Valet Parking Nerves

Someone else may come up with another reference, but this one shows the Gen !! image. Fiona has never met a valet parker (or for that matter any car wash attendant other than the hand-wash guy who got a quick lesson in Prius 101)

Imagerius-valet-card-small.jpg - EAA-PHEV

 

I used to hate having my 2005 prius valet parked. Everyone says: "sure I know how to drive it" (would any valet admit they didn't know how to drive a car). Well one valet on a downslope did not put my car in park and the car just missed rolling over my child. Had to jump in car to stop it. Needless to say I never, never let valets touch my car again. If you have to, ask them how to put car in drive and park and make sure they understand you have to hit park button.
Good luck.

 

I have two sons that work as valets for a major hotel chain. They know more about different kinds of cars than you might think. Also if they damage a car while parking or retrieving it the hotel's insurance pays to fix the car. It's got to be better than street parking.

 

HAHAHA, yes the hotel insurance has to pay for it...assuming an honest employee tells the truth. If he tells the truth, he gets a talking to (hopefully not fired).
What about the valet parking anywhere else? Garage valet parking? etc...

Anyways, for one more line of protection just create a 4inch by 4inch cheat sheet that instructs the valet driver how to operate the car. Put it on the dash. Pint out a handful and keep them in your car seat pocket for future use and be done with it. Or you can simply rely on honest people and their insurance company :heh:

 

What is a Valet Card? No one will be able to start the engine without the FOB period. There are no valet keys for this car either, that is a typo in the documentation.

As for valet parking, I drive to the Chicago Loop daily, and park in a underground garage, and since they stack the cars several deep, they need to have the keys, and move the car a few times per day. That said, as there are about 300 cars in here, and about 10 of them are Prius, they are very familiar with it. When I brought it in the first day, in fact, several of them gathered round and asked a few questions, as they seem to actually like the Prius too.

When I have parked in other valet situations, so far they seem to have all seen enough other Prii to not be an issue. Besides, other cars have push button ignition too.

 

In 2004, hardly anyone had seen or driven push start cars, let alone ones with toggle switch shifters. This. really isn't a problem anymore.

 

Yes--it comes with that card, attached to an elastic band. I keep it in the center arm rest console, and plan to attach it to the shifter when I get the car washed or have it valet parked.

 

It is a cheat sheet of instructions on how to start and operate the vehicle, see the link above.

I believe I did receive one but can't remember. I will have to go look.

G

 

I definitely did not get one of those. Can anyone make a pdf of it, and post it? I would make a color copy, laminate and keep in my car.

 

The big question is...do you want it in English or French?

Here is a quick picture of what I think you are all talking about. eglmainz You didn't get one of these?

 

I got no such card. Live where there are lots of resort hotels and valet parking is sometimes the only way. There is high turnover in these positions. I still have to say, "Put your foot on the break then press the button." With more cars having electronic ignition, this may get better. But they will say "yes" and be clueless.