Just took delivery of a Model Y, or about to? This page is the order we’d read our guides in if we were starting over: what to sort out in the first week, what can wait a month, and what to have ready before the first long drive with kids. Every guide is written by parents who drive one, with the Juniper (2025–2026) and the three-row Model Y L covered where it matters.
Before you buy (or if you’re still deciding)
Ten minutes here saves a lot of second-guessing later.
- Which Model Y trim is right for your family?: RWD, Premium, Performance or Model Y L, on the things that matter with kids
- The Model Y L for families: what the third row really gives you, and what it takes away
- Does it have Apple CarPlay?: no, and what families do instead
- Does it have a rear screen, and will kids use it?: what the 8-inch rear display does, by age
- Third-row car seats in the Model Y L, which seats fit in the tightest row
Week one: protect the interior
Kids, weather and a light interior. Do these before the first spill, not after.
- Kid-proof the car in the settings: child locks, Joe Mode, glovebox PIN, rear-screen control
- Have a 2020–2024 Model Y?: mats and sunshades that fit the original car
- All-weather floor mats: the sets that actually fit the Juniper, front, rear and trunk
- Kick mats & seat protectors: stop scuffs and car-seat pressure marks on the seat backs
- Screen protectors: front display and the Juniper rear screen
- Glass roof sunshade: the one thing every parent asks about in summer
Week one: set up charging
Home charging is 90% of Tesla ownership. Get it right once.
- Home charging setup: Wall Connector vs Mobile Connector, and what a 240V install involves
- Phone mounts & charging: without damaging the vents or the screen
Month one: make the space work
Where everything goes when a family lives in the car.
- The 20 accessories worth buying first: ranked by priority so you don’t overbuy
- Back seat organizers: snack trays, tablet mounts, seat-back storage
- Console & hidden storage: the minimalist cabin, made useful
- Trunk & frunk organizers: three storage zones, and how to use each
- Will a stroller fit in the frunk?: owner-verified answer, with the models that fit
Before the first road trip
The things you don’t think about until you’re 200 miles from home.
- Road trip essentials for families: the seven things that make long drives easier
- Rooftop cargo box that fits: owner-verified Thule picks and the 165 lb limit
- Charging adapters to pack, so a full CCS station or hotel outlet never strands you
- Does the Model Y have a spare tire?: no, and here’s what to carry instead
- What size cooler fits the sub-trunk?: measurements and the options that fit
- Camp Mode with kids: the overnight sleeping setup
- Camp Mode all night with a toddler?: the range math and the settings that matter
Keeping it nice
Sentry Mode, cleaning and the outside of the car.
- Sentry Mode storage: the drives that actually work
- Sentry battery drain & USB hubs: power fixes that stop the 12V surprises
- How to clean the white seats after a spill: juice, crayon, jean dye, accidents
- Interior cleaning & seat care: safe on Tesla vegan leather
- Cleaning & detailing gear: paint-safe basics
- Exterior protection: mud flaps, PPF, camera protectors
Want the whole list in one place with no write-ups? That’s the Quick Picks page. New guides go out about twice a week; the box at the bottom of any page gets them to your inbox.