Brandstarter Kevin Du kindly wrote this article for a couple of our members. We thought it would be broadly useful to many people, so we are reposting and sharing it here!
We hope you find this helpful!
A lot of people think Teslas are like Apple products. Apple products work exactly the way you want them to right out of the box. Don’t let appearances fool you. In reality, Teslas are a lot more like Linux than Apple. You get a lot of bare metal that you need to customize.
Here are the expert-recommended accessories for Teslas.
Model Y
Most of the following recommendations and links are specific to the Model Y.
Must haves: Functional Improvements or Protection Elements
- Front & Rear Display Screen Protectors
- Replacing a display screen if you crack one can get really expensive, so better to have these on day one.
- USB Storage for Tesla Cam
- Plugs into the glove box USB, small and super useful.
- Solid Front & Rear Mud Flaps
- I don’t like using the soft flaps. However, these hard plastic ones are great. The front flaps are a must. Without them, the aerodynamics of the Y kicks up rocks from the front to the rear doors.
- Center Console Organizer
- The front center console is really deep and almost unusable without a tray. The rear one under the armrest is really shallow and does not need one, but these kits are nice. I had to buy mine piecemeal.
- Trunk Storage Box + Lids
- Absolutely criminal that Tesla just leaves these as open holes. These trunks make it so much more functional and gives a flat surface at the back to store large items.
- Sunshade
- If you are going to leave the car parked outside or drive for a long time, this is a must. I really like the retractable ones, but go for any you prefer.
- Floor Vent Grille
- Another rare Tesla boneheaded design issue. The stock floor vents for the rear seats are left open. Things can roll into them and it’s a pain to get out. Thankfully, these snap over them easily.
- Seat Gap Filler
- If you are ever going to eat in any car, these are a must have to prevent any messes.
- Front Window Tint
- Tesla only tints the back windows, and I feel like the front two need to be tinted to match. Long drives with the sun on your side can get overheated and be really irritating.
- Florida Sun Pass
- The better I-PASS transponder. This works in most states, is better looking, and does not leave permanent press-loc bits on your windshield. The functionality of the app also makes managing your account easier.
Nice to have: For more comfort
- Hidden Storage Box
- The small pocket on the bottom of the armrest of the driver’s side is great for hiding a mini box containing credit cards, your registration or any other sensitive materials. Easy to access but invisible otherwise. I put my registration and my car wash pass here.
- Cup Holder Insert
- This makes the cup holder in the center console more organized and nicer to use. Comes now as part of the kit, so why not?
- Full Leather 2-Layer Carpet Liner
- With these, spills will never touch the car’s carpet since the leather goes up the center console sides and far up the door sills. As a bonus, they also look nice!
- Armrest Cover
- The stock armrest is a bit thin and may scratch easily. This gives more padding.
Situational: More Illinois- and lifestyle-specific issues
- Front License Plate Holder
- Illinois still issues two plates, but the only place where you need a front plate is in the City of Chicago. If caught without one, you can face a $60 ticket. Having a removable bracket allows for better aerodynamics when you’re diving long distances. With this product, you can take the plate off, and put it on when you’re driving downtown. If you don’t really go downtown, you might not need this one.
- Cargo Liner
- These are better than the five-piece mat kits, as they come with side protectors that go up and cover the alcantara on the sides of the trunk. They are also easily removable for vacuuming. Rubber ones are better if you plan to bring water or mud in the back; otherwise, they are heavy and a bit harder to wash down. They also don’t protect the sides.
- Trunk Mat (and here for Frunk Mats)
- The trunk bottoms are alcantara. It’s a great material for sound dampening, but it tends to hold on to dirt and sawdust like no tomorrow. Better to have something to cover them if you are going to use it for storage
- Camper Bed
- If you ever decide to go camping in a Tesla, this can make your conditions more comfortable.
Personal preference: For extra protection or usability but not mandatory for functionality
- Custom Puddle Lights
- These are really more for the cool factor, but they’re an option from Tesla as well.
- Seat Back Protectors
- These add pockets and a little extra storage to the back seats. I end up using them a lot, but it’s more of a personal preference.
- Garbage Can
- This is great for long distance drives, as it keeps your vehicle tidier.
- Door Side Storage Organizers
- This helps protect the door pockets. The rubber is also a better texture to help items stay put versus the alcantara.
- Full Seat Covers
- With full front and back seat covers, I can feel free to wear in the interior without worrying about ruining the actual leather. For leather colors that stain more easily, or general staining mishaps, these will take your worries away.
- USB Hub
- If you’re on the go a lot or frequently need to charge a lot of items at once, this may be useful. This particular listing also hides away more, when you want to put it away.
- Upgraded Pedals
- These are mainly for aesthetic purposes.
- Charging Adapter Holder
- This is helpful to keep on hand if you need to access the adapter frequently for charging at CCS (Combined Charging Station) locations.
- Phone Mount
- While I prefer the wireless charger, these mounts are great if you need your phone propped up to eye-level.
Things you won’t need: Items that aren’t worth getting in my opinion
- Front Bumper Camera Protector
- I feel like people forget to open it when they are ready to drive, and autopilot will yell at you
- Wireless Charging Pad Tray
- The default tray works just fine. I’ve never had a phone slide off. The trays also take up depth, making it more likely that a phone will slide out.
- Hook on Screen Storage Organizers
- These block your access to the phone and charging pad. Additionally, they position contents in such a way where they are likely to fly out with acceleration.
