Warning about valet parking!

[MiaSRN62]

It seems pretty likely that if you let an unauthorized person drive your rental car & they damaged it (and possibly someone else's car) that your personal insurance would not cover it.

So it comes back to the rental car companies are really trying to get us to buy their extra insurance (something I've never done over the years). I don't know what to do now. Guess I'll be self parking ?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

The other thing I wouldn't assume is that your personal auto insurance would cover the damage given that you are violating your rental agreement by letting the valet park your car. The key here is that its the rental agreement being violated not the extra insurance portion of the agreement. It seems pretty likely that if you let an unauthorized person drive your rental car & they damaged it (and possibly someone else's car) that your personal insurance would not cover it.

That's exactly my point. You summed up my question better than I did.

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

So it comes back to the rental car companies are really trying to get us to buy their extra insurance (something I've never done over the years). I don't know what to do now. Guess I'll be self parking ?

Maria, I don't even think buying their insurance will solve the issue. If the valet is not an "authorized driver", the purchase of the insurance means nothing.

MG

 

[MiaSRN62]

Maria, I don't even think buying their insurance will solve the issue. If the valet is not an "authorized driver", the purchase of the insurance means nothing.

True MG....you have a point with the way the exclusion is worded.

 

[JimC]

I tend to agree. If the drive is "unauthorized" under the contract but permitted by you then I doubt if any regular insurance will cover it (not your personal insurance, not CDW offered by company nor the AMEX premium car rental protection plan).

Just read the AMEX plan. Must not be in violation of car rental agreement to be covered.

This change by the rental companies is a really bad deal for the consumer.

 

[mamatojon]

I just emailed National about this because in that master rental agreement there is no language like I quoted from Alamo. And since Alamo is owned by National, I'm now questioning whether or not it has changed as well. I'll keep you posted on their reply. I said "will I be in violation of the rental agreement if I use valet services at a hotel or restaurant?" - which is what it boils down to, right MG?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I said "will I be in violation of the rental agreement if I use valet services at a hotel or restaurant?" - which is what it boils down to, right MG?

Correct, mamatojon. Thanx for taking the time to do this!

I just went to Alamo's web site, and although they don't post their entire terms & conditions (that I could find anyway), they did not have valet down as an authorized driver on their FAQ policy page.

Thanx again, and keep us posted!

MG

 

[ralphd]

You also may have to prove when and where the the car was damaged.

 

[mamatojon]

Correct, mamatojon. Thanx for taking the time to do this!

I just went to Alamo's web site, and although they don't post their entire terms & conditions (that I could find anyway), they did not have valet down as an authorized driver on their FAQ policy page.

Thanx again, and keep us posted!

MG

Yes, the complete terms and conditions are not available on the site - on national's I can get it from logging in with my emerald club membership , on alamo I just had a previous contract available and don't recall getting an updated one so I assumed it was current. My guess is that they are the same since they are related companies - I don't mind looking into it at all, I'm very curious myself since we are going in January and had planned on using valet again. I'll be really ticked off if it becomes a problem.

 

[bicker]

For all you valet parkers you might want to check Disney's policies on damage due to using the service. It wouldn't surprise me to find out that they aren't liable for damages...given the potential size of the awards, the potential frequency with which the question could arise plus the inconvenience of proving/disproving when the damage took place.

Well, exculpatory clauses like that aren't enforceable. You cannot resign from culpability for failing to take appropriate care. They can disclaim responsibility for some of the things that the rental car company make you, the renter liable for (like loss of use, as I mentioned earlier), but the actual cost to repair the damage they'd have a hard time walking away from -- as long as you could prove it was them.

The other thing I wouldn't assume is that your personal auto insurance would cover the damage given that you are violating your rental agreement by letting the valet park your car.

Indeed, Your personal auto insurance may or may not cover liability to rental cars, period.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Just as an aside while we wait for some additional info--the valet parkers at the Dolphin had me walk around our vehicle with them inspecting for any damage BEFORE they issued that valet ticket and parked the car. None of the WDW owned places did that.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I checked the standard rental contract for Hertz Gold service and it had language similar to Alamo's with regard to valet service, so it's good for now. But if Avis has recently changes its rules, then the other companies may not be far behind.

Something big must have happened to prompt this change, because it does seem like telling your renters they can't use valet parking would seem to discourage renting by the very people that would be your prime target customer. And in some urban areas, there are hotels that only have valet parking, so prohibiting use of that parking would both inconvenience the customer and put the car at greater risk by forcing the customer to find an all night public lot nearby.

-- Ssuzanne

 

[bicker]

I'm not sure how much this will "discourage" the "prime target customer" -- that will greatly depend on whether that customer even knows about this change. As long as it remains under the radar, it'll only affect customers actually hit with extra charges. As long as it remains under the radar, it'll probably reduce costs (by shifting them onto renters) more than it will reduce revenues.

 

[john6262]

I work for a parking company that handles many Valet Parking locations. If a Valet Parkers damages your vehicle, they are liable under Bailment Law.

