Car Damaged from Valet Parking: Who Pays?

All of us know that as drivers, well spend a lot of time parking our cars, especially during the upcoming holiday seasons of Thanksgiving and the Christmas shopping rush. But that doesnt mean drivers are always responsible for parking, especially when a business offers valet parking.

Valet parking is extremely popular in North America, and is offered by stores, restaurants and other establishments, and even at places it isnt expected that will leave most scratching their heads, such as hospitals. No wonder health care costs are through the roof, right?

Sometimes businesses offer valet parking at no charge although the valets probably work for low wages and expect tips from drivers to help supplement their income while others actually charge for the convenience being offered. You didnt have to find a parking spot, nor did you have to actually park your car, so thats worth $5.00-$10.00, right?

Maybe for some peoplewe think. It certainly depends, thats for certain. While many consider valet parking a luxurious extravagance, wed prefer to keep our money and park our cars ourselves. But sometimes, a business doesnt offer a choice its all or nothing, take it or leave it.

To most, it probably isnt worth the money, and even if its being offered free of charge, we all know theres no such thing as free. The cost is being passed along to customers. And in reality, valet parking normally has less to do with convenience, and more to do with a business being able to maximize limited parking space and customers.

Since valets can park cars closer together and aligned properly, there are huge space savings to be had from the process. And sometimes, there are numerous people employed in a valet parking operation, ranging from greeters that welcome customers, parkers who place the car in the lot, and even people who ensure space is maximized.

Thats because valet parking makes it possible to stack parking. More cars can be placed into a physical space, and because the valets are responsible for the cars, they can park cars two deep, since theres no danger of a blocked car making it impossible for a driver to leave. The valet has the keys to all of the cars they park, opening up this space advantage.

One downside we see with valet parking is that most employed in such positions are young, often around 18-25 years of age. Thats the age range of drivers that have the most wrecks and fatalities, so its also the age range that pays the most for car insurance, too. And such positions normally experience a turnover of just a couple of months, meaning these arent career positions for most people.

And of course, another potential downside is that youre leaving your car in the possession of another driver. Theyve got your car, your keys and complete access to it during the time youre engaged in shopping, dining or whatever activity brought you to the business in the first place. Not only is your automobile opened up for potential theft of items within it, but its also possible your car could be damaged from negligence or malfeasance.

What if Your Car Gets Damaged through Valet Parking?

So who pays if your car is damaged while in the hands of valet parking? Thats actually a complicated question, and it can be a difficult one to answer with determinative authority.

First, it isnt easy to prove when the damage was done, nor whom was at fault. Owners will be expected to provide some kind of proof that the automobile was damaged on the valet services watch.

In general, there are a few different ways the process can play out if your car is damaged when its been driven by a valet:

We suggest you always conduct a quick walk around inspection of your car when the valet takes it, and repeating the process when your car is returned. This will help reduce the possibility that damage goes unnoticed, and can help you in your claim against the valet service.

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