Congratulations — the hardest part (the wait) is over. The first week with a Tesla is mostly delightful and occasionally confusing, and a handful of decisions you make now will save you real money and hassle later. Here’s the checklist I wish someone had handed me at delivery, in the order it actually matters.
1. Solve Home Charging First
Nothing shapes Tesla ownership like waking up to a full battery. Decide your setup this week, because everything else flows from it. You have three realistic paths:
| Setup | Cost | Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120V wall outlet (trickle) | $0–$35 | ~3 mi/hour | Very short commutes, stopgap |
| Mobile connector + 240V outlet | ~$230–$300 + electrician | ~20–30 mi/hour | Renters, budget setups |
| Wall-mounted Level 2 charger | ~$420–$640 + install | ~28–37 mi/hour | Homeowners, multi-EV, daily drivers |
A standard outlet genuinely works as a stopgap if you drive under ~30 miles a day, so don’t panic-buy at delivery. But if you own your home, a Level 2 unit is the upgrade that pays off every single night — our home charger roundup ranks the field, and our ChargePoint Home Flex review covers the one we’d pick for most garages, now available with a native Tesla plug.
2. The Charger Tax Credit — Expired June 30, 2026 (Claim It If You Made the Deadline)
The federal Section 30C charger credit expired June 30, 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and no extension is pending. If your charger was placed in service on or before June 30, 2026, you can still claim 30% of hardware plus installation, up to $1,000, on IRS Form 8911 when you file — provided your address sits in an eligible census tract (many suburbs don’t qualify, so check the map before counting on it). It’s non-refundable, so it only offsets tax you owe. Going forward, the savings to chase are utility rebates ($250–$500 is common) and state programs — full details in our EV incentives guide.
3. Set Your Charge Limit (and a Charging Schedule)
Two settings, two minutes, years of battery health. If your Tesla has an LFP battery (most recent rear-wheel-drive trims), Tesla says charge to 100% regularly. Everything else — Long Range, Performance — lives happiest at a daily limit of 80–90%, saving 100% for road-trip mornings. Then check whether your utility offers time-of-use rates: scheduling charging for off-peak hours routinely cuts the per-mile cost by a third or more. Our home charging cost guide has a calculator for your exact rate — most owners land between $40 and $65 a month.
4. Protect the Floors and the Screen
The two accessories worth buying in week one, before the first rainstorm and the first fingerprint smudge: all-weather floor mats sized for your model and year, and a matte screen protector — the matte finish kills glare and fingerprints on the one interface you touch constantly. Skip the 40-item accessory hauls for now; our accessories guide separates the useful from the junk drawer. One caution for 2026 Model Y buyers: the Juniper redesign changed the floor pan and dash, so check fitment before you order anything sized for the older body.
5. Give Sentry Mode Somewhere to Record
Your Tesla’s built-in dashcam and Sentry Mode security camera need user-supplied USB storage, and the cheap flash drive in your junk drawer will corrupt in a hot car. A small high-endurance SSD or USB drive is a $30–$70 fix that makes the single best theft-and-vandalism deterrent you own actually work. We tested the options in our TeslaCam storage guide; a high-endurance drive formatted exFAT takes ten minutes to set up.
6. Sort Insurance Before the First Road Trip
Teslas can be pricier to insure than their sticker suggests — repair costs and parts availability drive premiums, and quotes for the same car vary wildly between carriers. Get three quotes this week (include Tesla Insurance if it operates in your state) rather than auto-renewing whatever covered your last car. Our Tesla insurance guide covers what actually moves the premium.
7. Learn Supercharging Before You Need It
Three things to know before your first road trip. First, let the car navigate to the Supercharger — it preconditions the battery en route, which can cut charging time dramatically in cold weather. Second, charge to ~80% and leave; the last 20% is slow by design, and idle fees start when the car is done. Third, Supercharging costs roughly 2–3× home-rate electricity — fine for trips, expensive as a routine. The math is in our charging cost breakdown.
8. Set Up Phone Keys, Key Cards & PIN to Drive
Add every driver’s phone as a key and stash a key card in a wallet — phone batteries die. Create driver profiles so seat, mirror, and regen settings follow the person, not the car. And turn on PIN to Drive (Controls → Safety): it’s the single most effective anti-theft setting on the car, and it takes thirty seconds.
9. Check Your Tires (Yes, Already)
Delivery-day tire pressure is often whatever the transport truck left it at. Check it against the door-jamb placard — 42 psi cold for most Model 3/Y configs — and set the rotation reminder for every 6,250 miles, because instant EV torque eats front tread quietly. When the factory set does wear out (often by 25,000 miles), our Tesla tire guide ranks replacements by range, noise, and grip.
10. Learn the Quirks That Save You Embarrassment
The greatest hits: Car Wash Mode (Controls → Service) folds mirrors and disables wipers before an automatic wash — use it every time. Regen braking means one-pedal driving feels strange for about three days, then every other car feels broken. Install software updates on home Wi-Fi overnight. Camp Mode keeps climate running while parked. And the wipers… just know the deep-clean button lives on the left stalk menu, and auto-wipers have opinions.
The Bottom Line
Week one priorities, in one sentence: get charging sorted (and check what incentives remain for your ZIP), protect the floors and screen, give Sentry a drive, lock in PIN to Drive, and ignore 90% of the accessory lists. The car handles the rest — that’s rather the point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy a wall charger right away?
No. If you drive under ~30 miles a day, a regular outlet or a 240V mobile-connector setup covers you while you decide. Buy a Level 2 charger when you know your parking situation is permanent — and check afdc.energy.gov for utility and state rebates before you book the install.
Should I charge my Tesla to 100%?
LFP-battery trims (most recent RWD models): yes, Tesla recommends regular 100% charges. Long Range and Performance trims: set 80–90% for daily use and reserve 100% for trip days.
Is there still a federal tax credit for buying a Tesla in 2026?
The federal new and used EV purchase credits ended September 30, 2025, and the 30% home charger credit expired June 30, 2026 (installs placed in service by that date can still be claimed on Form 8911). What remains: state and utility rebates, which vary widely.
What should I buy first?
In order: USB storage for Sentry Mode, all-weather floor mats, a matte screen protector. Everything else can wait until you know how you actually use the car.
Do Teslas need maintenance?
Less than a gas car, not zero: tire rotations every 6,250 miles, cabin air filter every couple of years, brake fluid check at four, wiper blades as needed. No oil changes — but tires wear faster than you’re used to.
How much does charging at home cost?
For most owners, $40–$65 a month at average rates — often under $30 on off-peak plans. A full charge runs roughly $9–$17 depending on model and your electricity rate.
Related: Best Home EV Chargers · ChargePoint Home Flex Review · Model Y Accessories That Earn Their Keep · Best Tesla Tires