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How to Valet Your Tesla Without a Key Card

Steering Wheel of a Tesla Model 3

By: Otaiba Ahsan

If you’re trustworthy enough to allow a valet or someone you don’t know too well to park your car, it can still be quite nerve-wracking. There are plenty of horror stories where a valet driver crashes a luxury car doing something they weren’t supposed to do. Lucky for you, Tesla has something called Valet Mode, which limits the car’s capabilities for these types of situations. While this can be enabled from within your vehicle, there’s also the option to do it entirely via the mobile app. Continue reading for steps on how to valet your Tesla without a key card.

What is Valet Mode?

Valet Mode is a setting you can put your Tesla in that restricts many features of the car. Its purpose is to allow the person driving to do just that – drive. When you set your car in Valet Mode, the following restrictions apply:

  1. The key card must be used to access your Tesla.
  2. The speed limit is set at 113 km/h, and maximum acceleration and power are limited.
  3. Both the front trunk and glovebox are locked, and voice commands are disabled.
  4. Home and Work locations are not visible in the built-in navigation.
  5. Autopilot and other convenience features are not available.
  6. The “Allow Mobile Access” setting cannot be changed, and Driver Profiles are not accessible either.
  7. The touchscreen won’t display the list of keys that can access your Model 3 or Model Y.
  8. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are unavailable. Drivers won’t be able to pair new devices to the car when in Valet Mode.

The most common scenario where Tesla owners use Valet Mode is when they need someone, typically a stranger, to go and park their car. This feature helps bring an added layer of safety to your vehicle, as the person who’s driving it cannot really do anything besides drive.

Enabling Valet Mode

Engaging Valet Mode without a key card is both simple and convenient. To do so, open the mobile app then tap Security & Drivers > Toggle Valet Mode. You won’t need to enter a PIN since you’re already required to login when using the Tesla app.

If you’re doing it from within the car, ensure it is in park, then hit the driver profile icon and touch “Valet Mode” and you’re all set. The first time this feature is enabled when in your vehicle, you’ll need to create a 4-digit PIN to exit the mode.

NOTE: If you forget your valet PIN, it can be reset from inside your car by entering your Tesla account credentials. This can also be accomplished from the mobile app.

The Bottom Line

The steps on how to valet your Tesla without a key card are easy. Open the mobile app, then hit Security & Drivers > Toggle Valet Mode. This will turn on all the restrictions for whomever is driving your vehicle, and only you’ll be able to disengage it by following the same steps.