A city parking garage with valet services has on-site attendants who park and retrieve your vehicle. For drivers, this can save time and enhance safety, as they do not have to navigate extensive garages. This also helps maximize garage space; since drivers do not access the garage interior, less square footage is required for pedestrian walkways. Here are some things to expect when using a valet service in a parking garage:
Vehicle Drop-Off
Upon arrival at a valet-operated parking garage, enter the pick-up zone slowly. This helps maintain safety in pedestrian-heavy areas, where valets are traveling between cars and other drivers are exiting their vehicles. Before leaving your car, gather valuables and any other items you may need; these include sunglasses, mobile devices, and wallets. Because the garage entrance is typically restricted to guests, it is difficult to retrieve items from your car after it has been parked.
When leaving your vehicle with a valet, you will need to give them your keys. It is often recommended to give the valet a spare vehicle key and keep the original, in case the key is misplaced. Car keys should also be detached from personal key rings; this allows you to retain ownership of house or office keys. Leaving your vehicle running at the drop-off zone helps maintain speed and efficiency.
You will receive a claim ticket, and this identifies you as the owner of the car you dropped off. A claim ticket also helps valets track parking locations, enabling them to retrieve your vehicle quickly. Keep it somewhere safe, such as in your wallet with your ID, so it’s easy to retrieve at pick-up. If you book valet parking in advance, you may receive a digital claim ticket or reservation pass. This is able to help speed up the drop-off process, and it verifies that a space is available when you arrive.
The Parking Process
Valets park hundreds of cars each week, so they are familiar with driving various vehicle types, whether they are manual or automatic, large or small. But if you have any specific problems with the car that impact parking, you should notify the valet. These issues could include brake problems or doors that struggle to latch. Parking garage attendants will park your car either manually or with an automated lift system. This helps maximize parking capacity because vehicles can be placed closer together, and fewer garage features, such as ADA spaces or pedestrian walkways, are required. Valet services also streamline parking in busy areas, as drivers do not have to wait in long queues at entrances or exits.
Allowing a trained valet to park your vehicle can help reduce accidents in parking areas. Self-park areas are sometimes hard to navigate, especially if they have tight turns or narrow parking stalls. This might result in minor dents or scratches as drivers attempt to squeeze past each other. Valets are familiar with the garages they operate, so they are less likely to make navigation errors or create bottlenecks. Many valets are also insured to cover accidental vehicle damage, helping safeguard your car while it’s in the garage.
Car Pick-Up
When you’re preparing to pick up your vehicle, it’s helpful to notify the valet company. A valet will typically retrieve your car quickly if you arrive without advance notice, but calling ahead can save time. This verifies that your vehicle will be ready upon arrival, which is beneficial if you’re in a hurry or need your car during peak hours. Have your ticket ready when you get to the parking garage. This enables the valet at the desk to verify ownership before returning your keys. Before leaving, inspect your vehicle for damage; if there are any scratches, notify the valet right away, because the company cannot be held responsible after you drive away. You should also plan to tip the valet before leaving. Though this is not required, it is polite to tip $2–$10. Cash is usually preferred, but online valet booking systems may provide card-based tipping options.
Find a Valet Parking Garage Today
Densely populated urban areas typically support a variety of parking garages. Some are only self-park, but others offer valet services. When using an online parking reservation system, you can often filter garages by amenities, such as valet service or vehicle type. This makes it easy to find a garage that supports your needs. Reserve a space today.
