Valet Service Tipping
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Joined: May 2005
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From: Winnetka, Illinois
LandRover Disco
Valet Service Tipping
If the valet comes to pick up your car for servicing and leaves a dealership car with you for personal use, how much do you tip him? In this case the valet would be driving 30 minutes to get here and 30 minutes to get back to the dealership.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: CA
2010 CL65
From a liability (and hygiene) standpoint wouldn't want anyone except self driving own car on public roads; 99% of people aren't competent drivers and any post-collision car is worthless from a structural safety/aesthetic standpoint but most situations won't be declared a total loss, so face deprec hit
Choose car less likely to require frequent visits to dealer for any svc/mtce; one's time is far more valuable than any car, no matter loaner cars, nearby dealer, etc
Valet every evening at dinner but tip generously to self-park car in front of restaurant and keep keys; prefer reduced risks of vandalism and assault when car is being watched over in front of a restaurant (nr other new AMG/F of fellow diners), rather than in some distant garage or lot
Choose car less likely to require frequent visits to dealer for any svc/mtce; one's time is far more valuable than any car, no matter loaner cars, nearby dealer, etc
Valet every evening at dinner but tip generously to self-park car in front of restaurant and keep keys; prefer reduced risks of vandalism and assault when car is being watched over in front of a restaurant (nr other new AMG/F of fellow diners), rather than in some distant garage or lot
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Charlotte, NC
2002 S430, 2004 Cobra, 2004 Tahoe
IMO, that is their job and you should not tip them. They are just dealership employees and most dealerships do not allow them to accept tips. On the other hand, if you get your car washed/detailed at the dealership, I would be more inclined to give the wash guy a tip.
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2007 S600
I feel that after paying $150K for a car, I've done my tipping upfront. But like WSH said, I would not allow someone to drive my car who has no vested interest in the care of my car, so valeting is something I avoid at all cost of my time.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 330
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2007 S 600 / '06 911 Porsche C4S cab
Agree with the above. As an aside, there was a lot of discussion on the thread about valets. How some guys take the cars for a spin, others go through the glove box etc. etc. The less I have to use a valet the better.
Like WSH, I'd prefer to park the car out front, keep the keys and give the guy tip. Most places love to have an S 600 parked out front anyway.
Like WSH, I'd prefer to park the car out front, keep the keys and give the guy tip. Most places love to have an S 600 parked out front anyway.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 888
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From: Paradise (a.k.a. Austin, TX)
'09 S63 AMG
This is a very good thread! Not so much about dealership valeting but more about restaurant/hotel valeting....
Like WSH said (or what I think he said
)... I don't want some one's bodily secretions in my car, nor do I even want to imagine what they could do driving it 1/2 a block or 30 miles. When I take the wife to a fine dining establishment I typically ask the valet if I can park in front my self 
.... 9 times out of 10 they'll say yes. I usually tip 1.5 times the norm...
Wouldn't want to risk someone messing with my car...
Like WSH said (or what I think he said
)... I don't want some one's bodily secretions in my car, nor do I even want to imagine what they could do driving it 1/2 a block or 30 miles. When I take the wife to a fine dining establishment I typically ask the valet if I can park in front my self .... 9 times out of 10 they'll say yes. I usually tip 1.5 times the norm...Wouldn't want to risk someone messing with my car...
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: DFW
BMW M850i Gran Coupe
1.5x could be an "iffy" formula, for those who think $1.00 or $2.00 is the usual tip (nothing intended Austin!). Valet's run the gamut from your local neighborhood restaurant to Wynn's tower entrance, so the $$$ required for the "proper" valet handling changes markedly. In some venues $10.00 is more than enough for upfront parking and in others, $20.00 is more appropriate. (NYC, LA, Vegas - bring more $$$). The key to a satisfying valet experience is to be sure the valet is basically pleased with your gratuity. Caveat Emptor to those who don't play the right game here.
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Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 161
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From: NJ
2021 C63S Cabriolet, 2021 GLE53 Coupe, 2022 GT3 Touring, 2021 Taycan Turbo S, 2022 F-150 Lightning
I usually do twenty on the pick up and twenty on the drop off. Forty dollars is well worth not having to waste my time dropping off and picking up the car. My dealership is about 30 mins away.
Jan
Jan
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: South Florida
2006 ML500
Last time I used a valet was at the Fountainbleu in Miami's South Beach. I gave them the keys to my brand spanking new Infiniti and I didn't notice until I was halfway home that the idiot put a scratch on the top of my shifter. Probably from a big ring of keys.....
It wasn't a big scratch and the shifter knob is not TOO expensive to replace, but it was just the fact that they f'd up my brand new car that was in perfect condition! Grrrrr.....
It wasn't a big scratch and the shifter knob is not TOO expensive to replace, but it was just the fact that they f'd up my brand new car that was in perfect condition! Grrrrr.....
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: California
06 C55, 09 E350
Funny I work for a dealer and have even been a valet, but I never knew they picked up cars and brought them back. If they did that service I would probably tip them 10 bucks. The valet doesn't care about how much you paid for the car really since they get nothing out of it. They get paid dirt and they will take a bit more care of your vehicle if you tip them. I figured he meant he was given a ride home by the shuttle driver and wanted to tip him for that. The dealerships do say not to tip, but they really don't care. Valets don't really expect to get tipped because most people don't at the dealer. I would say 3 bucks is sufficient if you were just picking up the car (that's how much I tip)
