Valet Parking

[GigiM3]

Went to New Orleans for French Quarter Festival a week ago, and stayed at the Aloft Downtown. My option was valet - that's it. When I brought out the card to my 3 and showed the guy that checked the car in, he gave me the "Yeah, yeah - I know how it works" look.

When we left, the younger kid that was working valet walked away and 10 minutes or so later came back telling me he had no idea how to make it work. I said "Okay, if I just drive it out?" "Sure"

Yeah... That was the single tightest parking garage I've ever been in, and my 3 now has it's first booboo as a result. I've got curb rash on the back passenger tire, and I can't help but think if I'd explained to the valet kid how to use the card that I might not have it.

Also worth noting, they just taped something to my card so they could hang it up. I just looked at the card thinking "That better come off." (It did.)

Oh that sucks! Hope it wasn't too much of a "boo boo"

 

[jjrandorin]

On the rare occasion that I can't avoid valet (or have to give it to some other attendant or mechanic) I bought this windowed bi-fold with keyring:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002LC5ZS2/

And ginned up an instruction card and laminated it.
View attachment 295379

Looks like this in the bi-fold:

View attachment 295380

And the keyring lets them hang it in their key cabinet. If I have to valet, I'll pull the keycard out of my wallet, put it in the bifold and hand it to the valet, making sure he reads the card.

Attached is a PDF that prints it out in credit-card size.

--Carlos V.

@carlos V. Thank you so much for posting your solution for this! The keyfob is sold out right now online, and this is a very workable solution. I just wanted to post a big THANK YOU for sharing both the wallet and the PDF that you worked up.

Really really (really) appreciate it!

 

[Nocturnal]

I wouldn’t valet it either, but they don’t need to fuss with the touchscreen at all. All they need to do is put it in drive, reverse, and park. Anyway, if you’re in California it will soon be hard to find a valet that isn’t experienced with the Model 3 keycard.

Yeah. I had to valet in Denver. It was their first Model 3 but they had plenty of experience with model S cars. They even plugged it into their destination charger with no issues.

 

[wpnelson]

This would draw chuckles here in the SF bay area. Every sixth car is a model 3

 

[zhu-]

I visited a place with valet parking last week on my Model 3. I simply told him that my phone is the key and I didn't bring my backup card (which was a lie, mwuahaha!).

No way I'm letting a valet even touch my Model 3.

My plan exactly lol.

For the unavoidable valets, I was thinking about having a post-it or something to stick on the door indicating the push button door release. My only concern with valet is someone using the emergency handle.

 

[Brian's ReX]

This would draw chuckles here in the SF bay area. Every sixth car is a model 3

Ditto in Seattle!

 

[BOBEDIGITL]

Even here in SoCal where I see a model 3 pretty much every day, not all valets know how to open the door. Key card system seems fine but I've already caught at least 3 valets using the emergency handle to open the door even after explaining how to open it.

 

[Dan123]

I think if the car in the valet mode, the screen should be displaying instructions on how to operate the car. They don't need the map and the music.

 

[mspohr]

I wouldn’t valet it either, but they don’t need to fuss with the touchscreen at all. All they need to do is put it in drive, reverse, and park. Anyway, if you’re in California it will soon be hard to find a valet that isn’t experienced with the Model 3 keycard.

Went to a Tesla event in stick shift car. Took them a while to find someone who could drive it.

 

[DMack]

One thing I learned from the valet near me is that every Tesla keyfob looks the same, so they struggle to differentiate them.
One valet thanked me for having the protective cover for my MS keyfob.