- Passenger Seat Underseat Storage
- I have never used the one I own. I am always paranoid of the passenger seat being lowered too much and crushing the box.
- Aftermarket Dash
- I recommend holding off and first trying to get accustomed to looking at the center screen while driving.
- Dashboard Cover
- The stock one works perfectly fine.
Alternatives to previously mentioned products:
- Plastic Trunk Protectors
- I didn’t see these for the older Y model, but they have these now. If you are expecting to store things like bikes and tools in and out of the car, heavy rubber mats and these protectors may be a better choice.
- Full Rubber Mats Kit
- This is a bang-for-your-buck-solution. I personally don’t like having that much rubber and plastic everywhere, but these kits will cover 90% of your needs and go on sale on Amazon for approximately $120 if you look around.
- Plastic/Rubber Full Coverage Floor Mats
- Instead of the PU leather, you can also use these now that they are available for the Model Y Juniper.
- Retractable Sunshade
- A hand retracted version has not been developed yet for the Juniper. It’s also much more expensive than the two-piece, but I like the option of opening the sunroof.
- Two-Layer Carpet Liners
- These are the exact ones I have, and I highly recommend them for the bougie-ness.
- Console and Rear Side Kick Protectors
- If you want to cover your car in hard-wearing plastic, LUCKEASY is the way to go.
Cybertruck
The following recommendations are similar to the Model Y but linked to Cybertruck-specific alternatives.
Must haves: Functional Improvements or Protection Elements
- Front Display Screen Protectors and Rear Display Screen Protectors
- Display screens can be really expensive to replace, so it’s better to be safe and have these to prevent any damage.
- USB Storage for Tesla Cam
- This small device plugs right into the glove box USB. Really easy to use and reliable!
- Solid Front & Rear Mud Flaps
- I don’t like using the soft flaps. These hard plastic ones are great. The front flaps are a must as the aerodynamics of the Y kicks up rocks from the front onto the rear doors otherwise.
- Center Console Organizer and Lower Center Console Organizer
- Similar to the Model Y, the front center console is really deep and almost unusable without a tray. The rear one does not need one, but these kits are helpful with organization.
- Running Boards
- These will change the way you interact with the truck or any tall vehicle. I recommend looking for a professional installer and boards with a perimeter bar.
- Sunshade
- If you are going to leave the car parked outside or drive for a long time, this is more of a must. I prefer retractable ones.
- Floor Vent Grille
- The stock floor vents for the rear seats are left open, so items can easily roll into them. Thankfully, these easily snap over the vents.
- Seat Gap Filler
- For less mess, crumbs, or frustration in fallen-item retrieval, these are a must have.
- Rear Seat Cargo Tray
- This is really a must have for any truck, but these are made specifically for the Cybertruck.
- Florida Sun Pass
- The better I-PASS transponder. This works in most states, is better looking, and does not leave permanent press-loc bits on your windshield. The functionality of the app also makes managing your account easier.
- Heavy Duty Interior Mats
- Heavy duty floor mats are a must if you’re consistently loading up your truck. These are nice since they have a full ridge along each side to catch water.
Nice to have: For more comfort
- Hidden Storage Box
- In the other models, this hidden storage is part of the armrest. In the Cybertruck, it’s on the door. This storage box will help keep whatever you wish to out of sight.
- Cup Holder Insert
- This makes the cup holder in the center console more organized and nicer to use. Comes now as part of the kit, so why not?
- Frunk & Lower Trunk Mats
- These are a nice to have. Plus, the lower trunk mat allows you to use the organizers.
- Bull Bars
- A properly installed, directly to the frame, bull bar will reduce damage to your truck when you hit something. I recommend a professional install.
- Armrest Cover
- The stock armrest is angular and edgy, which is cool, but plush and soft is more comfortable and nice!
Situational: More Illinois- and lifestyle-specific issues
- Center Console Lower Organizer
- If you keep a lot of things in your car, it also has a dedicated garbage can area. This will help you keep the car clean.
- Cargo Liner
- The default bedliner in the Cybertruck is decent. More than anything, this is just added protection for resale value.
- Camper Bed
- If you ever decide to go camping in a Tesla Cybertruck, this can help make your travels more comfortable.
Personal preference: For extra protection or usability but not mandatory for functionality
- Cybertruck Seat Covers
- White covers make the seats feel cooler under the sun, as the color doesn’t absorb as much heat as darker ones. Also, this protects the OEM seats from you doing truck things in the truck.
- Door Side Storage Organizers
- This just helps protect the doors’ storage pockets. The rubber is also a better texture to help things stay put.
- Phone Mount
- If you prefer having your phone propped up, then these mounts are great.
Things you won’t need: Items that aren’t worth getting in my opinion (same as the Model Y)
- Wireless Charging Pad Tray
- The default tray works just fine, and I’ve never had a phone slide off. The trays also take up depth, making it more likely that a phone will slide out.
- Hook on Screen Storage Organizers
- These block your access to the phone and charging pad. Additionally, they position contents in a compromising way where they are likely to fly out with acceleration.
- Passenger Seat Underseat Storage
- I have never used the one I own. I am always paranoid of the passenger seat being lowered too much and crushing the box.
- Aftermarket Dash
- I recommend holding off and first trying to get accustomed to looking at the center screen while driving.
- Dashboard Cover
- The stock one works perfectly fine.
In all, these are simply some recommendations and what I enjoy, personally. Each additional item and modification will always be up to your own preferences.
Customizing your Tesla vehicle can be a hassle, but hopefully these tips and gadgets can be helpful to you!” – Kevin Du
