Top Tesla tips you may not know

Redictate your text message

If you're replying to a text message and it wasn’t transcribed correctly, you can redo it. In a Model 3 or Model Y, just push in the right scroll wheel twice. The previous transcription will be thrown out and you can dictate your message again.

Top Tesla Tips

Not a Tesla App

Delete previous destinations

You can remove a recent destination from your navigation by swiping right on the address. You can remove favorite destinations the same way.

Quickly set GPS to home

You can quickly navigate to your home or work destination by swiping on the Navigate button. If you're near work it will navigate home, and if you’re near home it will navigate to work.

Quickly open calendar

You can tap the time on the screen to quickly jump into your calendar in the vehicle instead of having to go through the app menu.

Some settings are global

Some driver settings are global, meaning they affect every profile in the vehicle, while other settings are considered a personal preference and will only affect your profile. This lets you and your spouse have different stopping modes, favorite radio stations, etc.

A single USB drive for Sentry/Dashcam, Music and Boombox

You don't need to have separate USB drives for each feature. You can format your USB drive to have different partitions which makes the drive act as separate drives. You’ll want to create one partition for each feature.

Use voice commands while driving

There are close to 200 voice commands, there's likely one to do what you'd like so that you can keep your focus on the road. For example, you can say, “set temperate to 70 degrees”, instead of having to fiddle with the temperature slider on screen. Take a look at our full list of Tesla commands, and our Top 5 most useful voice commands.

Trunk height

If you have an automatic trunk, you can set the maximum height it will open to. This is useful if you're on the shorter side or if you have a lower garage. Read more about how to set your trunk to a desired height.

Charging at 240 volts is cheaper than using 120 volts

Charging at a higher rate is actually cheaper than charging at a slower rate. Your Tesla needs to power an inverter that translates your home’s AC energy into DC energy that is stored in your batteries. Powering that inverter uses quite a bit of energy, so the longer it's running the more electricity you’re using so the faster you can charge, the less time you need to run the inverter. Charging at 240 volts is about 12% more efficient than charging at 120.

Send address from your phone

If the app you use on your phone supports sharing an address to an app, then you can look up an address on your phone and share it directly to your car. For example if you’re using Google Maps, you can share a destination directly to your Tesla and avoid typing it again later.

Turn off HVAC

You can hold down the temperature icon in the launcher to turn off the HVAC completely.

Adjust seat heaters, check charge level and others functions while watching full screen video

While watching full screen video, there are controls to adjust climate temperature and screen brightness if you tap near the top of the screen. However, you can control even more settings without leaving your video by using your Tesla app.

Easily adjust wiper speed

The easiest way to change your wiper speed on a Model 3 or Y is to push the button on the left stalk for a single wipe, which will also bring up the wiper speed adjustment on the screen. You can then easily adjust it.

Screen Clean Mode

You may find that while wiping down your screen you touch buttons accidentally. There’s actually a 'screen clean' mode that requires you to hold your finger on the display in order to exit it, which means you can now clear your screen of smudges without tapping various buttons. You can find it under the Car > Service menu.

Charger handle opens charge port

This one may be obvious to most, but a surprise to some. If you use the charger that came with your Tesla, there’s a button on the handle that will open your charge port door. It does require your car to be unlocked and awake, so sometimes it’s useful to open one of the doors to wake up your car then push the button on the handle.

Easy way to stop the Autopilot nag screen

If you're on Autopilot and the car asks you to place your hands on the wheel, you can either torque the wheel a little bit, or just use one of the scroll wheels on the screen to let the car know you’re paying attention.

Range display

The range displayed in a Model 3 and Model Y are EPA values and they will not adjust based on your driving habit or weather conditions. It's roughly locked in to about 4 miles per kilowatt, depending on your exact model.

However, if you're trying to plan when to charge or how much charge you'll have left at the end of your destination then you’ll want to use the Energy app (under the ^ Apps menu). This will display a graph of your charge level and the distance to your destination that considers your driving style, weather elevation and much more.

If you enjoyed these quick tips, take a look at our list of more in-depth Tesla Tips and https://www.notateslaapp.com/how-to/how-tos.

Follow

Follow

Follow

Tesla's New Model Y to Receive Adaptive Headlight Support in U.S. Soon

@DriveGreen80167 on X

In the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, confirmed that the new Model Y will feature adaptive headlights.

As Moravy was talking about the updated headlights in the vehicle, which now sit a few inches lower than before, he stated that in a couple of months, Tesla will add adaptive headlights in the U.S.

While Tesla has already introduced adaptive headlights in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, the feature has yet to make its way to North America.

Originally delayed in the U.S. due to regulatory issues, manufacturers have been able to implement adaptive headlights since mid-2024. Meanwhile, competitors like Rivian and Mercedes-Benz have already rolled out their own full matrix headlight systems, matching what’s available in other regions.

