Free Valet? Say: "No way!"

If you wouldn't feel comfortable handing your car keys to the stranger beside you on the sidewalk, you may want to reconsider the Valet service at your local restaurant. Free Valet is offered by many restaurants that don't have convenient parking or want to offer a luxury experience. This service isn't truly free when you realize that your auto insurance policy is going to potentially be responsible for any damages the valet causes! Unless the establishment is charging you for their valet services, you haven't turned over responsibility for the vehicle to a garage or auto related business and there is no automatic exclusion under your own auto policy. Since insurance follows the vehicle and not the driver, this can be a huge problem. Not only does this include responsibility for the damage to your vehicle, but liability for damage to other property, vehicles or pedestrians! This loss would be on your policy for three to five years, giving you less options to change carriers moving forward. I don't know about you, but I'll risk being late to dinner before I let a stranger borrow my coverage!