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The short answer: plan on 30 minutes at pickup. Walk every panel in good light for paint and gap problems, check the glass and wheels, sit in every seat, test the doors, windows, screens and charge port, and confirm everything Tesla says is included is actually in the car. Ask about anything you see before you accept. When we picked up our 2026 Model Y, that took about half an hour, and the delivery rep answered every question without pushback.
Download the printable checklist (PDF) →
Two pages: a 10-minute quick version, and a full walk-around with a box for every panel, gap and function, plus space to write down what you find.
Driving a Model Y L? Download the Model Y L version (PDF). It adds the second-row captain’s chairs and armrests, the third row, the rear vents and USB ports, and the longer rear doors.
Check it off on your phone
Tap items as you go. Your checks and notes save on this phone, even if you close the page. Nothing is sent anywhere.
A guide based on our own delivery and common owner reports, not an official Tesla document. Finding or missing an issue is the buyer’s responsibility.
Before you go
- Pick up in daylight. Ask for a daytime appointment if you can. Scratches, swirls and panel-gap problems are hard to see under delivery-center lights or after dark.
- Bring the Tesla app signed in, your driver’s license and proof of insurance.
- Bring a phone with a flashlight and a microfiber cloth to wipe a smudge before you call it a scratch.
- Have a second person if possible. One reads the list, one inspects.
- Paperwork and VIN: confirm the VIN on the car matches the app and your documents. On the touchscreen, tap Controls > Software > Additional Vehicle Information to see the VIN the car reports, so you know this is your car. Also check that the color, wheels and trim match your order.
Free: the one-page new-owner checklist
Day-one settings, the first things worth buying, winter prep and road-trip basics, on a single page you can print or keep on your phone. We email it to you, plus one Black Friday email with the deals that fit. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.
Quick version or full walk-around?
If you only have ten minutes, do the quick version: paperwork and VIN, one lap around the car for paint and gaps, glass and wheels, a look inside, and a check that everything you were promised is in the car. If you have thirty, use the full checklist below and in the PDF, which breaks paint and gaps down by panel so nothing gets skipped. We did the full version.
What follows combines what we checked on our own delivery day with the items delivery videos and owner forums bring up most, like condensation inside headlights, the plate under the battery, door rattles and a speaker balance test.
Exterior: paint, panels and glass
- Paint: walk every panel slowly at a low angle. Look for scratches, chips, dust nibs under the clear coat, and swirl marks. Check the lower doors, bumpers and the area around the charge port.
- Panel gaps: compare the gap on the left side of the car with the same gap on the right: hood, frunk edges, doors, trunk and the rear bumper corners. They should match side to side.
- Corners and edges: bumper corners, mirror housings and door edges are where transport dings hide.
- Glass: windshield and glass roof for chips or scratches, and the rear glass for any sign of a crack at the edges.
- Wheels and tires: curb rash on each wheel, matching tire brand and tread all around, and the pressure shown on the touchscreen (Tesla lists the recommended pressure on the driver’s door-jamb label).
- Lights and trim: all lights on, the light bar and rear light bar on the Juniper evenly lit, and no loose trim or badges.
- Paint, panel by panel: hood, frunk edges, roof, trunk lid, both bumpers, each door, each fender and quarter panel, mirror housings, rocker panels and the charge-port door. The PDF has a box for each.
- Underneath: crouch and look at the plate under the battery and the underbody panels for scrapes from transport.
- Condensation: no fog inside the headlights or taillights.
- Headlights: look closely at the lenses for scratches, chips or haze, not just whether they light up.
- Exterior plastic pieces: bumper corners, lower grille, mirror caps and rocker covers scratch easily in transport.
- Frunk alignment: the frunk lid should sit level and even with the fenders and bumper on both sides.
- Roof: check that the glass roof sits evenly and its seals are seated all the way around.
- Side mirrors: glass, housing and fold, on both sides.
- Door handles: each one should sit flush with the door.
- Seals: window seals, the frunk seal and the trunk seal should be fully seated, with no gaps or pinched rubber.
Interior
- Seats: sit in every seat. Check for marks, loose stitching and that the rear seats fold and return from both the buttons and the touchscreen.
- Screens: front and rear screens on with no dead pixels. Confirm which size front screen your trim has (15.4-inch on most, 16-inch on Performance), because it decides which screen protector fits.
- Trim and headliner: look for scuffs on the door cards, console and the headliner, especially near the glass roof.
- Floor and carpet: clean, dry and free of marks. If you ordered mats, confirm they’re in the car.
- Car seat anchors: for parents, confirm the lower anchors and top tethers are present and uncovered in the rear seats. Installation itself comes later, from your car seat’s manual.
- Rattles: close each door with the windows down and listen.
Function check
- Doors, windows, mirrors, wipers and the rear hatch, from both the car and the app.
- Frunk opens and closes cleanly from the touchscreen and the app.
- Charge port opens, and the car reads as charging if a charger is available at the delivery center.
- Climate, audio and cameras come up with no warnings on the screen.
- Phone key works and the app shows the car.
- Check the odometer. A few miles is normal; hundreds is worth a question.
- Windows: every window auto-up and auto-down, with the glass seating properly.
- Audio and climate: run the fan through every speed, and move the audio balance corner to corner to confirm every speaker works.
- Software: the car has the latest update available in the app.
What should be in the car
- Everything Tesla lists as included with your order. In our case, that meant checking for the charging adapters before we left the lot.
- Charging cables or adapters you ordered separately.
- Tire repair kit if your car comes with one (the Model Y doesn’t have a spare tire; see our spare tire guide).
- Floor mats, if your order included them.
If you find something
Point it out before you accept. Minor paint or trim issues are usually noted at delivery and fixed later by service, but it’s far easier when it’s on the record from day one. Take a photo of anything you flag. Tesla also gives you a short window after delivery to report issues through the app, so check the current policy in the app for your car.
If you’re picking up a Model Y L
The six-seat Model Y L adds a few things to check, and the Model Y L PDF above has boxes for each:
- Second-row captain’s chairs: both armrests present and working; each chair slides, reclines and folds; the walk-through gap to the third row is clear.
- Third row: both seats fold flat and return, from the seat and from the trunk; the headrests adjust.
- Rear climate and power: the rear vents blow and the rear USB ports work.
- Six seats, six checks: marks and stitching on all six, plus car seat anchors in the second and third rows.
- Screens: the 16-inch front screen and the rear screen both on, no dead pixels.
- Body: the longer rear doors close cleanly without rattles, and the trunk floor sits flat with the third row folded.
See our Model Y L accessories guide for what fits once you’re home.
Your first 30 minutes at home
Once the car’s in the driveway, set up the child locks, window lock and child seat locks before anyone rides in the back, and run through our new-owner settings. Then the fun part: our 10 things we’d buy first.
Thinking about buying a Tesla?
Tesla’s current referral offer: a free month of Full Self-Driving (Supervised) when you use our referral link. It works for new buyers and for eligible current Tesla owners. Offers change, so check the current terms on Tesla’s page.
Disclosure: we also receive a referral credit if you use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Tesla delivery inspection take?
Ours took about 30 minutes, including questions. Tesla doesn’t rush you; take the time you need.
Can I refuse delivery if I find a problem?
Yes. You can decline and have Tesla fix the issue first, or accept it with the problem documented for service. Most people accept with notes unless the problem is major.
Does the 2026 Model Y come with a charger?
Check what Tesla lists as included with your order and confirm it’s in the car at pickup. Adapters and cables are easy to overlook on delivery day.
