Valet parking: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What valet parking is

A valet company stations attendants at your event to greet guests, park and retrieve their cars, and manage the flow of traffic at the entrance. Hosts hire valet when the venue has limited parking or the guests need a smooth arrival and departure.

Signs you need it

  • The venue has limited parking, and guests would otherwise circle the block
  • The event is formal and guests expect to hand over their keys at the door
  • The entrance is on a busy road or in a tight space that needs traffic control
  • The event runs late, and guests need their cars brought up quickly at the end
  • You want the parking area kept clear for emergency or delivery access

What the pro does

  • Visits the site to check the entrance, the drop off area and the parking lot
  • Plans the valet stand, the traffic route and the staff needed
  • Sets cones, signs and the stand before the event starts
  • Greets guests, takes keys and tags each car
  • Parks and retrieves cars, and keeps the traffic moving at the entrance
  • Clears the lot and closes the stand at the end of the event

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Number of attendees and the number of cars expected
  • Length of the event and how long the valet must run
  • Number of attendants needed for the traffic flow and the lot
  • Site layout and whether the company must set cones, signs or a stand
  • Permit or site approval needed from the venue or the local office
  • Insurance and any extra coverage the venue requires for the cars

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of attendants and the hours they work
  • Setup and breakdown times and the equipment the company brings
  • The insurance coverage the company carries for the cars
  • Who handles any permit or site approval, and who pays for it
  • What happens if the lot is full or a car is damaged

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What insurance do you carry for guests' cars, and can you send a certificate?
  • How many attendants will be on duty, and how do you handle peak arrival?
  • Who handles a permit or a site approval, and when do you need it?
  • How do you tag and track each car?
  • What is your plan if a guest's car is damaged or a key goes missing?
  • Can you park the cars in a space the venue has approved?

Red flags

  • Will not show proof of insurance for the cars
  • Cannot say how keys and car tags are tracked
  • Plans to use a street or lot the venue has not approved
  • Has no plan for peak arrival or for the end of the event
  • Does not visit the site or ask about the entrance layout

What you can do yourself

A host can set up a simple guest parking plan with signs and a clear route to the lot, and ask a few reliable friends to direct traffic at the entrance. Do not direct traffic on a busy road or allow untrained people to park other people's cars. Hire a valet company when the arrival is large, the entrance is tight, or the cars need to be parked and retrieved safely.

Licenses and permits

Many places require a permit to run valet parking on public streets or some private lots, and the rules vary by place. Check with the local office that oversees parking and the venue before the event. Ask the valet company for proof of insurance that covers the cars it parks.

Valet parking questions

Who is responsible if a car is damaged?

Read the valet agreement. Ask whether the company's insurance covers damage to the cars, and how a claim is handled.

Do we need a permit for valet?

It depends on where the valet is. Many places require a permit for public streets or some private lots. Check with the local office that oversees parking.

How does the valet handle a guest who wants to leave early?

Ask the company for its return process. A good valet will track each car by its tag and return it quickly, even at the end of a busy night.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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