Short answer: The usual tip for a valet in the US is $2 to $5, given when your car is brought back. With no cash on you, the options are: ask the attendant, ask the front desk or host stand, pay through the valet's text system, or get change inside.
How much to tip a valet
| Situation | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Car returned | $2 to $5 |
| Bad weather, a long run or a quick turnaround | $5 or more |
| Hotel stay with several retrievals | Tip each time the car is brought round |
These are customary amounts in the United States, in US dollars. They are a guide, not a rule: tip more for exceptional service.
Do you have to tip a valet?
It is customary even where valet parking is free or the fee is on your bill. The parking fee goes to the operator, not to the attendant running for your car.
Can you tip a valet by card?
Almost never at the kerb. The valet stand takes payment for parking, if it takes payment at all, and has no way to accept a tip for an individual attendant.
4 ways to tip a valet without cash
- Ask the attendant. "I have no cash, do you have Venmo or a code?" Many valets carry a QR code on a lanyard or the back of their ID.
- Ask the front desk or host stand. A hotel can sometimes add a valet gratuity to your room, and a restaurant can sometimes add it to your bill.
- Pay through the valet's text system. If you request your car by text message, the link sometimes includes a tip option.
- Get change inside. The bar, the front desk or the gift shop will break a note or give cash back.
What a tip QR code does
If a valet shows you a QR code, point your phone camera at it. A payment page opens in your browser, you choose an amount, and you pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card. You do not install anything or create an account, and it works with cards from other countries.
If you cannot tip on the day
Tell them when you hand over the keys, not when you collect. If you are staying several nights, tip double on the next retrieval and say it is for last time.
Outside the United States
In the UK and Europe a pound or euro or two is fine. Valet parking is rare in Australia; where it exists, tipping is optional.
Do you work as a valet?
Yours is a cash-only tip handed through a car window in about four seconds. Drivers who pay for everything by phone arrive at that moment with nothing, and there is no terminal at the kerb to fall back on.
See how valets take card tips with a QR code: where to put it, what to write on the sign and how to mention it.
Common questions
How much should I tip a valet?
The usual tip for a valet in the US is $2 to $5, given when your car is brought back.
Do I have to tip a valet?
It is customary even where valet parking is free or the fee is on your bill. The parking fee goes to the operator, not to the attendant running for your car.
Can I tip a valet with a card or Apple Pay?
Almost never at the kerb. The valet stand takes payment for parking, if it takes payment at all, and has no way to accept a tip for an individual attendant.
What if I have no cash to tip a valet?
Tell them when you hand over the keys, not when you collect. If you are staying several nights, tip double on the next retrieval and say it is for last time.