If your hotel, restaurant, or event space runs valet, your tickets are the heartbeat of the operation. The right ticket system speeds drop off, prevents mix ups, reduces disputes, and protects revenue. In this guide, you will see exactly how valet tickets work, what each part does, when to choose 2 part vs 3 part vs 4 part formats, when to add barcodes, and how to handle lost tickets with confidence. You will also learn why Caymil’s heavyweight 9pt stock, jumbo numbering, strict sequential control, and same day shipping keep your lanes clear and your cash box accurate.

What is a valet ticket?

A valet ticket is a pre numbered, tear apart card that follows a car, its keys, and your records from arrival to exit. Each ticket number is unique. You hand a claim check to the guest, attach a matching stub to the keys, place a matching stub on the dashboard or mirror, and keep an audit copy for your records. That single number ties everything together, so your team never has to guess which car or keys belong to which guest.

How do valet tickets work, step by step?

Here is a simple flow diagram description you can visualize and train to:

• Arrival: Greeter writes the car details and any existing damage on the main stub. The ticket number is now assigned to the vehicle.
• Tear and place:
  • Windshield or mirror stub goes on the car, front and center for quick spotting.
  • Key stub goes on the key ring so keys never separate from the number.
  • Claim check goes to the guest for retrieval.
  • Audit stub, if present, stays in your rack or drawer for shift and revenue control.
• Park: Driver parks the vehicle, reads the visible jumbo number on the windshield stub to confirm the stall if you log parking locations.
• Retrieve: When the guest returns, the podium matches the guest’s claim check to the key stub and windshield stub. A quick number match, optional barcode scan, and you are pulling the car.

That is it. Simple, fast, and highly traceable.

2 part vs 3 part vs 4 part, which format do you need?

Choosing the right ticket is about matching parts to your process and risk tolerance.

• 2 part tickets, claim check + key or windshield stub:

  • Best for lower volume or quick turn restaurants where speed matters and your team does not need a separate audit copy.
  • Keep a photo log or digital record if you skip the audit stub. These are budget friendly and fast.

• 3 part tickets, claim check + key stub + windshield stub:

  • The industry standard for hotels, large restaurants, and events. You get a visible car ID on the dash, a secure key ID, and the guest claim. Many formats include a car diagram on the back for marking prior damage.
  • This format balances speed and control with minimal paper handling.

• 4 part tickets, claim check + key stub + windshield stub + audit stub:

  • Ideal for operations with multiple shifts or strict revenue control. The extra audit stub creates a paper trail you can sort by time, rate, or validation. Many hotel style layouts add a hole punch on the key or exit stub for rack organization.
  • Choose this when you need end of day reconciliation by sequence, comp tracking, or manager audits.

Tip: If your venue validates parking, use the audit stub to staple receipts or mark approvals. If you want an off the shelf solution right now, see in stock valet tickets with same day shipping and heavyweight stock.

What each stub actually does

• Windshield stub: Sticks or hangs where it is highly visible, so runners can spot vehicles quickly. Jumbo red numbering boosts readability at a distance or at night. It also deters accidental release of the wrong car.
• Key stub: Lives on the key ring, keeping keys tied to a single number at all times. Add a 1/4 inch hole punch on formats that hang neatly on a ticket rack.
• Claim check: The guest’s proof of possession. Your disclaimer and terms print here to set expectations on liability and timing.
• Audit stub, on 4 part formats: Your control copy for shift reconciliation, validations, comps, and incident notes.

When to add barcodes or QR for scanning

Add a barcode when you want speed plus digital tracking. Code39 on 3 part or 4 part tickets lets you scan at drop off and pick up, logging timestamps, rates, and validations in your system. If you plan to integrate with software, order a format with a parking ticket barcode so staff can scan keys, cars, and claims without manual entry. This reduces line time, curbs input errors, and strengthens your audit trail.

Material details that keep operations smooth

Paper quality and numbering control matter. Caymil prints on heavyweight 9pt stock, equivalent to about 150 pound ticket paper. It is roughly 40 percent thicker than bargain 110 pound cards, so stubs resist tearing in rain, humidity, and constant handling. Jumbo numbers are easy to read across the lot. Most formats print on both sides, include a car damage diagram, and come pre punched where useful. Every order is sequentially controlled and checked, so you do not see missing numbers that can create shrinkage or reconciliation gaps. Many popular 3 inch and 2.5 inch formats are in stock and ship the same day you order.

Mini SOP, what if I lose my valet ticket?

Lost tickets happen. Make it routine, not a fire drill. Train this mini standard operating procedure:

1. Ask for ID and the vehicle description, make, model, color, and plate if known.
2. Look up the car by stall, time of arrival, or sequence range. Use the visible windshield stub numbers and your audit copies to narrow the search.
3. Compare ID to any name on your audit stub or digital entry. If you captured a phone number at drop off, confirm it.
4. Walk around the vehicle and note any damage. Have a manager initial the lost ticket release line on your audit stub or in your system.
5. Collect payment according to policy. If validation was expected, verify with the host or front desk.
6. Document the release with date, time, staff initials, and the presented ID type. Attach this to the audit stub or save in your software.

Post this SOP at the podium and practice it in pre shift meetings so the team stays calm and consistent.

How do valets keep track of cars at scale?

Visibility and sequence control. Place windshield stubs where runners can read jumbo numbers as they approach aisles. Use consistent parking patterns, for example row by row by number range. Keep key stubs in a ticket rack matching your sequence. If you scan, map barcodes to stalls and time slots. At the end of each shift, reconcile the lowest to highest ticket numbers issued, match cash and validations to those numbers, and spot check any missing stubs.

When to choose in stock vs custom

Need speed and a proven layout for tonight’s event, choose an in stock format with same day shipping. Want branding, a special disclaimer, color coding by shift, or integrated barcodes, order custom valet tickets tailored to your process. You can add logos, color blocks, hole patterns, sizes, and specific terms to fit your hotel or venue standards. If you run coat check in the same lobby, coordinate designs and numbering with your coat check ticket set for a unified front desk experience.

Quick selection guide

• Fast casual or small venue, 2 part.
• Hotels and busy restaurants, 3 part with damage diagram.
• High control operations, 4 part with audit stub and barcodes.
• Wet or high handling environments, always use heavyweight 9pt stock.
• Digital workflows, add a barcode to scan at both ends.

Summary and next steps

The best valet ticket system is simple, visible, and accountable. Use the right number of parts, make the car and keys easy to spot, and safeguard every handoff with a single sequential number. Heavyweight stock, jumbo numbering, and tight sequence control cut disputes and protect revenue, while barcodes speed you through peaks. Ready to upgrade fast, explore valet tickets in stock that ship today. Building a branded, scan ready workflow, get custom valet tickets with your logo and terms on durable 9pt stock. For software ready scanning, learn how a parking ticket barcode can streamline your check in and check out.