I've always been slightly annoyed by returning to my car or having handed it back and finding that the aircon, radio and seats have been messed with but always kept it to myself as I appreciate that these guys, especially at airport valet parking, have to turn things around quite quickly and some pillock like me moaning about first world problems just makes a bad job harder to take. I've never had a valet actually damage my car so I shouldn't complain about that stuff.

However, I recently got a new car that, while not an actual supercar, is pretty quick and infamous for being fun to drive.* Recent news reports in the UK revealed that airport valet parking employees have been joyriding in customers' cars and I don't want it to happen to mine.

My question is, does anyone have any methods to rein in this kind of behaviour, or track it so that it can be reported later?




*Before anyone jumps on this the car isn't brand new by a long chalk so no, I'm not just using this as a forum to show off my new car.

Really, the only way is to get a tracker installed. Given you're in the UK, if it's Thatcham rated, you can probably offset a large chunk of the cost of it against the insurance reduction.

Most of them now have multi-mode tracking (i.e. can override GSM jammers if stolen), and will allow you to track via smartphone in situations other than when its been stolen (the old ones used to just be on "alert the police" mode or nothing).

Alternatively, just get the sticker saying there's one installed

Options:

1. Stop using valets.
2. Add a few dashcams inside the car so that you have evidence of misuse/abuse.

A "tracker" isn't going to stop someone from changing aircon, radio, and seat adjustments. OP, that's what you asked, but you seem to then suggest something else.

That's "the only way"? Here's a crazy idea - self park.

If you don't like other people driving your car, then don't use valets.

different cars deploy different valet protection.

most have a separate key that doesnt allow access to things like the globebox.
others are activated via the entertainment system.
some will reduce the engine power available.
cars that dont have the feature stock can have it added through aftermarket computer-reflash (like from APR for the VW-group)

ive read that some people stick a post-it on the cluster indicating the drop-off mileage, to conspicuously signal that "im tracking it"

personally, unless you have a really, really, really unique car, i just think valets handle enough machinery for it to become a chore to them, and not worth taking it out for extra miles instead of returning to the station to collect a tip. and things like the airport circuit isnt really conducive to them running wide-open throttle on a cold motor.

that said, i simply dont want any strangers handling my car, so i dont valet at all

The seat movement might be non negotiable. I can't even shut the door in my wife's escape without moving the seat.

The only surefire way is to not valet park. The last time I valet parked my car, I witnessed a driver who didn't know how to drive stick drive my car anyways. She stalled it once, then after restarting the engine, revved the engine and dumped the clutch. I didn't make a big stink over it, I should have, but doing that once isn't going to cause long term damage. But no more valet parking for me.

Although it won't adjust air vents and things doesn't your car have memory seats, or have a function where the car recognises the second/spare key being used to lock/unlock and adjust the seat accordingly? Even the Mercedes from back in the early 2000s had that technology.

That coupled with tracker/dashcam should be as close as you can get to achieving what you want.

How about just a post it, on the dash with the current mileage. Should be enough to let them know you're watching. If you're that paranoid you can get GPS trackers for $50 and a small monthly fee.

I think I've settled on a GPS tracker, since this will be useful in general and not just with valet parking.

I normally park at MAN and there the short stay parking is usually chock full while the long stay can have a half hour time to get from your car to the terminal. Also, the official airport Meet and Greet service there is usually cheaper than the long stay if you're parking more than 4 days. It's one of the few laudable things about MAN...

I genuinely find it weird that most modern cars have drive modes that can be selected easily (comfort, eco, spot, race, etc.) but they don't have one that limits the power to "granny shopping", turns the traction control to "ultra-paranoid" and stops them messing in your synched contacts and stereo. Seems like a relatively simple thing to do and would be a big selling point. Sadly it wouldn't help me anyway. My new car is a bit too old for computers.

The car I just got rid of was indeed a Mercedes with all of that stuff. No actual valet mode to limit the power or anything but it was an SUV and not prone to being ragged. It was comfortable though so I would usually find the radio set to the local pop station and the heaters up to the max so I guess maybe the parking staff were congregating in it on cold nights. As I say though, no actual damage and all that stuff took seconds to take care of so it was just a minor annoyance to have Stormzy belt out of the stereo when I started the car.

I can live with other people driving my car. I can't live with someone hooning it without my knowledge. I would have no way to know if they'd clipped a kerb and damaged the suspension, or tried a racing start and trashed the clutch.

https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/mbrace

Valet Protect [1]
Set up a boundary on your smartphone, and receive a text message alert if your car is turned on, off or exits the “virtual fence.”

Speed Alert
Receive text alerts if the vehicle exceeds a speed that you select and set up on the Mercedes me app.

Driving Journal
See where your Mercedes-Benz has been driven using an online map with a “breadcrumb” trail of its recent locations.

OP doesn't have any evidence that any valet he uses drives his car too far. Just an article he read about this having occurred.

As to resetting the seat, that may be a safety necessity depending on relative height and leg length of OP and the individual valet employee.

One could spend a fortune on this exercise or one could simply reset the seat (or program one's comfortable position if the vehicle has that feature), quickly check the air vents and be off.

Or just don't use valet.