Oh, so you're looking to hand over your precious Tesla to a valet, but with that familiar little pang of anxiety? We've all been there! That sleek, powerful machine is an extension of you, and letting someone else take the wheel, even for a short park, can feel a bit... unsettling.
But fear not! Tesla, being the forward-thinking company it is, has a brilliant solution: Valet Mode. This isn't just a simple "limp mode"; it's a comprehensive suite of restrictions designed to give you peace of mind when your car is in someone else's hands. Think of it as putting your Tesla in a responsible babysitter mode.
Let's dive into exactly how to activate and use this incredibly useful feature, step by step, so you can confidently hand over those keys.
Step 1: Understanding What Valet Mode Does (and Doesn't Do)
Before we enable Valet Mode, it's crucial to understand what it entails. This will help you feel more confident about using it and prepare you for any limitations.
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| How To Do Valet With Tesla |
What Valet Mode Restricts:
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Speed Limit: The maximum speed is typically capped at 70 mph (113 km/h). This prevents any joyrides or reckless driving.
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Acceleration: The car's acceleration is significantly reduced, often to the "Chill" setting or about 25-50% of maximum power. No sudden bursts of speed for the valet!
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Access to Personal Information: Your privacy is paramount. Valet Mode hides personal data like your home and work addresses, recent destinations, calendar, and contacts on the touchscreen.
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Storage Access: The front trunk (frunk) and the glovebox are automatically locked, securing any valuables you might have inside. The rear trunk generally remains accessible.
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Key Features Disabled:
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Autopilot/Full Self-Driving (FSD): These advanced driver-assist features are disabled for safety and to prevent misuse.
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Voice Commands: No one can use voice commands while in Valet Mode.
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Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: These connectivity options are disabled, preventing new device pairing or access to your Wi-Fi networks.
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HomeLink: If you have HomeLink programmed for your garage door, that functionality is disabled.
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Driver Profiles: Other driver profiles cannot be accessed, ensuring your personalized settings remain untouched.
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Certain Apps: Apps like Toybox and Theater may be inaccessible.
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Sentry Mode: If Sentry Mode is active, it remains active in Valet Mode and cannot be turned off by the valet. This is a huge plus for security! You'll still get alerts on your phone if a security event is detected.
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Allow Mobile Access: This setting cannot be changed while Valet Mode is active, ensuring you maintain remote access to your car via the Tesla app.
What Valet Mode Doesn't Restrict:
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Charging: Valets can still plug in your Tesla to charge it, which is incredibly convenient if the valet service offers EV charging.
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Basic Car Operations: The valet can still drive the car, adjust the seat and mirrors (though these will revert to your profile settings when you disable Valet Mode), and perform other standard driving functions.
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Sentry Mode: As mentioned, Sentry Mode continues to function.
Step 2: Activating Valet Mode Through Your Tesla's Touchscreen ️
This is the most common and straightforward way to enable Valet Mode when you're directly handing over your car.
Sub-heading 2.1: Prepare Your Tesla
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Ensure Your Car is in Park: Before you do anything else, make sure your Tesla is in Park (P). You can't activate Valet Mode while the car is in Drive or Reverse.
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Optional: Note Your Current Settings: While Valet Mode restores your previous settings, it's always a good habit to quickly glance at your preferred climate control, audio volume, and mirror settings if you're particularly particular.
QuickTip: Revisit posts more than once.
Sub-heading 2.2: The Activation Process
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Tap the Driver Profile Icon: On your Tesla's large central touchscreen, look for the driver profile icon at the top of the screen. It usually displays your name or a generic person icon. Tap on it.
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Select "Valet Mode": From the dropdown menu that appears, you'll see an option for "Valet Mode". Tap on this option.
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Create a Valet PIN (First Time Only): If this is your first time enabling Valet Mode, the system will prompt you to create a 4-digit PIN. This PIN is crucial as you'll need it to disable Valet Mode later. Choose a memorable but secure PIN.
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Pro Tip: If you have PIN to Drive enabled, you'll need to enter your driving PIN before you can set the Valet PIN.
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Confirm Activation: Once you've entered and confirmed your Valet PIN (if applicable), the touchscreen will display the word "Valet" and the driver profile will change to "Valet Mode." You'll also likely see a notification on your Tesla mobile app (if you have it set up).
And just like that, your Tesla is now in Valet Mode! You can confidently hand over your key card to the valet.
Step 3: Activating Valet Mode Remotely via the Tesla Mobile App
What if you've already parked, or perhaps you're lending your car to a friend and want to enable Valet Mode remotely? The Tesla mobile app has got you covered!
Sub-heading 3.1: Prerequisites for App Activation
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Ensure Mobile Access is Enabled: On your Tesla's touchscreen, navigate to Controls > Safety > Allow Mobile Access. Make sure this setting is enabled. Without it, you won't be able to control your car remotely.
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Good Internet Connection: Both your phone and your Tesla need a stable internet connection for remote commands to work.
Sub-heading 3.2: Remote Activation Steps
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Open the Tesla Mobile App: Launch the Tesla app on your smartphone and ensure you're logged in with your Tesla account credentials.
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Navigate to the Security Section: From the main screen of the app, locate the "Security" section. It might be under a "Controls" or "Profile" tab, depending on your app version.
