.
Valets still park your car for you with care,
and they could even assist you with loading or unloading groceries, so you
should be grateful for their assistance.
Valet tips are not commensurate with the
whole cost of the service; rather, they are entirely distinct from it. Similar
to servers, valets also depend on gratuities, so be sure to leave one in order
to avoid coming across as frugal.
When
to tip valet?
Most infrequent valet customers are curious
about how much to tip as valet service comprises both parking your car and
bringing it out to you.
Valet drivers pick up and park your car when
you drop it off. Is it better to tip this driver now or save your tip for the
person who brings your car out again till the end of the evening?
Tipping the driver who takes your car is
advised by some, particularly if you want a good position that will allow you
to leave sooner or preferential treatment.
As you turn over the keys, you have the
opportunity to ask for any favors or special requests. Leaving a generous
gratuity can facilitate their inquiries.
Some claim that tipping the driver who
returns your car to you after the event is more usual.
Should you want to tip just once, it ought to
be upon retrieving your vehicle from the parking lot. Whether you tip twice or
just once when you get the automobile is primarily a question of taste. Tipping
both of them is okay if you're feeling very generous.
How much
to tip valets?
At the moment, the typical tipping range for
valets is $3 to $5. According to an AAA survey, most readers often tip $3 or $4
at 40%. This implies that you should tip each driver in the range shown if you
intend to tip both of them.
This is the standard, but if a driver goes
above and above, you may wish to express your appreciation by giving them a
larger tip in recognition of their hard work and excellent service.
When excellent service is received, it's good
to reward it. Some individuals believe that leaving a tip is a common method to
express your gratitude for a job well done.
Offering a little bit more might inspire that
sort of service to go much beyond our personal encounters.
Tipping hotel valet drivers varies greatly
depending on the circumstances. You may want to tip the valet more if you are
parking at a really posh hotel and they open doors for you or go above and
above to make accommodations.
Tipping less regularly is allowed if you are
staying at a hotel and using the valet service several times a day in order to
prevent the expense from building up too rapidly.
If the
valet service is free, do you still leave a tip?
Yes, even in cases where the service is
provided gratis, a gratuity is usually required.
Even when parking is free, etiquette experts
advise tipping the going rate, which is between $2 and $5. Your car—possibly
the most costly item you own—is being carefully parked by the valet staff, who
is nonetheless doing you a service.
At the conclusion of the evening, the host or
organizers may tip the valet for private events that are provided at no cost.
If this is the case, they will often inform
you that a tip is not required in advance. Keep some cash on hand in case you
have any doubts.
Should
You Leave a Higher Tipping Amount in Certain Cases?
There are several circumstances in which you
might need to ask your driver a specific question. Depending on your location,
what you have requested of your driver and other elements, you should tip appropriately
for valet service.
It can be appropriate to leave a larger
gratuity if you require the valet to get something from your car. Giving a
bigger gratuity will likely make your request—to be parked close to the
front—take precedence.
You can include in your tipping if the
weather is very bad—for example, on a wet or snowy night—because valet parking
saves you the cold trek from the parking lot to the event gate.
If you want to avoid a throng, you may apply
the same strategy in a popular parking lot by leaving a larger tip.
In a similar vein, the process of getting
your car returned will definitely take longer and include some sort of
paperwork if you misplace your parking ticket.
To compensate for the extended time spent on
you and the inconvenience, you can pay the valet more when they ultimately
assist you in getting your car back.
Things
to Consider Before Using a Valet Service
Beforehand, tidy up your automobile a little.
It's not necessary to painstakingly clean the inside of your car or go through
a car wash, but you should pick up any garbage that may have fallen on the
floor or seats and store any tangling phone chargers, aux cables, or other
objects you have in the car in the console or glove compartment.
It's polite for your valet service to tidy up
quickly, and it might also help you avoid feeling embarrassed by a disorganized
car.
Before you head out for your function, make
sure you have cash on hand.
To ensure you have money to tip, withdraw
cash from an ATM or take out a few bucks from your hidden stockpile. You will
not be able to tip using a credit card since valet staff usually do not have
access to card readers.
The valet service, if you're staying at a
hotel, will most likely be charged to your room. Still, make sure you have cash
on hand to tip each of your staff.
Is It
Normative to Tidy Your Car First?
Regarding employing a valet service, another
common query is whether or not the customer should clean up before the valet
enters the vehicle.
Your valet will greatly benefit from you
keeping the driver's seat tidy and clear of clutter and other objects for
convenience when driving. Apart from that, it's up to you if you feel
comfortable letting your valet see a jumbled backseat or a pile of receipts.
Storing valuables is a recommended practice;
you can carry them with you or put them in a glove compartment.
This is in your and your valet's best
interests. It guarantees that you are aware of the location of your belongings
and relieves the valet of the burden of being accountable for them.
For insurance considerations, it's crucial to
notify the head valet right away if something does turn up missing.
Valet services are often covered by insurance
in case anything is lost or damaged. Your chances of receiving a response are
increased the sooner you inform them.
Can I
Make an Advance Call?
You can give a specific establishment a call
in advance to inquire about its valet services if you have any special
inquiries.
This will tell you what the parking area is
like, if you may tip with a credit card and any other pertinent information.
To let them know you are arriving, you may
also give them a call while you are in route to the valet station. In this
manner, you may arrive at your destination faster and spend less time waiting
for your automobile.
This is especially useful if you anticipate a
large group of individuals departing simultaneously.
Why
You Should Tip a Valet?
Valet workers put in a lot of overtime and
endure a variety of weather situations.
Valet employees sometimes put in eight-hour
or longer shifts; these are usually evenings, weekends, holidays, or special
occasion labor. They conduct most of their labor outside, whether rain or
shine, freezing cold, or sweltering heat.
They can also have to deal with a lot of
traffic for the majority of their shift, depending on the location. A
significant portion of a valet attendant's pay comes from tips.
Employers pay valet workers an average of $13
per hour or roughly $27,475 annually. Many, however, earn less than this and
depend on tips to ensure they have a living salary at the end of the day.
Although it might not seem like much, leaving
a few dollars as a tip might make a big difference when it comes time to pay
the rent.
Conclusion
Don't freak out if you frequently run out of
money but still want to thank the waiter for their hard work.
Use our electronic tip software for servers
to tip cashless and keep track of tips simply. The ease of use of a digital
tipping app will benefit you.
With this application, which accepts payments
other than cash, you may leave a tip. Fortunately, this tip software is
compatible with all mobile operating systems, including Android and iPhone, so
leaving tips on the road is a breeze.