Curbing Valet Abuse
Chevrolet has devised a way to stop valets from joyriding in your car
valets out of the car’s infotainment systems. Land Rover has a pin-activated valet mode that locks down the Bluetooth, sat nav and stereo systems in its Range Rover products, keeping a driver’s home address and contact information out of sight. Ford has a similar system in its Sync setup. Tesla owners have a different option with the Model S sedan – an app connects to the car and lets the driver see if it’s using energy. Any excessive usage – when the car should be stationary in a parking bay – and they’ll know that someone’s abusing their trust.
None, though, have gone as far as Chevy. The Corvette’s Valet Mode does the usual things, locking the glovebox and trunk and shutting down the infotainment system, but it also fulfills every voyeuristic desire we could have and actively records the car’s movements. Corvettes have a Performance Data Recorder, which features a built-in camera to film where the car is going and overlays performance data such as speed and lap times onto the screen — perfect for when you take your new car for a spin around a track or down a twisty highway. However, Chevrolet is now using the same system to monitor exactly where and how quickly the valet goes when taking your car to the parking garage.
When it comes time to collect your car, if you suspect any wrongdoing, unlock valet mode and watch the footage back. The system prevents valets from using a very convenient escape tactic – plausible deniability. All too often owners have driven cars home only to spot a large prang or dent in their driveway. Once you’ve left, though, a valet service can easily suggest that you caused the damage yourself on the ride home. With Chevy’s system, which records both video and sound, any scrapes or crashes will be either seen or heard – or both.
If this all sounds a little pedantic, or displays a gross amount of distrust in our fellow human beings, you’re not wrong. However, should you ever fall prey to a less-than-careful valet, you’ll be glad to know that there are systems in place to make sure that you’ll never be cheated out of the repair costs. For those that don’t have a 2015 Corvette, though, there are some simple tips you can make use of to ensure that valet parking needn’t be as stressful.
Always make sure to study the attendants and the station – if they look suspect, don’t use them. Park your car yourself and keep your keys. If the place you’re going to is valet only, make sure to tip – and not just a dollar or two. You’ll be amazed at what five bucks when you give a valet your keys can do. The same applies for when you collect, tip again – for someone making minimum wage and relying on tips, your generosity could be the difference between a prime space at the front of the lot or having your car thrashed to the far end of the parking garage. When you drop off and collect the car, do a quick walk around to inspect the bodywork, reporting any damage before you leave. Above all else, though, be nice. Treat a valet with courtesy and respect and you’re more likely to get the same in return. We may inherently distrust strangers, but a little manners go a long way – particularly when there’s several thousand dollars’ worth of sheet metal and plastic on the line.
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