Hidden features, tips, and emergency access

Tesla owner tips

Everything that isn't obvious from the touchscreen: what to set up in your first few days, fun hidden features, and how to get in (or jump-start the car) if the battery ever dies.

First few days checklist

1. 1 Set up the Tesla app and phone key

   Download the Tesla app and sign in, then on the touchscreen go to Controls > Safety > Mobile Access to enable it, and add your phone as a key. Bluetooth needs to stay enabled on your phone for passive entry to work reliably.

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2. 2 Add a backup key card or key fob

   Keep a physical key card (or fob) in your wallet as a backup in case your phone dies or the phone key has trouble -- tap it against the door pillar to unlock, and against the center console to start driving.

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3. 3 Turn on charging and Sentry Mode notifications

   In the app, enable notifications for charging status and Sentry Mode alerts so you know if the car didn't charge overnight or if something happened while it was parked.

4. 4 Set your daily charge limit

   In the Charging menu, set a daily limit around 70-80% for everyday driving, and only charge to 100% right before a long trip.

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5. 5 Set up a driver profile

   Create a driver profile for yourself (and anyone else who'll drive the car) to save seat position, mirrors, steering feel, and climate preferences -- it switches automatically based on which phone key or key card unlocks the car.

6. 6 Connect to your home Wi-Fi

   Add your home Wi-Fi network in Controls so the car downloads software updates quickly and reliably while parked, instead of relying on slower cellular data.

7. 7 Locate the manual door releases and 12V jump point

   Before you ever need it, find your model's manual door release and 12V jump-start location on its tips page below -- it's much easier to locate calmly at home than during an actual emergency.

8. 8 Review Autopilot and data-sharing settings

   Go through the Autopilot and Safety menus to set following distance, lane-change behavior, and data-sharing preferences (like sharing camera data to help train Tesla's software) to what you're comfortable with.

9. 9 Check your insurance options

   Compare a standard insurer against Tesla Insurance, which is available in some states and can factor in your real driving behavior (Safety Score) -- it's not always the cheaper option, so it's worth a quote either way.

10. 10 Join an owner community

    Tesla's official owners clubs (engage.tesla.com) and independent forums like Tesla Motors Club and the model-specific subreddits are good places to ask questions and learn from other owners' experience.

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