Driving a Tesla is an exhilarating experience. While the basic driving principles remain the same as in a gas-powered car, the available torque, technology and braking methods are driving features which distinguish Tesla and other EVs. Learn more about how to operate your Tesla before you get behind the wheel of this sleek vehicles.
LOCKING / UNLOCKING THE CAR
Place the key card near the circle by the driver’s window to lock/unlock while outside the car. Once inside the vehicle, select the lock image on the touchscreen or wait for the doors to automatically lock within 15 seconds of driving. Doors unlock automatically when you shift into park.
To enter, eject the door handle by pushing on the tallest part with your thumb. Grab the ejected handle and pull to open. To exit, press the button on top of the armrest handle. After exiting, push doors firmly to close.
Place the key card on the console (behind or in the cup holders), press the brake and shift the car into gear. The key card can be moved once the car is on.
The gear selector stalk is located behind the right-hand side of the steering wheel. Push the stalk up for reverse and down for drive. For park, press the button on the end of the gear stalk. The touchscreen will reflect your gear selection.
As you begin driving, the first thing you may notice is the instant availability of full torque when you press the accelerator; EVs effectively only have one gear. When you need to slow or stop the Tesla, the brakes are automatically applied when your foot is removed from the accelerator in a process called regenerative braking. Most drivers adjust to the feel of these driving aspects after just a few miles, but the braking mode can be adjusted if preferred.
Tesla vehicles use regenerative (regen) braking, a braking mode that increases battery charge and available drive time by automatically applying the brakes when you take your foot off the gas. Rather than rolling to a stop, the car will rapidly slow down. While this will feel different than traditional braking methods, most people adjust after just a few miles.
Select the car icon on the touchscreen to display Controls, then select Mirrors. Select the left or right mirror, then use the right-side scroll on the steering wheel to adjust.
The car turns off automatically when you exit the vehicle, remove all key cards and close all doors. If you do not remove all key cards, the car will remain accessible and drivable. The touchscreen can also power down the car.
Teslas can be charged at any of the 40,000+ electric vehicle charging locations nationwide, including Hertz, Tesla, third-party and public locations. You can also connect to a standard 120V household outlet using the Mobile Connector kit.
Tesla Supercharger stations – the fastest charging option – will automatically appear on the navigation screen. To find all available charging stations:
The charge port is located near the driver’s side taillight. To open the charge port cover, use the touchscreen or push once on the cover. When using a Tesla charging station, press the charging station connector button and the cover will open. The charge port cover will close automatically when connector is removed.
To charge, remove the charging station connector from its dock, open the car’s charge port and insert the connector into the charge port. When charging is complete, press the connector button until the charge port logo turns white, then remove the connector and return it to its dock.
Once the charge port cover is open, insert the charging station connector into the charge port. When charging at a non-Tesla charging station, you will need to connect a SAE J1772 adapter, found in the Mobile Connector kit, to the connector before inserting.
The charge port logo will flash green while charging and be solid green when charging is complete. If the logo is yellow, unplug the connector and then plug in again. A red logo indicates an issue with the charging station. Move the car to a different dock and try again.
There are three different levels of chargers available for Teslas starting with a standard wall plug charger and going up to a Supercharger.
Note: Charge time may vary per location. Public chargers may not produce the same output shown above.
Want to learn even more? Take a closer look at all-things EV charging here.
The temperature, fan speed and seat heaters are controlled via the touchscreen. Select the temperature icon (number) to set the temperature, the fan icon to set the fan speed and the seat icons to heat the seats.
Select the temperature icon (degree number) to set the temperature, the fan icon to set the fan speed and the seat icons to heat the seats
To turn the rear A/C on, select the left-hand tab labeled “rear,” then turn on the rear fan. The button will turn blue when the setting is on and turn gray when the setting is off. The rear A/C is off by default.
With double the storage space and plenty of options for USB, USB-C and wireless device charging, Tesla models allow you to travel fully packed and fully charged. Use the touchscreen to discover more fun and useful features – like using your smartphone as a hotspot for the car to connect to Wi-Fi – via the searchable Owner’s Manual.
The front of the console has a non-slip phone tray which provides wireless charging for up to two Qi-enabled smartphones
There are two USB-C ports located under the rear A/C vent, and one standard USB port and one USB-C port located underneath the tray used for wireless phone charging.
To open the trunk, select the command from the touchscreen homepage or push the button located above the license plate. To close, push the button on the inside of the trunk door or simply push down on the top of the trunk door.
To open the frunk, select the command from the touchscreen homepage. To close, slowly lower the frunk cover until it rests on the car, place both palms on top of the frunk cover and then gently push down. Do not slam or drop the frunk cover.
