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If I recall correctly (since the tow truck driver did it), you just need to put something in the hole (flathead screwdriver) and pull the cover up.
To add to that, once the cover is popped up, there is a button underneath. Push the button down and hold it with one finger, and use you other hand to shift the vehicle out of Park.
Once out of Park, the lever can be moved to any position without the use of the button under the cover.
You can use the end of your key to pop the plate off and then use the key or finger to depress the button underneath. With it press you can shift it to neutral.
"Brake Shift Interlock" defeat. Audi famously had issues with folks pressing the
wrong pedal and back then you could pull the shifter out of Neutral without pressing
the brake. Couple of cars shot through the back of garages and the lawyers got
involved and...now we all have Brake Shift Interlock mechanisms. Trouble is as
Raghza correctly mentioned, if the battery is dead the brake press does not release
the shifter. If the car is pulled fully into a garage space and you can not get the
hood open to access the battery to jump it you would be in deep yogurt.