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What Does a Valet Do at a Car Dealership?

A dealership valet is more or less an employee who is tasked with parking vehicles and moving them from place to place.

Dealership valet duties also include cleaning cars, performing light maintenance and other tasks as instructed by managers. When people buy a new or used car at a dealership, it is the dealership valet who brings it to a pick-up location. It is their job to make sure the new vehicle is ready so the owner can get behind the wheel and drive away.

While a car is at the dealership, dealership valets move and park it as needed. Dealership valets are mandated with washing cars and cleaning the interiors so that customers see an attractive vehicle. Dealerships tend to also have dealership valets check a car’s oil and other fluids, and fill them if necessary.

They also fill up the gas tank. The dealership valet also keeps track of vehicle locations on the lot. Managers assign dealership valets other duties as well.

For instance, they are usually tasked with keeping the car lot free of trash. In winter, they may have to remove snow and ice from the cars. When a dealership valet is assigned to the dealership’s service department, they tend to have additional duties.

Dealership valet responsibilities in the service area start with driving the car from the point where a customer or tow truck drops it off to a parking space to wait for a service technician to start work. Once a car is serviced, the dealership valet cleans up any grease or dirt, and checks to make sure all work is completed.

Note that at some service departments, dealership valets may perform simple maintenance tasks such as changing a battery. The dealership valet brings the car to a service drive and delivers it when the customer arrives to pick it up.

How Much Do Valets Make at Car Dealerships?

As of Jun 3, 2022, the average annual pay for a Dealership Valet in the United States is $31,617 a year and that works out to be approximately $15.20 an hour.

This is the equivalent of $608/week or $2,635/month. According to experts, there are annual salaries as high as $76,500 and as low as $16,000 in the industry, and the majority of Dealership Valet salaries currently range around $21,000 to $28,000 with top earners making $42,500 annually across the United States.

The average pay range for a Dealership Valet varies greatly (by as much as $7,000), which notes there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location, and years of experience.

Primary Roles and Responsibilities of a Dealership Valet

To ensure success as a dealership valet, you should exhibit safe driving skills and have experience working with customers at a car dealership. Ultimately, a top-notch Valet is someone who can be entrusted with valuable property.

Responsibilities

  1. Moving cars between the dealership’s display area, workshop, storage facility, and the pick-up point.
  2. Driving and handling all cars responsibly to ensure damage prevention, and protecting dealership property at all times.
  3. Accounting for all cars on the lot.
  4. Ensuring the cleanliness of the interiors and exteriors of cars on the lot.
  5. Providing assistance with keeping the lot clean and tidy at all times.
  6. Driving off-site to run errands when required.
  7. Performing basic maintenance tasks, such as changing batteries and filling up on gas, oil, and other fluids.

Requirements to Be a Valet

  • High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.
  • Demonstrable experience as a dealership valet, or similar.
  • Valid driver’s license and a good driving record.
  • Working knowledge of basic car maintenance would be advantageous.
  • Ability to assume responsibility for the valuable property of customers and the dealership.
  • Willingness to learn and to perform a wide range of allocated tasks.
  • Ability to take accurate notes regarding vehicle movements and vehicle conditions.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Willingness to work irregular business hours, including evening hours, weekends, and holidays.

How to Become a Dealership Valet

To become a valet in a car dealership, you may need a high school diploma or equivalent, though most valet positions have no education requirement. Many valet jobs need you to be over 18 years old and have a clean driving record.

Note that you will be expected to operate a variety of vehicles with both manual and automatic transmissions, and have strong customer service skills. Upscale dealerships may prefer valets with prior valet experience, but most places provide on-the-job training. Before you start the job, you may need to pass a driving test, complete a background check, and pass a drug test.

Conclusion

Dealership valets work at automotive dealerships where they are responsible for moving and parking cars. Their duties include keeping track of vehicle locations on the lot, cleaning cars, and ensuring a tidy lot. Managers may also assign dealership valets additional tasks.

A responsible attitude is essential. You will be entrusted with moving and caring for valuable property. You must have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record. A good valet is detail-oriented and willing to do a wide range of tasks when the manager asks. Some dealerships also require drug screening and a background check.