Garage attendants provide a necessary service in a city where parking is notoriously difficult, often maneuvering vehicles in extremely tight, multi-level spaces. Understanding the proper etiquette for tipping these service workers is a practical necessity for anyone using a Manhattan or outer-borough parking facility. This guide provides clear, definitive guidelines to ensure you are appropriately acknowledging the service provided by the attendants who handle your vehicle.
Standard Tipping Amounts for Garage Attendants
For the standard in-and-out service of retrieving your car from its spot and bringing it to the exit, a tip of $3 to $5 is considered appropriate in a New York City parking garage. This amount acknowledges the physical effort and time required to safely deliver the vehicle. The tip is specifically for the service of parking and retrieval, separate from the parking fee itself.
For situations involving minimal interaction, such as a very short stay or minor assistance in a self-park garage, a slightly lower tip of $1 to $2 may be acceptable. However, for the full valet service common in most NYC garages, the $3 to $5 range is the established norm. The tip is generally applied per service interaction, meaning you tip each time the car is retrieved, regardless of the total duration of the stay.
Monthly parkers, who use the garage daily or weekly, are not expected to tip on every single transaction, but many choose to tip $5 each time to maintain good service. The daily tip for monthly customers is a gesture of goodwill that can lead to faster retrieval times and better placement of the vehicle. For long-term stays, such as a week or more, the tip remains focused on the retrieval service, not the number of days the car was parked.
The Logistics of Tipping: Timing and Recipient
The most common time to provide a tip to a garage attendant is upon the retrieval of your vehicle. Tipping at this point allows you to acknowledge the successful completion of the service, which includes the safe delivery of your car. While some patrons may tip at drop-off, especially if requesting a specific service, the standard practice is to wait until the attendant hands you the keys at the exit.
If the attendant who parks your car is different from the one who retrieves it, the tip should go to the person who brings the car to you. This individual has completed the final, most visible part of the service, ensuring the gratuity is given for the service you have just received.
Use cash for tipping garage attendants, as they are typically unable to process digital payments or add a gratuity to the parking charge. Keeping a supply of small bills, specifically $1s and $5s, makes the transaction quick and seamless. When handing over the tip, a discreet and direct approach is best, often by folding the cash and handing it to the attendant along with the key.
Situations That Warrant a Higher Tip
Certain circumstances justify increasing the standard $3 to $5 tip to a higher amount, often $7 to $10 or more. One common reason is when the attendant must retrieve the car during inclement weather. Navigating the garage and the street in heavy rain, snow, or extreme cold requires extra effort and exposure.
Exceptional service, such as retrieving your car significantly faster than the posted wait time during a busy period, also warrants an increase. If the attendant assists with the loading of heavy luggage or helps to secure a child’s car seat, the tip should be elevated. This extra effort saves the customer time and physical strain.
A larger vehicle, such as a full-size SUV or a truck, often requires more difficult maneuvering within the tight confines of a typical New York City garage. If your car is notably large or the garage is known for its challenging, multi-level layout, increasing the tip recognizes the added skill and caution required.