You've just had a fantastic experience, perhaps dining at a new restaurant, and now it's time to reclaim your Tesla from the valet. You step up, confident, but then you remember: it's still in Valet Mode! Don't worry, getting your Tesla out of Valet Mode is a straightforward process designed to keep your vehicle and your personal information safe. Let's walk through it step-by-step.
Step 1: Getting Started – Park Your Tesla and Prepare
First things first, let's make sure your Tesla is in the right state to exit Valet Mode.
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| How To Get Tesla Out Of Valet Mode |
Sub-heading: Ensure Your Tesla is in Park (P)
The very first and most crucial step is to ensure your Tesla is in Park (P). You won't be able to disable Valet Mode while the car is in Drive, Reverse, or Neutral. So, bring your vehicle to a complete stop and engage the parking brake. You'll usually see a "P" icon illuminate on your touchscreen when it's correctly in Park.
Sub-heading: Understand What Valet Mode Does
Before we proceed, it's good to briefly understand why Valet Mode exists. Tesla's Valet Mode is a built-in driver profile that limits certain functionalities of your car when someone else is driving it (like a valet, or perhaps a new driver in your family). This includes:
Speed Limitation: The maximum speed is typically capped at around 70 mph (113 km/h).
Reduced Acceleration: Acceleration is significantly limited, often to the "Chill" setting.
Locked Compartments: The glove box and front trunk (frunk) are locked to protect your belongings.
Privacy Protection: Personal information, such as your home and work addresses from navigation, is hidden.
Disabled Features: Features like Autopilot/FSD functionality, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth pairing, voice commands, and HomeLink are deactivated.
Restricted Access: Driver profiles cannot be accessed or changed.
This mode is designed to give you peace of mind when someone else is behind the wheel.
Step 2: Accessing the Valet Mode Controls
Now that your Tesla is safely parked, let's navigate to the Valet Mode controls on your touchscreen.
Sub-heading: Locating the Driver Profile Icon
On your Tesla's large central touchscreen, look for the driver profile icon at the very top of the "Controls" screen. This icon usually looks like a person's silhouette. Tapping this icon brings up a menu with various driver profiles, including the "Valet Mode" profile.
QuickTip: Revisit this post tomorrow — it’ll feel new.
Sub-heading: Tapping on "Valet Mode"
Once you've tapped the driver profile icon, a dropdown menu will appear. You'll see "Valet Mode" listed as an option. Tap on "Valet Mode" to select it.
Step 3: Entering Your PIN to Exit Valet Mode
This is the key step to unlocking your Tesla's full potential.
Sub-heading: The 4-Digit PIN Prompt
Upon selecting "Valet Mode," the touchscreen will prompt you to enter your 4-digit PIN. This is the Personal Identification Number you created when you initially activated Valet Mode. This PIN acts as a security measure, ensuring that only you (or someone you've entrusted with the PIN) can disable Valet Mode and restore full functionality.
Carefully enter your 4-digit PIN using the on-screen keypad.
Sub-heading: What Happens Next
Once you enter the correct PIN, your Tesla will exit Valet Mode. You'll notice several changes:
Restored Settings: All settings associated with your most recently used driver profile (before Valet Mode was activated) will be restored, including your seat position, mirror settings, climate control preferences, and navigation history.
Full Feature Availability: All the features that were restricted in Valet Mode, such as full acceleration, Autopilot, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, will become available again.
Visual Confirmation: The word "Valet" will disappear from the touchscreen, and your selected driver profile name will reappear at the top of the "Controls" screen.
Congratulations, your Tesla is now back to its usual, full-featured self!
Step 4: What if You Forget Your Valet PIN?
Tip: Pause whenever something stands out.
It happens to the best of us! If you've forgotten your Valet PIN, there's a recovery method.
Sub-heading: Resetting the PIN via Your Tesla Account Credentials
If you can't remember your 4-digit Valet PIN, don't panic. From inside your Tesla, when prompted to enter the PIN, you should see an option or a link to reset it. Tap on this option, and you will be prompted to enter your Tesla Account credentials (your email and password).
Once you've successfully logged in with your Tesla Account credentials, the Valet Mode will be canceled, and you'll be able to set a new PIN if you wish to use Valet Mode again in the future.
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Sub-heading: Using the Tesla Mobile App (If Applicable)
For some models and software versions, you can also start and cancel Valet Mode via the Tesla mobile app. If you're using the mobile app, you generally don't need to enter a PIN because you've already logged into the app using your Tesla Account credentials, which verifies your identity.
Step 5: Double-Checking and Enjoying Your Drive
After exiting Valet Mode, it's always a good idea to quickly confirm everything is back to normal.
Sub-heading: Verify Settings and Features
Take a moment to ensure your preferred driver profile settings are active. Check your navigation, climate control, and other customized preferences. You can also test out the acceleration to feel the full power of your Tesla again!
Sub-heading: Drive Safely!
QuickTip: Pause at lists — they often summarize.
Now that your Tesla is out of Valet Mode and operating at its full capacity, you can enjoy your drive with all the features and power you expect from your vehicle.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to activate Valet Mode in a Tesla?
To activate Valet Mode, put your Tesla in Park, touch the driver profile icon at the top of the Controls screen, then touch "Valet Mode." The first time, you'll be prompted to create a 4-digit PIN.
How to use the Tesla mobile app to control Valet Mode?
You can use the Tesla mobile app to start and cancel Valet Mode when your vehicle is in Park. You typically don't need a PIN when using the app as your Tesla Account credentials verify your identity.
How to know if my Tesla is in Valet Mode?
When Valet Mode is active, the touchscreen displays the word "Valet" prominently, and the driver profile at the top of the screen will show "Valet Mode."
How to set up PIN to Drive on a Tesla?
PIN to Drive is a separate security feature. To enable it, touch "Controls" > "Safety & Security" > "PIN to Drive" on your touchscreen and follow the prompts to create a 4-digit PIN.
Tip: Reflect on what you just read.
How to reset a forgotten Valet Mode PIN?
If you forget your Valet Mode PIN, from the PIN entry screen in your Tesla, tap the link to enter your Tesla Account credentials (email and password) to bypass and reset it.
How to restrict speed on a Tesla for other drivers (without Valet Mode)?
You can use "Speed Limit Mode" which allows you to set a maximum driving speed. Go to "Controls" > "Safety" > "Speed Limit Mode" and set a PIN.
How to keep my personal information private in my Tesla?
Valet Mode automatically hides personal information like home/work addresses. Additionally, you can manually clear navigation history or browser data from the touchscreen.
How to lock the glovebox in a Tesla?
The glovebox is automatically locked when Valet Mode is active. You can also set a separate "Glovebox PIN" under "Controls" > "Safety" > "Glovebox PIN" for added security, even outside of Valet Mode.
How to ensure no one accesses my Autopilot settings?
Valet Mode disables Autopilot/FSD functionality. For regular use, setting a "PIN to Drive" ensures that the car cannot be driven at all without your PIN, adding a layer of security to all settings.
How to prevent new Bluetooth devices from being paired in my Tesla?
Valet Mode deactivates Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, preventing new devices from being paired or existing paired devices from being viewed or deleted.
Learn more about Tesla's Valet Mode and its features by watching this video:
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