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Toggle "Valet Mode" On: Within the Security section, you'll find a toggle for "Valet Mode". Tap to turn it ON.
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Note: When activating via the app, you usually don't need to enter the PIN because you've already authenticated by logging into your Tesla account.
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Confirm Activation: The app will confirm that Valet Mode is now active. You'll also see the status change on your car's touchscreen the next time someone interacts with it.
Step 4: Disabling Valet Mode and Restoring Your Profile
When you get your Tesla back, turning off Valet Mode is just as easy as turning it on.
Sub-heading 4.1: Disabling from the Touchscreen
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Tap "Valet" on the Touchscreen: With your Tesla in Park, tap on the "Valet" profile icon at the top of the screen.
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Enter Your Valet PIN: The system will prompt you to enter the 4-digit PIN you created when you enabled Valet Mode.
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Confirmation: Once the correct PIN is entered, Valet Mode will deactivate, and your Tesla will automatically restore all settings associated with your most recently used driver profile (seat position, mirror settings, climate control, etc.). All features will be available again.
Tip: Read mindfully — avoid distractions.
Sub-heading 4.2: Disabling from the Tesla Mobile App
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Open the Tesla Mobile App: Launch the Tesla app on your smartphone.
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Navigate to the Security Section: Go back to the "Security" section where you enabled Valet Mode.
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Toggle "Valet Mode" Off: Tap to turn the "Valet Mode" toggle OFF.
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Confirmation: The app will confirm the deactivation, and your car will revert to your normal driver profile.
Step 5: Advanced Considerations and Best Practices ✨
While Valet Mode is robust, there are a few extra tips and tricks to maximize its effectiveness and your peace of mind.
Sub-heading 5.1: Lowering the Speed Limit Further (Parental Controls)
While Valet Mode caps the speed at 70 mph, you might want an even lower limit, especially if you're lending your car to a new driver or you're particularly cautious. Tesla offers a "Speed Limit Mode" that works independently or in conjunction with Valet Mode.
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Go to Controls > Safety > Speed Limit Mode: On your touchscreen, navigate to these settings.
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Set a Custom Speed Limit: You can set a maximum speed as low as 50 mph (80 km/h).
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Create a PIN: You'll be prompted to create a separate PIN for this feature.
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Note: This feature is also sometimes found under "Parental Controls" and can also limit acceleration further and require safety features to be enabled.
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Sub-heading 5.2: Utilizing Sentry Mode
Sentry Mode is your Tesla's vigilant guardian. When activated, it uses the car's external cameras to record suspicious events around the vehicle when parked.
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Sentry Mode remains active in Valet Mode. This means if a valet tries anything untoward or if someone bumps your car, it will record the event and send an alert to your mobile app.
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Ensure you have a properly formatted USB drive plugged into your Tesla's USB port (preferably the one in the glovebox) to save Sentry Mode recordings. Newer Teslas often come with a pre-formatted drive.
Sub-heading 5.3: The Tesla Key Card
When handing your car to a valet, you'll typically provide them with your key card. They need this to unlock and start the vehicle. However, since Valet Mode is active, their access will be limited as described above.
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Consider a key card holder: Some owners use a simple key card holder to make it less likely the valet will misplace or confuse it with other keys.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Tip: Skim only after you’ve read fully once.
How to use Valet Mode without a key card?
While it's most convenient with a key card, you can use the Tesla app to grant "Keyless Driving" access for a short window (usually two minutes) if you need to give a valet access without physically handing over the card. However, for a typical valet experience where the car is parked for a duration, providing the key card is standard.
How to reset Valet Mode PIN if forgotten?
If you forget your Valet Mode PIN, you can reset it from inside your Tesla by entering your Tesla Account credentials on the touchscreen. You can also reset it via the Tesla mobile app.
How to know if my Tesla is in Valet Mode?
When Valet Mode is active, the touchscreen will prominently display the word "Valet" and the driver profile will indicate "Valet Mode." You'll also typically receive a notification on your Tesla mobile app.
How to charge my Tesla in Valet Mode?
Yes, your Tesla can still be charged while in Valet Mode. Valet Mode does not restrict charging capabilities, which is convenient if the valet location has charging facilities.
How to access the glovebox in Valet Mode?
The glovebox is automatically locked when Valet Mode is active. To access it, you'll need to disable Valet Mode first using your PIN.
Tip: A slow, careful read can save re-reading later.
How to open the frunk in Valet Mode?
The front trunk (frunk) is also locked when Valet Mode is active. You must disable Valet Mode to open the frunk.
How to ensure my personal data is safe in Valet Mode?
Valet Mode automatically hides personal information such as your home/work addresses, recent destinations, calendar, and contacts from the touchscreen, ensuring your privacy.
How to use Sentry Mode with Valet Mode?
Sentry Mode remains active when Valet Mode is enabled. It continues to monitor your vehicle for suspicious activity and will send alerts to your mobile app if triggered, providing an extra layer of security.
How to set a custom speed limit lower than 70 mph in Valet Mode?
You can use the "Speed Limit Mode" (sometimes found under "Parental Controls") in your Tesla's safety settings to set a custom maximum speed as low as 50 mph. This can be used in conjunction with Valet Mode.
How to get notifications when Valet Mode is active?
When Valet Mode is activated, you will receive notifications through your Tesla mobile app, keeping you informed of its status.
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