Keep it like new
Tesla care tips
Simple habits that keep your battery healthy, your tires safe and your paint looking new.
Battery & charging
Use the right daily charge limit
If your battery screen shows 'Daily' and 'Trip', keep the daily limit around 80–90% and charge to 100% only before long trips. If it shows '50%' and '100%' (LFP battery), Tesla recommends charging to 100% and doing a full charge at least once a week.
Leave it plugged in when you can
Tesla recommends keeping the car plugged in when it is parked; it manages the battery itself. Avoid leaving the car for days at a very low charge.
Fast charging for trips, slower charging every day
Superchargers are great on the road, but regular charging at home or at work is gentler on the battery and costs less.
Keep the charge port and cable in good shape
Keep the charge port and connector clean and dry, and never use a cable or adapter that looks damaged or overheated.
Tires & wheels
Check tire pressure monthly
Check all tires at least once a month and before long trips, using the pressures on the label in the driver's door pillar. Electric cars are heavy, so correct pressure matters for range and tire life.
Rotate tires every 10,000 km
Tesla recommends rotating the tires every 10,000 km (6,250 miles), or sooner if the tread depth between tires differs by 1.5 mm or more.
Check alignment after a pothole or kerb strike
A hard hit can knock the wheels out of alignment and cause uneven wear or pulling. Have the alignment checked — and the underbody and battery shield inspected — after a strong impact.
Paint, glass & cameras
Wash regularly with mild soap
Use a pH-neutral car shampoo and remove bird droppings, tree sap, tar and insects as soon as possible — they can etch the paint.
Use Car Wash Mode and avoid high pressure
Turn on Car Wash Mode before washing. Keep high-pressure jets away from cameras, sensors, door seals and the charge port; a touchless or hand wash is safest.
Keep the cameras clean
Autopilot and the safety features rely on the cameras. Rinse them with a spray of water instead of rubbing the lenses, and don't use abrasive cleaners.
Fix stone chips early
Small paint chips can let corrosion start. Touch them up early; paint protection film or a ceramic coating helps protect the front of the car.
Repair windshield chips before they spread
A small chip can turn into a long crack. After a windshield replacement, the cameras behind it need to be calibrated.
Scheduled maintenance
Replace the cabin air filter every 2 years
Tesla recommends replacing the cabin air filter every 2 years, and the HEPA filter (on cars that have one) every 3 years.
Check brake fluid every 4 years
Tesla recommends a brake fluid health check every 4 years and replacing the fluid if needed.
Look after brakes you rarely use
Regenerative braking means the brake pads work less, so calipers can corrode. Where roads are salted in winter, Tesla recommends cleaning and lubricating the calipers every year or 20,000 km.
Follow the A/C service schedule
The A/C desiccant bag needs replacing every few years, depending on the model and year — check the service schedule for your car.
Check wipers and washer fluid monthly
Replace worn wiper blades and keep the washer fluid topped up, especially before long trips.
Heat & cold
Park in the shade in summer
Heat speeds up battery ageing and makes the cabin very hot. Park in the shade where possible and use Cabin Overheat Protection.
Precondition before you drive
Use Scheduled Departure or precondition from the app while the car is still plugged in, so the battery and cabin reach a good temperature using grid power instead of range.
Plan for winter
Cold weather reduces range. Start trips with more charge and use the seat and steering wheel heaters, which use less energy than heating the whole cabin.
Software & safety
Install software updates
Updates bring safety improvements, new features and fixes. Install them when the car is parked and connected to Wi-Fi.
Don't ignore warnings
If the car shows a service alert or a warning about the low-voltage battery, tires or brakes, deal with it early before it becomes a bigger problem.
Get even minor damage inspected
A small bump can hide damage to sensors, mounting points or the aluminium structure. A quick inspection after any collision can prevent bigger repairs later.
Something already damaged?
Send us photos and we’ll give you a free repair estimate.
General guidance based on Tesla’s published maintenance recommendations. Always follow the owner’s manual and the service schedule for your specific car.