Last Updated: February 17, 2026
Getting a brand new Tesla Model 3 or Model Y delivered in 2026? Congratulations! Whether it's your first EV or you're upgrading, there are several smart settings, useful features, and money-saving tips that will enhance your experience. Here's a fully updated UK-focused guide to setting up your Tesla the right way from day one, with practical advice, hidden features and extra EV hacks!
🔧 1. Adjust Key Display Settings
Battery Display: On your home screen, tap the battery icon to toggle between percentage and miles, depending on whether you prefer precise energy awareness or practical range estimation.
Weather & Air Quality: You can view local air quality and temperature directly from your infotainment screen – great for planning ahead.
Driver Profiles: Log in to your Tesla profile, and all your personal settings (seat, mirrors, music, temperature) will transfer to any Tesla you drive.
🛡️ 2. Enable and Optimise Sentry Mode
Turn this on from the red dot icon on the home screen to activate 360-degree security monitoring. Remember to check the glovebox for the USB stick from the factory – it’s needed for the dashcam and Sentry footage.
💡 3. Set up Smart Mirror Folding
Fold mirrors automatically by saving your favourite locations (like narrow Cornish lanes or tight driveways). Use voice commands like “Open glovebox” while driving to avoid screen distractions.
🧊 4. Chill Mode: Save Range & Tyres
Enabling Chill Mode in driving dynamics not only smooths acceleration and boosts efficiency, it helps extend the life of your tyres – especially useful on UK’s winding countryside roads.
🧳 5. Lighten the Load
Remove roof racks when not in use and clear out heavy items from the boot. Less weight means better range and less wear on the suspension.
🔋 6. Charging Tips & Settings
Set Daily & Trip Charging Limits: For daily use (Non-LFP battery), keep your battery between 50-80 per cent to preserve battery health. Only go to 100 percent before a long trip.
Schedule Charging: Avoid peak energy costs by charging overnight. UK users – take advantage of smart EV tariffs like Octopus Energy’s Intelligent Octopus Go, which offers 6 hours of cheap energy from just 7.5p/kWh. Sign up for Octopus here ⚡ and save every night.
📱 7. Use the Tessie App for Smart Insights 📊
Download the Tessie app to track trip data, monitor battery health, get cost breakdowns, automate climate preconditioning, and control your Tesla from your smartwatch or web dashboard.
🔍 8. Master Autopilot and Full-Self Driving Controls
Set Auto Steer on double-click to enable both adaptive cruise control and lane keeping. Adjust Max Speed Offset if you find Autopilot too conservative.
Use expanded visualisation to see what your Tesla is detecting on the road, and enable Smart Summon and Valet Mode for advanced functionality.
🧼 9. Keep Your Tesla Clean
A clean Tesla is an efficient Tesla! Dirt increases drag. Mythbusters once showed that a dirty car can reduce efficiency by up to 2 MPG. A clean Model Y or 3 will glide smoother and save energy.
🌬️ 10. Reduce Use of Climate Control
Heating and air conditioning can drain your battery. Instead, use seat warmers in winter and ventilated seats in summer to maintain comfort and save range.
🛞 11. Maintain Tyre Pressure
Check tyre pressure when warm (after 20+ miles) and keep them at factory settings (usually around 42 PSI for Teslas). Underinflated tyres reduce efficiency and range.
🧠 12. Use Energy App for Accurate Range
Forget percentage or miles. Use the Energy app to monitor real-time range based on how you’re currently driving. It’s more accurate, especially on UK’s hilly routes.
🗺️ 13. Navigation Tips
Use the Tesla nav to plan Supercharger stops and avoid low-speed chargers. Uncheck “slow chargers” under charge filter settings so you only see high-speed ones.
Don’t forget to enable Trip Planner and Online Routing for the most efficient real-time routes and traffic updates.
🧯 14. Safety Features to Activate
Activate:
- Blind Spot Camera
- Emergency Lane Departure Avoidance
- Obstacle-Aware Acceleration
- Auto Emergency Braking
Turn on Green Light Chime to stay alert in city traffic.
📦 15. Use Valet Mode & PIN Protection
Valet Mode limits access to key features. Also set a PIN to drive and glovebox PIN for added security – a must if your key card or phone is lost.
📆 16. Preconditioning for Range and Comfort
Use your Tesla app to schedule preconditioning so the cabin is ready and battery optimised before a trip – especially helpful on chilly UK mornings.
🧽 17. Screen Cleaning Mode
Found under Display settings, this mode blacks out the screen so you can safely clean without activating buttons. Perfect after a sneaky drive-thru 🍟
🧪 18. Regular Maintenance You Can Do Yourself
Tesla ownership is nearly maintenance-free, but don’t forget to:
- Rotate tyres
- Change cabin air filters
- Clean cameras
- Wipe sensors
All of this can be done at home. You’ll find these settings under the Service menu.
💡 How I Set Up My Tesla Model 3 on Day One
When my Tesla Model 3 Long Range arrived from Cinch in April 2026, my first steps covered most of this guide. I set the daily charging limit to 80%, connected Octopus Intelligent Go for overnight charging at around 7p/kWh, and linked Tessie to start logging battery health from day one at 44,000 miles. Smart mirror folding was configured for our narrow Cornish lanes within the first hour. Home charging now costs about £20/month for ~300kWh – compared to what I was spending fuelling my Audi Q7 at 25mpg and £800/year in road tax.
Steven | Tesla Model 3 LR owner, previous Audi Q7 diesel owner
🧠 Final Tip: Upgrade Your Experience
If you haven’t already, consider Premium Connectivity or Full Self-Driving subscriptions. And explore the Tessie app again for automation, advanced stats and remote controls.
By configuring your new 2026 Tesla Model 3 or Y properly and adopting a few simple habits, you’ll enjoy every mile on the road more efficiently, more affordably and with all the futuristic features these cars offer.
Want to go even further for less? Pair your Tesla with the Intelligent Octopus Go tariff and save every time you plug in at home.
And for data-driven Tesla lovers, the Tessie app is your best co-pilot.
I’m Steven, founder of MoneyAppReviews. I test money apps, referral programs, and EV tools in real life before I write about them. I drive a 2021 Tesla Model 3 Long Range, use Octopus Intelligent Go for home charging, and regularly track costs, savings, and app performance over time. I focus on practical, evidence-based reviews that help people decide what is actually worth using, not just what pays the highest commission.