Beware valet parking insurance loophole

USING A VALET parking service could mean losing your car with no insurance cover. Drivers are being warned to check their insurance policies before handing over their car keys to valet parking attendants as more than half (51%) of the UK’s motor insurance policies do not cover this service.

While valet parking companies provide insurance cover for their employees to drive your car, many insurance policies do not cover ‘damage to vehicle while in the control of valet parking staff.’ This means if your car is damaged or written off while it’s being parked or retrieved by valet parking staff, you could be left seriously out of pocket with no claim against the valet parking company.

Valet parking has become much more popular at many large hotels and airports to save drivers time when they arrive or depart.

Lee Griffin of insurer Gocompare.com said: ‘It can be a convenient way to park your car, especially at airports where it will save you having to lug heavy suitcases onto an airport shuttle bus. But before you hand over your keys you need to check the implications for your car insurance and carefully read the valet parking operator's terms and conditions.

‘These will outline what insurance cover, if any, the operator offers, detailing exclusions, limits and excesses. Generally speaking operators offer very limited cover for damage to your car, which you will need to spot and report to them when you collect your vehicle. Possessions left in your car are generally excluded.’

By Press Association reporters