If you’re a Tesla Model 3 owner, you know how dope that ride is. And one of the most important things you have got to do to keep that baby safe is to lock it up tight.

In this article, I’m gonna break down all the ways you can lock your Model 3, and give you the lowdown on some additional security features that’ll keep your whip safe from any bad guy trying to steal your ride.

Tesla 3 Automatic Locking

So first up, let’s talk about automatic locking. Tesla states that this is a feature that’s built into the Model 3 that will automatically lock the doors when you walk away from the car. ^[1] It’s pretty handy, because it means you don’t have to remember to hit the lock button every time you get out of the car.

1. How it works?

The way it works is pretty simple. When you’re within about six feet of the car, and you’ve got your key fob on you, the car will automatically unlock the doors. When you walk away from the car and get more than about six feet away, the car will automatically lock the doors. This means you don’t have to do anything – just walk away and let the car take care of it.

2. Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage of automatic locking is that it’s super easy to use. You don’t have to remember to lock the car, and you don’t have to worry about accidentally leaving it unlocked.

The disadvantage is that it can be a little annoying if you’re trying to do something like unload groceries from the car, and you keep walking back and forth, because the car will keep locking and unlocking.

3. Enabling and disabling automatic locking

If you’re down with automatic locking and want to keep it turned on, then you don’t have to do anything – it’s already enabled by default. But if you’re not feeling it, you can disable it pretty easily. Here’s how:

• Go to the Controls’ menu on the Model 3’s touchscreen.
• Select Locks.
• Toggle the Automatic Locks option to Off.

4. Setting automatic locking preferences

If you want to customize how automatic locking works, you can do that too. Here are the options you can change:

• Locking Delay: This is how long the car will wait before locking the doors after you walk away. The default is five seconds, but you can change it to anything between zero and 60 seconds.
• Locking Mode: This is how the car decides whether or not to lock the doors. The default is Passive, which means the car will only lock the doors if the key fob is outside the car’s range. You can also choose Walk Away Lock, which will lock the doors as soon as you walk away, regardless of whether or not the key fob is in range.
• Unlock on Arrival: This is whether or not the car will automatically unlock the doors when you approach it. The default is On, but you can turn it Off if you want.

Tesla 3 Manual Locking

Okay, now let’s talk about manual locking. This is what you have got to do if you want to lock the car yourself, instead of relying on automatic locking. There are a few different ways you can do it.

1. Using the touchscreen to manually lock the car

The easiest way to manually lock the car is to use the touchscreen. Here’s how:

• Press the park button on the end of the gear selector to put the car in park.
• Touch the lock icon on the touchscreen.
• The car will beep and the side mirrors will fold in to indicate that the doors are locked.

2. Using the key card to manually lock the car

If you don’t want to use the touchscreen, you can use the key card to manually lock the car. The key card is a credit card-sized card that comes with the car. Here’s how to use it to manually lock the car:

• Take the key card out of your wallet or purse.
• Hold the key card up to the B-pillar (the pillar between the front and back doors) on the driver’s side of the car.
• Wait for the car to beep and the side mirrors to fold in to indicate that the doors are locked.

3. Using the mobile app to manually lock the car

Finally, you can also use the Tesla mobile app to manually lock the car. Here’s how:

• Open the Tesla mobile app on your phone.
• Tap the “Controls” button.
• Tap the “Lock” button.
• The car will beep and the side mirrors will fold in to indicate that the doors are locked.

Additional Security Features

So now you know how to lock your Model 3, but what about some additional security features? Here are a few that you might find helpful.

1. Sentry Mode

Sentry Mode is a feature that uses the car’s cameras to monitor the car’s surroundings when it’s parked. If it detects anything unusual – like someone trying to break into the car – it will activate an alarm and send an alert to your phone.

To enable Sentry Mode:

• Go to the Controls’ menu on the Model 3’s touchscreen.
• Select Security.
• Toggle Sentry Mode on.

2. PIN to Drive

PIN to Drive is a feature that requires you to enter a PIN before you can drive the car. This means that if someone steals your key fob, they won’t be able to just hop in the car and drive away.

To set up PIN to Drive:

• Go to the Controls’ menu on the Model 3’s touchscreen.
• Select Safety & Security.
• Toggle PIN to Drive on.
• Enter a four-digit PIN.

3. Valet Mode

Valet Mode is a feature that limits the car’s capabilities when it’s being driven by someone else – like a valet. When Valet Mode is enabled, the car’s top speed is limited, and the driver can’t access things like the glove compartment or trunk.

To enable Valet Mode:

• Go to the Controls’ menu on the Model 3’s touchscreen.
• Select Valet.
• Toggle Valet Mode on.
• Enter a four-digit PIN.

Conclusion

So there you have it, folks – everything you need to know about locking your Tesla Model 3 and keeping it safe and secure. Whether you’re into automatic locking, manual locking, or additional security features like Sentry Mode, PIN to Drive, or Valet Mode, there are plenty of ways to keep your ride safe from any shady characters who might be lurking around.

Just remember to always lock your car when you’re not driving it, and keep an eye out for any suspicious activity. And if all else fails, remember that you’ve got one of the most advanced cars on the road, with more security features than you can shake a stick at. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride – your Tesla’s got your back.