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Congratulations on your new Tesla Model Y.  Now, only a few days left for delivery-day and for that, you must be well prepared. To leave the lot with no worries and ease of mind, you need to inspect your new ride for any issues or inconveniences. You may also want to take a friend or a family member to help you go through the checklist quickly and drive off in your brand-new car. 

Check The Vehicle’s Old Record

Before heading to the appointment location, make sure to verify and prepare your pre-delivery vehicle records. First off, check your paperwork for the right name and the right location of residence. At the lot, they also ask you to present the details of your final payment, the insurance details, and a valid driver’s license. 

when meeting your new car, the Tesla team hands you a folder containing your car’s VIN number and other documents related to your buy.  Once at your car, go ahead and verify whether the VIN number on the car matches the one on your paperwork. Also, open the right door to check the production date of the vehicle, which should be within three past months.

Complete Checklist

Now that we cleared the basics, you can move on to the complete checklist below. 

Exterior Inspection

Starting out, you need to take a close look at the car’s exterior condition. Making sure there are no dents, scratches, or any kind of damage on the car’s body.

Start by examining the paint for any scrapes. Circle the vehicle while focusing your phone’s flashlight on the body paint. The light’s reflection helps expose scuffs and grazes even when painted over. Use your palms to detect any harsh surfaces or tears on the paint.

From there move to the bottom of the car and check the underside for no bumps or unwanted damage. In addition to the above, inspect the wheels for any wear and tear. Check the pressure of the wheels and ensure all four valve stem covers are in place.

Keep your eyes open for any misalignment or fracture around the car. For this zoom in on the frunk panel, charging port, and all four lights from front to rear. 

Next, pay attention to the Panels made of glass that make up the roof. Ensure they are perfectly aligned and no leaks. check all windows for cracks and signs of distortion, including the front and rear panels.

Use the inside flashing lights to help you spot undesired damage. Follow by moving on to the windshield. Inspect the glass for any surface scratches or cracks, and also pay attention to the installation of the windshield trim to identify any defects. It must be well put into place and aligned edge to edge with the body. 

Once you finish checking the obvious exterior, time to dig deeper.

Check the doors and the handles for any weird sounds or unreasonable effort. Keep a closer look for spots hidden when the doors are closed. Also, make sure you do the same and test both trunk and frunk for any undesirable effects. Confirm that the self-close button works and latches and seals automatically. 

When examining the frunk, look under the frunk’s carpet for the towing hook. Check its condition and that it is not stuck. To wrap up, verify all of the exterior lights for signs of internal dirt or damage.

And for a finishing combo, open all four doors and examine the water protection seals around door edges and windows. Few deliveries did report issues and that the seals overlap, if it is the case, it can be adjusted to the correct place by hand on-site.

Interior Inspection

When inspecting the car’s interior, examine the seats finish and padding, dash, door surfaces, liner, and carpets. Check all the car seats for defects in workmanship, scratches, cracks, or stains.

While inside your car, look closely at the windshield and windows to check for any ripples or waves in the glass, as this can indicate damage. Check whether the car seat has defects in workmanship, scratches, cracks

Additionally, the front seats should be checked for squeaks when adjusted. The rear seats also should be inspected for the proper folding mechanism and that it bends smoothly.

Finally, check if the bottom of the back seat is securely fastened to its base by attempting to lift it. Remember to test the proper functionality of all seatbelts.

Connectivity Inspection

Cars’ interiors now present many useful features to ensure smooth cruising, so you need to test that all the technology features are in proper working order.

First, test connectivity in all USB ports, the one USB-A and one USB-C in the front, as well as the two USB-C ports in the rear. Note that the 12-volt DC receptacle has power and test the connectivity of the wireless phone charger. 

Next, test the music and phone streaming features, ensuring both function properly. As well as radio reception is great. Make sure to test both key cards to ensure they work on the B-pillar. Always keep one key on you in case the phone app does not operate as it should be.

