How To Stay Secure with Tesla Valet Mode: Features & Uses

Tesla is at the forefront of technical ingenuity in the automotive market, but this also means that there can be a steep learning curve when it comes to figuring out all of the features of your new car. One of these new features is “valet mode.” 

Tesla valet mode is a driver profile on your Tesla that restricts the user’s abilities and access. It protects your vehicle from being tampered with as well as your personal privacy when giving your car to someone else that you may not know well.

In this article, I’ll give an in-depth look at what valet mode is, how to use it, when you may want to put your car in valet mode, as well as some frequently asked questions people have about Tesla valet mode.

What Tesla Valet Mode Does

Tesla valet mode is designed to limit the features available to the driver when the valet mode is turned on. So precisely what features are disabled when you enter valet mode, and what limitations are placed on the driver?

When you enter Tesla valet mode, your Tesla will place the following limitations on the driver: 

  • Your glovebox and front trunk (frunk) will automatically lock, and the driver won’t be granted access to these areas.
  • The maximum power and maximum acceleration will be significantly lowered, and the maximum speed limit will be reduced to 70 mph (113 km/h).
  • Saved work and home locations will be hidden from the navigation system, and HomeLink will be unavailable.
  • The driver won’t be able to issue any voice commands.
  • All other driver profiles will be hidden.
  • The driver won’t be able to use your car’s Bluetooth or WiFi and won’t be able to pair any new devices.
  • The driver won’t be able to use any autopilot features.

Pro Tip: Is there an additional way to Autopilot know that you’re still paying attention?

If you’re in Autopilot and you’re prompted to slightly move the steering wheel to confirm that you’re awake and paying attention, you can just turn the scroll wheel up or down to increase or decrease the maximum speed. This will ensure that the car computer will treat it identically to you touching the steering wheel. The volume dial on the left side will also work just as well.

Valet mode is specifically designed to protect your car from being abused or tampered with when someone besides you is driving.

While called “valet” mode, there are times outside of valeting your car in which this feature can come in handy, such as when you take your vehicle to the mechanic.

In theory, a valet or mechanic would have no reason to drive your Tesla outside of the parking lot. Still, the limited features ensure that if they do attempt to take your Tesla on the road, the amount of “fun” they’ll be able to have with your car will be seriously limited.

Additionally, Valet mode is designed to protect your privacy and security. When in valet mode, the person driving your car won’t have access to your glove compartment or frunk.

They will, however, still be able to access your trunk, so you may want to consider moving any valuables out of your trunk.

By limiting the new driver from having access to your home address, the ability to get into your garage, or gain any other personal information through your driver profile or WiFi connection, your Tesla can protect your personal information.

For those of you who prefer to learn through videos, Monster Gadgets on Youtube has an excellent comprehensive overview of How Tesla Valet Mode Works: 

Do Other Car Companies Offer Valet Mode?

While valet mode is an exceptional feature, especially if you valet your car often, note that Tesla isn’t the only car company that offers this model.

Several other car companies offer valet mode for specific models of cars. These manufacturers include Audi, BMW, and Chevrolet. Valet mode isn’t unique to Tesla.

Tesla’s valet mode goes above and beyond in terms of specializing it to Tesla Tech, but they aren’t the only cars on the market with this option. If you’re looking for a car specifically to use valet mode, you have other choices besides a Tesla.

How To Use Tesla Valet Mode

Like many Tesla features, using the valet mode is relatively user-friendly. The main thing to remember is that your car has to be turned on but placed in park to enter valet mode.

Once you’re in park, make sure your touch screen is on your home screen, and do the following steps:

  1. Click the driver profile icon you’ll see at the top of the touchscreen.
  2. Click on one of the profile options in the drop-down menu that says “valet mode.” 
  3. Your Tesla will prompt you to create a 4-digit PIN if you’ve never used valet mode before to activate and deactivate Valet mode in the future.
  4. Enter your 4-digit PIN when your Tesla prompts you. After entering your PIN, your touch screen should switch over to valet mode.

If your Tesla screen is frozen and you don’t know what to do, read this article that I wrote called: Tesla Screen Frozen? Here’s How To Unfreeze

Inside-Tesla-with-Blank-Black-Screen

You won’t be required to enter a PIN when activating or deactivating valet mode through the mobile app, as you’ll already be logged in. You can use the “controls” section of the mobile app to turn valet mode on and off. 

Note: If you have PIN-to-drive turned on, you must enter the drive PIN first, followed by the valet PIN.

How To Turn Tesla Valet Mode Off

After having your car returned to you, you’ll want to turn valet mode off. Fortunately, turning valet mode off is quick and straightforward.

To deactivate valet mode, simply place your car in park, reenter your 4-digit PIN after clicking the valet profile icon, and all of your personalized settings and profile will return to normal.

Alternatively, you can deactivate valet mode through the mobile app, just the same as you activated it. 

What if I Forgot My 4-Digit PIN?

Getting back into your car only to realize you forgot your 4-digit PIN to cancel valet mode can be a little stressful. 

If you forgot your 4-digit valet PIN, there are two ways to reset it. From your car, enter your Tesla account credentials, which will both cancel valet mode and override the need for your valet PIN. You can also use your mobile app to activate and deactivate Valet mode without entering your PIN.

Using your mobile device to turn off valet mode is especially handy if you don’t remember all your credentials at the moment. 

Do the Valet Modes on the Tesla Models 3, Y, S, and X Differ?

There’s a lot of information out there about various Tesla models and updates, and it can be challenging to stay on top of all the new features. Fortunately, valet mode is standardized across all Tesla models.

