New Valet App Promises To Make Parking In NYC Easier Than Ever

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A new app launched in parts of New York City Wednesday that sends a driver to meet you at your destination, takes your car to a secure lot and brings it back to you when you're ready.

According to Chris Koh, parking in New York City is about to become easier now that his favorite valet service is operating here.

"I had a meeting to go to and I didn't really have time to look for parking," he told CBS2's Elise Finch. "The guy was waiting for me within 5 minutes so it just sort of saved my life."

Koh uses the valet service LUXE. He downloaded the company's app to his smart phone and established an account with his credit card.

Now, whenever he needs to park, he simply opens the app and enters the address where he wants a driver to meet him.

The company matches his request with a valet in the area and sends him a picture of the valet who will pick up his car.

Koh also receives a text confirming his location, the driver's information and how many minutes away that driver is, Finch reported.

In an effort to be eco-friendly, the designated valet will walk, scoot, skateboard, or even jog to the meeting point in less than 30 minutes, and take the car to a secure parking lot until the driver wants it returned.

"Trying to find a garage and everything like that can be a lot of effort, you have to drive around. We take that out of the equation," said David Gartman, a valet with LUXE NY.

New York General Manager Pooja Dhargalkar said LUXE has negotiated below-market rates with garages across New York City -- prices that are far lower than what people pay when they drive in themselves.

"In Manhattan we're only charging $7 per hour and up to $30 per day. In Brooklyn we're charging $5 per hour and $15 per day," Dhargalkar said. "So it's really hard to find parking at those price points."

All transactions are completed through the app, which means you never need cash to drop off your car, pick it up or tip your valet, Finch reported.

"If you're comfortable with non-TLC type people driving your car," said David Dolch, of Montville, New Jersey.

To get New Yorkers to give the service a try, the first park is free.

Right now, LUXE doesn't operate everywhere. The introductory New York City coverage includes Williamsburg, the Upper West Side, the Upper East Side and Midtown East.