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Tesla delivery checklist: before, at and after handover

What Tesla asks you to do before delivery, the steps on delivery day, what owners usually check before driving away, and the first settings to change afterwards.

Last verified 25 September 2026 against Tesla’s owner’s manuals and support pages

Short answer

Before delivery, complete the tasks in the Tesla app: registration and delivery location, payment and trade-in details, proof of insurance once you have a VIN, and any agreements. On the day, you check in, sign, accept delivery in the app and unlock the car with it. Before you drive away, look the car over in good light, test every door and key, and raise anything you find with the delivery staff.

Before the appointment

According to Tesla, you prepare in the Tesla app:

  1. Confirm your registration and delivery location.
  2. Submit trade-in and payment details.
  3. Once a VIN is assigned, upload proof of insurance.
  4. Submit the final payment.
  5. Accept any outstanding agreements; they appear in the app within 24 hours of your appointment.

Tesla notes that the app is the source of truth for your delivery timing, and appointments within the next 48 hours cannot be rescheduled in the app. Steps and documents vary by country. Tesla also recommends watching the Tesla Tutorial videos beforehand.

On delivery day: Tesla’s steps

  1. Follow the signs to the check-in area.
  2. Sign the available agreements, complete the final payment and accept delivery of your vehicle in the Tesla app.
  3. Unlock and access the car with the Tesla app.
  4. Explore the car’s features with the interactive tutorial videos.

Bring your phone charged with Bluetooth on, so you can set up the phone key on the spot.

What owners usually check before driving away

Tesla’s delivery page does not publish an inspection list. These are common owner checks, not a Tesla requirement:

  • Walk around in good light: paint, panels, glass, camera housings, wheels and tyres.
  • Inside: seats, trim, headliner and screen, with no warning messages on the touchscreen.
  • Open and close every door, the trunk, the frunk and the charge port, and run each window.
  • Tap each key card you received on the card reader and confirm it works; set up your phone key and confirm it unlocks the car.
  • Photograph anything you find and raise it with the delivery staff before you leave. Later issues can be booked as a service appointment in the Tesla app.

In the first hour

  • Check your keys in Controls › Locks › Keys and keep one key card in your wallet.
  • Decide on Walk-Away Door Lock and Unlock on Park, and turn on PIN to Drive.
  • Look up the recommended daily charge limit in Controls › Charging.
  • Find the manual door releases and show them to your passengers.

The full list, with menu paths, is in 10 things to do with your new Tesla.

Questions

Can I reschedule my delivery?

Yes, in the Tesla app under your pre-delivery tasks, on the Scheduling tab. Tesla says appointments within the next 48 hours are not eligible to be rescheduled in the app.

What if I find a defect at delivery?

Photograph it and raise it with the delivery staff before you drive away. For anything you notice later, book a service appointment through the Tesla app.

Do I need the Tesla app for delivery?

Yes. Tesla uses the app for registration, payment, agreements, accepting delivery and unlocking the car.

Sources

Tesla features change with software updates; check the linked source for your car. Handlefree is independent and not affiliated with Tesla, Inc. Use vehicle controls only beside your parked car with the area clear.

Keep reading

10 things to do with your new Tesla in the first days 20 Tesla settings worth changing, with 2026 menu paths Tesla phone key vs key card vs watch key
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