Guides · Situations
Tesla settings for the car wash, airport parking, ferries and more
Short checklists from Tesla’s manual for common situations: car wash, leaving the car for weeks, ferries and car trains, towing, handing over the keys, waiting inside the car and low garages.
Last verified 25 September 2026 against Tesla’s owner’s manuals and support pages
Short answer
Use Car Wash Mode for any car wash, with Free Roll for conveyors. For long parking, leave about 50 % and keep the car plugged in if you can. On a ferry or car train, consider turning off Tilt/Intrusion, which reacts to movement. Use Tow Mode for a flatbed, Valet Mode when you hand over the keys, Camp Mode when you wait inside, and saved trunk heights for low garages.
Car wash
- Turn on Controls › Service › Car Wash Mode while stationary and not charging. It closes the windows, locks the charge port and disables wipers, Sentry Mode, walk-away locking and parking chimes.
- In a conveyor wash, press the brake and tap Enable Free Roll (or shift into Neutral) so the car rolls freely.
- The mode ends above 15 km/h (9 mph) or when you tap Exit. Tesla notes that damage caused by car washes is not covered by the warranty.
Airport or holiday parking
- For more than two weeks, Tesla recommends about 50 % charge, a 50 % charge limit and keeping the car plugged in if possible.
- Unplugged, plan with about 1 % a day, and never let it reach 0 %.
- Sentry Mode and Cabin Overheat Protection use energy; switch them off if you don’t need them. Check the car in the app less often, because every check wakes it.
Ferry or car train
- With Security Alarm on, the siren sounds if a locked door is opened without a key nearby. Tilt/Intrusion (Controls › Safety, if equipped) also sounds the alarm if the car detects motion inside or is moved or tilted, so consider turning it off for the crossing. It switches itself back on at the start of every drive.
- Tap the Sentry icon to turn Sentry Mode off until your next drive.
- Follow the operator’s instructions on alarms and staying in the car. To avoid ferries altogether, use Avoid Ferries in the navigation settings.
Towing and transport
Tesla’s transporter instructions call for a flatbed, or wheel lifts and dollies with all four wheels off the ground for up to 55 km (35 miles). To roll or winch the car onto a flatbed, use Controls › Service › Towing and Enter Tow Mode: the car must be unplugged, detect a key, be in Park and have the brake pressed. It then rolls freely, no faster than walking speed. Shift into Park or tap Exit Tow Mode to end it.
Handing over the keys
For valet parking, use Valet Mode (Controls › Safety, in Park). It needs a key card, limits speed to 113 km/h (70 mph) and acceleration, locks the frunk and glovebox, hides Home and Work and turns off voice commands. A Glovebox PIN still lets you open the glovebox yourself.
Waiting inside, or leaving a pet or shopping
- Staying in the car: Camp Mode keeps the climate, the touchscreen and the power outlets on, while Sentry Mode and the alarm are off.
- A pet or shopping in the car: Pet Mode or Keep Climate On. If you leave anything that moves inside, turn off Tilt/Intrusion. The differences are in Camp vs Pet vs Keep Climate On.
Low garage or tight space
- Stop the powered liftgate at the right height and save it for this location, so it never hits the ceiling.
- Fold the mirrors and tap Save Location to fold them there automatically.
Questions
Do I need Car Wash Mode for a touchless wash?
Tesla recommends it for car washes in general: without it, the charge port or wipers can be damaged, and car-wash damage is not covered by the warranty.
Why does my Tesla alarm go off on a ferry?
If Tilt/Intrusion is on, the alarm sounds when the car detects motion inside or is moved or tilted. Consider turning it off for the crossing; it turns itself back on at the start of the next drive.
How long can a Tesla stay unplugged at the airport?
Tesla gives about 1 % loss per day as a guide, so about 14 % over two weeks, more in the cold or with Sentry Mode on. For more than two weeks, Tesla recommends about 50 % and plugging in if possible.
Sources
- Tesla Model Y manual: Cleaning (Car Wash Mode)
- Tesla Model Y manual: High voltage battery information
- Tesla Support: Range tips
- Tesla Model Y manual: Safety & Security Settings
- Tesla Model Y manual: Maps and navigation (Trip Planner)
- Tesla Model Y manual: Instructions for transporters (Tow Mode)
- Tesla Model Y manual: Driver profiles
- Tesla Model Y manual: Interior storage (glovebox)
- Tesla Model Y manual: Operating climate controls
- Tesla Model Y manual: Rear trunk
- Tesla Model Y manual: Mirrors
- Tesla Model 3 (2024+) owner’s manual
Tesla features change with software updates; check the linked source for your car. Handlefree is independent and not affiliated with Tesla, Inc. Use vehicle controls only beside your parked car with the area clear.