DES GTS

Does anyone entrust their car to the valet parking guy at a hotel or restaurant? I'm always surprised at the number of people who do.

I don't want anyone else driving/parking my car, so I just say "No thank you. I'll park it myself." Sometimes there's an opportunity to park on site, sometimes not. Doesn't matter. I'm not leaving it with them.

Are there any other strategies people use to avoid dings, dents, and other valet "accidents"?

Td33

NEVER!

rk-d

If I had no choice, I’d probably give the valet $20 to keep the car in the front. Otherwise, nope.

Rocket_boy

Ditto, Never.

DES GTS

I only do that at one place that I go to about once a month where I know and trust the staff. I have to leave the key with them in case they need to move the car. A bit of a risk, I know, but that's the only place where I'll do it.

wotaskd

Never, ever. Won't even let my own wife touch the car, let alone strangers. I dread of curbs and can't trust anyone will be as OCD as me about avoiding them.

My strategy is to research my options before leaving the house. If I know valet cannot be avoided, I drive my wife's car 😂

riotgear

I generally don’t valet my sports cars, just family cars or my wife’s car since she doesn’t care. When I do valet mine, I have it parked up front so it won’t move and give a large tip.

hcvone

Sure I just throw the valet the keys to my new 900 plus hp car, oh sorry I was dreaming about the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" , the answer is NO, NEVER PERIOD

LexVan

Park. And walk. We all need the extra exercise.

Dr. G

For $200 you can get a sprint booster and put it in valet mode - they can't get any power out of the car.

As far as giving it to a valet. Only if they park it in front - and, yes, a large tip is usually given for that. Sometimes they'll let me park it in front and I'll still give them a tip.

Amir1

I offer them a large tip and request to park it myself. Preferably up front. Very rarely do they say no. A couple of times they insisted that only the valet driver park it. So I sat in the passenger's seat and went with them just to be sure.

Domer911

If they won't let me park in front myself, I find another spot for the car. I'm OCD about someone else dragging their feet across the door sills. I have had a few cars whose door sills were scraped by Porsche techs at the local dealership. IYAM, that's a bigger worry than valet parking attendants.

ScottTurbo

I valeted my new TTS with 100 miles on it, no issue. That is part of why I bought a 911, it draws very little attention compared to the McLaren I had.

hcvone

I'll drop my wife off and ask where can I park this where no one will touch it and you will watch it, I give them money coming and going and everyone is happy

wintershade

How much is a "large tip?" Just planning ahead for the inevitable 2-3 times per year I have to valet. Are we talking Jackson or Benjamin here?