All legitimate companies (including Disney) carry Garagekeepers Liability Insurance, but with a deductible. This means that Disney is responsible to pay out directly any amount UNDER the deductible and the Insurance company OVER the deductible. I would assume that Disney has a very large deductible (ours is $25,000.00).

Again, there are many "fly by night" companies, but most legitimate companies will pay for the damage their valet cause. As said above, there will be times when there is doubt as to who is at fault. The best rule is inspect your vehicle when the valet returns to you. If there is any damage, have them complete a claim form and take pictures. If there is damage, DO NOT LEAVE without filing a claim - this will raise the issue of WHEN the vehicle was damaged. If there is a claim, ask to see the entire ticket, becasue most valet companies inspect the vehicle prior to parking it (the example above from the Swan/Dolphin) and then note any damage on the part of the ticket they keep. If there is no damage noted, this will prevent them from claiming the damage was pre-existing. If the damage was not noted on the ticket and you report it BEFORE you leave, there is documentation that the valets caused the damage.

I do not believe you will have an issue with a reputable company like Disney if they do damage your car. When I go to DVC I always use valet parking and would not hesitate at all in the future.

Now with regards to Rental Car companies, when a vehicle is damaged they usually impose a "loss of use" fee and administrative charges. When we deal with the Rental Car companies after damaging one of their vehicles, we inform them that we do not pay these charges; we have not pay any to date.

 

[bicker]

I would assume that Disney has a very large deductible (ours is $25,000.00).

Disney might actually self-insure.

Now with regards to Rental Car companies, when a vehicle is damaged they usually impose a "loss of use" fee and administrative charges. When we deal with the Rental Car companies after damaging one of their vehicles, we inform them that we do not pay these charges; we have not pay any to date.

That's a pretty clear track-record. That's really all renters have to look forward to paying themselves OOP if something unfortunate happens while the valet has their vehicle.

 

[CarolA]

We've always been very happy with them. We only ever use National or Alamo now whenever we travel. We had bad experiences with Dollar and Enterprise though.

My horror story was several years ago However, it was enough to turn me off forever. (And I am pretty tolerant of travel company screw ups overall)

I have to say my last National rental was borderline.... Car had issues and the desk clerk at the Dolphin was HORRID. (Alamo employee that day) When I took the "broken" car back to the airport, not even an apology. They get a few more chances, but "broken" vechicles and employees like that kid at the Dolphin are pretty much starting convice me that the Alamo practices are spreading to National.... if so, I am gone!

 

[CarolA]

Now with regards to Rental Car companies, when a vehicle is damaged they usually impose a "loss of use" fee and administrative charges. When we deal with the Rental Car companies after damaging one of their vehicles, we inform them that we do not pay these charges; we have not pay any to date.

Loss of use charges can only be charged IF they really had a Loss.... My former employer used to just ask for fleet records to PROVE that they had rented ALL mid size vehicles and therefore did "lose" during this time. The rental car companies always went away.....

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Damage to an auto or loss of use is still not an amount of money that would wipe out a life savings.

On the other hand, what if the valet mows down a family of four? We have all seen them driving a bit fast from the parking lot... Haven't we?
Beyond the millions of dollars in liability, what about criminal charges if we let them drive the car?

MG

 

[JimC]

It is not just whether you will prevail but the cost, time and aggravation of defending your self.

 

[JimC]

I work for a parking company that handles many Valet Parking locations. If a Valet Parkers damages your vehicle, they are liable under Bailment Law.

All legitimate companies (including Disney) carry Garagekeepers Liability Insurance, but with a deductible. This means that Disney is responsible to pay out directly any amount UNDER the deductible and the Insurance company OVER the deductible. I would assume that Disney has a very large deductible (ours is $25,000.00).

Again, there are many "fly by night" companies, but most legitimate companies will pay for the damage their valet cause. As said above, there will be times when there is doubt as to who is at fault. The best rule is inspect your vehicle when the valet returns to you. If there is any damage, have them complete a claim form and take pictures. If there is damage, DO NOT LEAVE without filing a claim - this will raise the issue of WHEN the vehicle was damaged. If there is a claim, ask to see the entire ticket, becasue most valet companies inspect the vehicle prior to parking it (the example above from the Swan/Dolphin) and then note any damage on the part of the ticket they keep. If there is no damage noted, this will prevent them from claiming the damage was pre-existing. If the damage was not noted on the ticket and you report it BEFORE you leave, there is documentation that the valets caused the damage.

I do not believe you will have an issue with a reputable company like Disney if they do damage your car. When I go to DVC I always use valet parking and would not hesitate at all in the future.

Now with regards to Rental Car companies, when a vehicle is damaged they usually impose a "loss of use" fee and administrative charges. When we deal with the Rental Car companies after damaging one of their vehicles, we inform them that we do not pay these charges; we have not pay any to date.

True, but the renter has likely agreed to pay such charges as part of the contract they signed. Since your parking company is not a party to the contract it would not be bound by its terms. If the renter did have to pay I suspect there would be a claim made to the parking company. Either way it is a hassle that would take some amount of time to put right.