Update: This article has been updated to clarify that adaptive headlights will indeed be launched in the U.S., shortly after the vehicle launching in March.

Adaptive Headlights

Back in October 2024, Lars confirmed that matrix headlight functionality was just around the corner for North America. However, as we enter 2025, it’s still unclear when Teslas with matrix headlights will receive the feature.

Currently, Tesla in North America supports adaptive high beams and automatic headlight adjustment for curves, but full matrix functionality has yet to be rolled out. Meanwhile, matrix headlights are already available in Europe, where they selectively dim individual beam pixels to reduce glare for oncoming traffic and adapt to curves in the road.

It was surprising that matrix functionality wasn’t included in the comprehensive 2024 Tesla Holiday Update. This feature would likely improve safety ratings, so we can only assume Tesla is diligently working to secure regulatory approval.

Adaptive Headlights on Other Models

Lars didn’t confirm whether the refreshed Model Y comes with the same headlights as the new Model 3 and the Cybertruck, instead simply calling them "matrix-style” headlights.

The headlights on the new Model Y appear very similar to those available in the 2024+ Model 3, possibly meaning these other models will also receive adaptive headlight capabilities in the next couple of months.

For vehicles with older-style matrix headlights, it’s unlikely that adaptive beams support will launch at the same time, but they will hopefully become available soon afterward.

You can check our guide here to see if your vehicle includes matrix headlights.

Follow

Follow

Follow

Tesla Starts Underwriting Its Own Insurance: Will They Insure Their Own Robotaxis?

Not a Tesla App

For the first time since launching Tesla Insurance in 2019, Tesla will begin underwriting its own policies, starting in California.

Tesla Insurance originally debuted in California and has since expanded to several U.S. states. Until now, policies were underwritten by State National, a subsidiary of the Markel Insurance Group. However, Tesla is now transitioning to fully in-house underwriting, beginning with its home state.

As part of this shift, California Tesla Insurance customers who receive an in-app offer to switch will be eligible for a one-time 3% discount on their next term’s premium—covered entirely by Tesla Insurance.

What is Underwriting

Underwriting is the process an insurance company uses to assess risk and determine whether to offer coverage, at what price, and under what terms.

Insurers evaluate factors such as driving history, credit score, age, vehicle type, and location. In Tesla’s case, vehicle driving data (not available in California) also plays a key role in risk assessment. These factors help classify drivers into risk categories, which influence their base premium.

From there, coverage limits, deductibles, and policy inclusions or exclusions can further adjust the final premium up or down.

Robotaxi and Other Benefits

At first glance, underwriting insurance might seem like a complex and costly process for Tesla. However, there are several compelling reasons why this move makes sense.

Insurance Income: Insurance is a highly profitable industry. Companies set rates based on risk, offering lower premiums to safer drivers and higher rates to riskier ones. This not only maximizes profitability but also incentivizes safer driving behavior, reducing overall claims.

Data Advantage: Tesla collects vast amounts of driving data through its Safety Score system. While California doesn’t allow Safety Score to impact premiums, Tesla can still use this data in the underwriting process to refine risk assessments and pricing for its vehicles.

Control Over Repair Costs: By underwriting its own policies, Tesla gains direct control over repairs and total loss decisions. This allows them to dictate when, where, and how repairs are done, optimizing costs for parts, labor, and service while ensuring vehicles are fixed according to Tesla’s standards.

FSD-Driven Discounts: Tesla has already begun offering insurance discounts for drivers using Full Self-Driving (FSD). By underwriting its own policies, Tesla could expand these incentives, potentially offering greater discounts to frequent FSD users in the future.

Preparing for Robotaxi: Perhaps the biggest long-term reason for this shift is the June launch of the Robotaxi fleet. How will Tesla insure these vehicles? The answer is simple—by underwriting its own policies and assuming liability.

Tesla’s decision to underwrite its own insurance isn’t just about cutting out middlemen—it’s a step toward lowering costs, increasing profitability, and preparing for the future of autonomous driving, a risk many insurance companies may be unwilling to make.

Further Expansion

This could be a strong sign that Tesla is preparing to expand its insurance offerings now that it has taken on the underwriting process itself. In July 2024, Tesla hired a former GEICO insurance executive to lead the expansion of Tesla Insurance and help reduce costs—a move that now appears to be paying off.

Rather than a traditional expansion, Tesla has instead made a bold move by bringing underwriting in-house, something few expected. However, it aligns with Tesla’s strategy of vertically integrating and controlling key aspects of its business, whether in manufacturing, software, or now, insurance.

If this pilot program proves successful, it could pave the way for Tesla Insurance to launch in more states—and potentially even other countries. With 2025 shaping up to be a pivotal year, we may see Tesla accelerate its insurance expansion sooner than expected.

Follow

Follow

Follow