Valet mode functions the same across all Tesla models (3, Y, S, and X). If you look at the Tesla manuals for all four Tesla models, you’ll find identical information in all of them.

So if you upgrade to a new Tesla model at any point in time, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll still have valet mode that functions the same as your previous model.

Why Would I Want To Use Valet Mode?

Now that you’re familiar with what valet mode does, you may be wondering to yourself why you would want this feature in the first place. Even if you don’t regularly go places where you have your car valeted, this feature can really come in handy.

You may want to use valet mode when giving your car to the valet, mechanic, or someone you don’t fully trust. Tesla’s valet mode is designed to place limitations on any driver that you may not know or you want to restrict their ability to adjust things in your car.

As the name implies, the valet mode was designed to pose several restrictions on valets as they park your car, to deter them from taking your Tesla on any unsanctioned “joyrides.” 

However, the valet mode can be helpful in other situations as well, for example, when you take your Tesla to the mechanic.

Sometimes, when your car is in the shop, it can be there for several days at a time. You can have peace of mind that your vehicle is precisely where it’s supposed to be when you have valet mode turned on.

Furthermore, valet mode has the ability to protect you if someone you don’t know well is driving your vehicle. 

The complete lack of personal information when your Tesla enters valet mode, accompanied by the deactivation of HomeLink (which enables your Tesla to enter through your security gates and garage automatically), protects you from potential home invasions.

Valet mode can also be handy if you’re teaching your teenager to drive. The lack of distractions that might come from WiFi or Bluetooth connection in conjunction with the speed and acceleration limitations imposes some basic safety features.

Tesla Valet Mode Pros and Cons

The good vastly outweighs the bad when it comes to Tesla’s valet mode, but there are a few cons to keep in mind. 

ProsCons
Hides your personal informationDoesn’t prevent car theft
Limits speed to 70 mph (113 km/h)Deters but doesn’t prevent joyrides
Locks glovebox and front trunkDoesn’t lock the trunk

The positive features are relatively self-explanatory: Tesla has designed the valet mode to ensure that drivers that you don’t know can’t take risks with your car or your personal safety.

The automatic locking of your trunk and glove compartment offers you peace of mind, even when you hand your car key off.

Furthermore, you can feel relatively at ease knowing that your car won’t be flying down the freeway, leaving you liable for any electronic speeding tickets or accidents.

However, one obvious downside of valet mode is that while it places certain limitations, it does nothing to actually prevent anyone from taking and using your car.

As long as the driver doesn’t exceed the limitations, they can still take your car around the neighborhood a few times.

Even with valet mode on, don’t let your guard down when handing your car keys off to someone else. Make sure all valuables are in the glove compartment or trunk or removed from the car entirely. Valet mode is a great way to protect your personal information and belongings, but it won’t stop someone from stealing your car.

Will I Still Be Able To Charge My Tesla While It’s in Valet Mode?

You may wonder if putting your Tesla into valet mode will prevent your car from maintaining some essential functions. Do the restrictions of valet mode allow you to charge your Tesla? 

You’ll still be able to charge your Tesla while it’s in valet mode, just as you normally would. You can even ask your valet to take your Tesla to a charging station. 

Entering valet mode doesn’t affect your Tesla’s ability to charge, and often, valets can take your Tesla to a charging space. That way, your car is fully charged when you’re ready to drive it home. 

Do I Have To Give the Valet a Physical Key if the Car Is in Valet Mode?

If you typically use your phone to operate your Tesla, you may be wondering what key you should give a valet to have access to your car.

If the car is in valet mode, you have to give the valet a physical key card in order for them to operate it. Once your Tesla is turned off and in valet mode, the valet will need to use a key card to get back into your car and turn it on. 

Key cards are relatively inexpensive from the Tesla store and compatible with all Tesla models. You’ll need to give this key to the valet so that they can regain access to your car once you’re ready to get it back from them.

Is There Any Way To Modify or Customize Tesla’s Valet Mode?

Because of how limited the features are on the valet mode, you may be wondering if Tesla offers the ability to customize it in any way to suit your needs better. Unfortunately, the answer is no.

There’s no way to customize Tesla’s valet mode settings to fit your specific needs as they’re standardized. However, you do have the ability to adjust the maximum vehicle speed limit that your Tesla can go using the speed limit mode, which you may choose to do in conjunction with valet mode.

While the speed limit mode has to be set outside of valet mode, it can still impact how quickly another driver can use your vehicle and be an excellent companion feature when you hand your car keys over.

To change the maximum speed limit, you can either go into the safety and security settings on your Tesla touch screen and change the maximum speed limit using a 4-digit PIN or change it in the control section of the Tesla mobile app.

The speed limit mode allows you to set the maximum speed limit anywhere between 50-90 mph (80-145 kph).

This YouTube video from Steven Peeters gives a quick tutorial on adjusting the maximum speed limit through both your Tesla touchscreen and your mobile app:

EV Speedy’s Take

Tesla created the valet mode to protect not just your physical property but your personal security as well.

The valet mode places several limitations on the driver, including the maximum speed and acceleration rate, access to your saved addresses, WiFi, or Bluetooth, and automatic locking of both your glove compartment and your trunk.

While you cannot customize valet mode, you do have the ability to adjust the maximum speed limit using Tesla’s speed limit mode.


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Erwin Meyer
Erwin Meyer

A renowned Tesla enthusiast, and successful entrepreneur, enlightens global audiences through his compelling EV narratives. Discover more about his electric journey on his About Me page. Venture to read Erwin's incredible story that's reshaping the future of motoring. Want to spark a conversation with Erwin? Visit his Contact page, and let’s electrify the world together.