Tesla Valet Mode: How It Works, How to Enable It, and What It Actually Restricts

Tesla Valet Mode is one of the most useful — and most overlooked — features on any Tesla. It lets you hand your car keys to someone else without giving them access to your personal data, your full speed range, or your Autopilot settings. If you've ever handed your keys to a valet, a mechanic, or a family member and felt uncomfortable about what they might do with the car, Valet Mode is the answer.

What Is Tesla Valet Mode?

Valet Mode is a restricted driving profile that limits the car's performance and access to personal information when enabled. It was designed specifically for situations where someone other than the owner is driving — hence the name — but it's equally useful any time you hand the car to someone you don't fully trust.

When Valet Mode is active, the car looks and drives normally from the driver's perspective, but several features are restricted or hidden.

What Valet Mode Restricts

Speed and acceleration limits:

• Top speed is limited to 70 mph (112 km/h)
• Acceleration is reduced to a gentler profile regardless of the car's actual performance tier
• Launch mode is disabled

Data and personal information:

• Home and Work addresses are hidden from navigation
• Recent destinations are hidden
• Saved navigation favorites are hidden
• Phone contacts and call history are not accessible

Vehicle settings and features:

• Autopilot is disabled — the car won't engage Autosteer or TACC
• Trunk and frunk access from the interior is disabled (on some models)
• Glovebox is locked (if you have a glovebox PIN set)
• Driver profiles cannot be changed
• Pin to Drive remains active if you have it enabled

What Valet Mode does NOT restrict:

• Basic navigation — the driver can still search for new destinations
• Climate controls
• Music and media playback
• The car's normal driving functions

How to Enable Tesla Valet Mode

Enabling Valet Mode from the touchscreen:

1. Tap the Controls icon (the car icon at bottom left)
2. Tap Safety
3. Tap Valet Mode
4. Set a 4-digit PIN you'll remember
5. Confirm — Valet Mode is now active

The screen will display a "Valet Mode" banner when the feature is on, so any driver knows it's enabled. You can't hide the fact that Valet Mode is active.

Enabling via the Tesla app:

1. Open the Tesla app
2. Tap Security
3. Toggle Valet Mode on
4. Enter or confirm your PIN

To disable Valet Mode, enter the same 4-digit PIN from the touchscreen or toggle it off in the app.

How to Set a Valet Mode PIN

When you enable Valet Mode for the first time, Tesla prompts you to create a 4-digit PIN. This PIN is required to disable Valet Mode from the car — meaning a valet or another driver cannot turn it off without knowing your code.

Choose a PIN that:

• Isn't your birthday, phone number, or another obvious number
• You'll remember without writing down
• Is different from your glovebox PIN (if you use one)

If you forget your Valet Mode PIN, you can disable it using the Tesla app — it doesn't require the PIN from the app side, only from the car's touchscreen.

When Should You Use Valet Mode?

Valet parking — The original use case. Hotel and restaurant valets drive your car to and from a parking spot. Valet Mode limits what they can access and ensures they can't floor the accelerator.

Service appointments — When you drop your Tesla at a service center or body shop, the technician may need to drive it. Valet Mode prevents access to your home address and personal data while still allowing normal driving.

Test drives for potential buyers — If you're selling your Tesla and letting someone test drive it, Valet Mode protects your data while still demonstrating the car's driving experience.

Teen drivers — Valet Mode's speed cap and reduced acceleration make it a useful tool for households with new or young drivers. The 70 mph cap and softer acceleration are meaningful guardrails.

Rental situations — If you're letting a friend or family member borrow the car for a period, Valet Mode adds a layer of protection without being as restrictive as full PIN-to-drive.

Does Valet Mode Affect Tesla Autopilot or FSD?

Yes — Autopilot is disabled in Valet Mode. The car will still drive normally (human-controlled), but the driver cannot engage Autosteer, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, or any FSD features. This is intentional — Tesla doesn't want valet drivers accidentally engaging autonomous features in unfamiliar parking lot environments.

If you're using a referral code benefit that includes a free FSD trial, Valet Mode will prevent use of that trial while the mode is enabled.

The Bottom Line

Valet Mode is a well-designed, practical feature that more Tesla owners should be using. Setting it up takes about 30 seconds, and any time you hand your car to someone else — valet, mechanic, family member, friend — it gives you meaningful control over what they can access and how they can drive it. Set your PIN now so you have it ready before you need it.