Enter the service price before tax. Deposits and fees not included.
Tip at pick-up only, not at drop-off. The attendant receives the full tip when they return your car. Free valet still requires a tip.
Split tip with others
Valet tip guide by venue type
| Venue type | Minimum | Standard ★ | Generous | Notes |
|---|
How much should you tip valet parking?
Valet tips are flat amounts, not percentages. The standard is $2–5 at pick-up for restaurant or standard hotel valet, and $5–10 for luxury hotels or special events. Tip only at pick-up. This is the universal convention. The attendant receives the full tip when they return your car.
"Free valet" means no parking fee, not no tip. Always tip $2–5 at pick-up even when valet is complimentary. The attendant performed the same service regardless of what you paid for parking.
Factors that affect how much to tip
- Venue type: Budget hotel or casual restaurant ($2–3), standard hotel or upscale restaurant ($3–5), luxury hotel or formal event ($5–10).
- Service speed: If the attendant retrieved your car quickly during a busy rush, tip at the higher end. A 20-minute wait during a fully-staffed slow period warrants the standard amount.
- Special requests: Pulling up early, holding your car close, helping with bags or strollers, all warrant tipping toward the upper range.
- If you retrieve your car multiple times (e.g., at a hotel over a multi-day stay), tip $3–5 at each pick-up, not just the first and last.
Valet tipping etiquette
Have your tip ready in cash before the attendant brings your car. Fumbling for cash while holding up the line is awkward for everyone. A $5 bill in your pocket before you hand over your keys makes the exchange smooth and intentional.
If the valet damaged your car, report it to the manager immediately and photograph the damage before leaving. You are not obligated to tip for damaged property. File a claim through the company's insurance. Do not accept verbal assurances and drive away.