The speedometer is located in the top left-hand corner of the touchscreen and will turn red when you are speeding. Below the speedometer is the driving graphic. This graphic displays your car and all its surroundings, including traffic and bicycle lanes, stop lights and signs, pedestrians, other vehicles and more.
Operating as the brain of a Tesla electric vehicle, the touchscreen is where all driver-relevant information is displayed and where nearly all features can be controlled. Search the internet, stream media, view your backup/rear camera, adjust your air conditioning and much more.
The backup/rear camera is automatically displayed while in reverse. To view while in another gear, select the camera button on the touchscreen or ask voice command to show the backup/rear camera.
Yes. Select the car icon on the touchscreen to display Quick Controls, then select Driving. To mimic a gas-powered car, select Creep (creep forward) or Roll (roll freely). These actions occur when your foot is removed from the pedals. To maintain regen braking, select Hold. Each mode provides ultimate safety.
The lights and wipers are set to automatically react to environmental cues, such as overcast or rainy conditions. If desired, settings for both items can be manually adjusted using the touchscreen.
The turn signal stalk is located behind the left-hand side of the steering wheel. Push the stalk up for right and down for left. A light push will signal three times and a firm push will signal until the turn is completed.
The navigation is the backdrop for most of the touchscreen. Use your hands to type in a location; drag, pinch or rotate the map; select street or satellite view; and toggle settings such as automatic rerouting and avoiding ferries and tolls. Voice command can also be used to control most navigation functions.
The hazard lights button is located on the ceiling near the front of the car. Simply press the button once to turn hazards on and once more to turn hazards off. The hazard symbol is the same as in a gas-powered car.
The touchscreen displays battery charge status, both percentage and time remaining, and will let you know when charging is complete. Additionally, the charge port logo and Tesla charging dock will display solid green.
Model 3 can travel up to 260 miles** on a full charge. Model Y can travel up to 330 miles** on a full charge. Regen braking, safe driving practices and minimal accessory usage can extend driving range. The battery meter and range are displayed at all times on the touchscreen. You can also use voice command to ask for the battery charge status.
**EPA estimate according to Tesla, Inc. product specifications.
You can remain in your Tesla while it charges, but turning the car on and utilizing features such as the Toybox, air conditioning or device charging will cause the car to charge at a much slower pace.
While not impossible, the chance of your Tesla running out of battery power is extremely unlikely. Monitor your charge, plan for your next charging station stop and pay attention to car alerts to avoid a depleted battery. In the improbable event your battery dies, you will need to be towed to a charging station.
The kit comes standard with every Tesla rental and includes a SAE J1772 adapter for charging at non-Tesla charging stations, along with a 20-foot connector cord and a NEMA 5-15 adapter for charging with 120V household outlets.
No; however, we ask you return it with its battery charged to at least 10%
If you need to charge your EV during rental, you may use a Tesla network charging station or a third-party charging station. If you opt for Tesla’s network, we’ll automatically pass through fees to the credit card you have on file with us. If you use a third-party station, just follow the station’s prompts and pay on the spot – similar to how you’d pay for fuel at a gas station.
We will pass through any charging-related fees from Tesla shortly after we receive them. Typically, this takes a few business days.
Beyond the cost of charging outright, you may incur parking or idle fees, depending on where you charge. Fees are determined by the type of charging station you use. Generally, you only pay for charging as long as you disconnect from the charging station and move your car as soon as your charging process completes.
As demand is high for Tesla Superchargers, Tesla charges an idle fee for all Tesla owners or renters if they leave their cars connected to a charging station for a prolonged period once charging completes. Just make sure to disconnect once your car’s charged and move your car – freeing up the charging station for others – and you won’t incur an idle fee. Idle fees do not apply if your car is actively charging. To learn more about Supercharger idle fees, take a look here.
Just as the use of instruments and accessories burns gas in a gas-powered car, using these items in Model 3 will deplete the battery faster than not using these items.
By default, all features power down when the Tesla powers down. If you’d like to keep the cabin climate operating while you are outside of the car, select the fan icon and then select On in the Keep Climate On pop-up. This setting will shut off when the battery reaches 20%.
To open the glovebox, select the car icon to display Quick Controls and then select the Glovebox button. Close the glovebox by gently pushing it upward with your hand(s).
The Model 3 touchscreen does not currently have this functionality.
The 12V charger is located within the center console under the storage container. This charger can be used for charging your personal devices, but to clarify, it’s not for charging the car itself.
Avoid at all cost running out of battery. If this happens, please call us and we will contact Tesla to tow and repair the vehicle. The customer will be responsible for all charges incurred to get the vehicle back to a working condition.
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