Finally, pair your smartphone with the vehicle over Bluetooth. Check that all functions work, such as unlocking and preconditioning the car, heated seats, and heated steering wheel.

The Driver’s Seat

Now, every driver needs to be well aware of all the functionalities in front of him. While in the driver’s seat, it’s essential to check for any error messages on the display screen. Confirm that voice commands are functioning correctly as well. Don’t forget to record the mileage, which should range between 30 miles and 50 kilometers.

To further ensure that the display screen works, touch the “Tesla T” at the top of the screen to bring up the “About Your Tesla” window. Tap the unicorn drawing to access the Sketch Pad. Leave it for a minute to verify that there are no ghost touches occurring on the display. 

It’s also crucial to gently test the driver and passenger door emergency release, and make sure all four windows open and close smoothly. Proceed by checking the functionality of the AC/Heat without unusual noises. Same for the type_C interface, Bluetooth connection, and Wi-Fi vehicle signal. 

To confirm that all speakers are working, verify this by moving fade/balance to all four points. Test the steering wheel position. Controls must operate properly, and press the center of the wheel for the horn. Inspect the windshield for any distortions, test the windshield wipers, and check the rearview camera. Finally, check the side mirrors for proper folding and position change. 

Lighting Inspection

To ensure the safety of your Tesla vehicle, it’s essential to check all the lights inside and outside the car. 

On the inside, check the car’s Sun Visor mirror lights, and all roof lights. Turn around and check and rear overhead left and right sidelights.

Don’t forget to check the driver and passenger footwells, door pockets, and rear left and right door pockets. Test the driver and passenger door puddle lights, plus the middle and rear compartment lights. Take a look at all door latch button lights, all window button lights, and steering wheel control lights. Also, verify the glovebox light operation.

Next, move out of the vehicle and start by checking the frunk and the trunk lights. Don’t forget to check the fog lights. Check low and high beam headlights, front park lights, front turn signal lights, and left and right side turn signal lights. Additionally, ensure the rear running lights and brake lights are in good working condition.

Inspect Charging Abilities And Accessories

Another thing you need to test is to check the charging ability of your newly delivered car. This is to ensure a smooth sail and a worry-free experience.

To begin, start off by checking the charging port door for proper operation and alignment. verify that the charge port indicator light is functional once the charger is plugged in. Make sure the vehicle will accept a charge. Test the mobile charging kit with cable, ensuring that each connector can charge, latch, and unlatch.

Also, check the J1772 adapter, NEMA 5-15 120v adapter, and NEMA 14-50 240v adapter. Additionally, it’s vital to test the supercharger on-site to ensure that it’s in proper working condition.

As part of inspecting a Tesla vehicle, it’s essential to check the accessories and ensure they are present and in good condition. When checking the front trunk, make sure the trailer hitch is there and in good condition.

In the trunk, verify that the tripod and emergency first aid kit are packed as well and in usable condition. Check the handy box for a U disk and ensure it’s in good working condition. Finally, check for the Model Y send foot mats or any other accessories that may have been included with the vehicle.

Final Tasks

Now only a few things left to ensure that the delivery process is completed smoothly. Verify that all necessary documentation are in order and remember to ask the delivery specialist to mark the car as delivered in Tesla’s Network. This is essential for proper registration and insurance coverage.

It’s also important to have copies of all paperwork related to your purchasing, including the signed purchase agreement. In case of any quality issues, customers can reject the delivery. Although, such cases are rare since Tesla staff usually checks the car beforehand. 

Our Verdict

It is time for you to enjoy the full Tesla experience now that you carefully inspected your delivery.

The Tesla team checks and tests their cars for optimum condition and performance. Yet, checking the car for any inconveniences before accepting it is always a wise idea. If you don’t feel too thrilled about the inspection, and all you want is to drive off to the sunset, forget the worries and have fun!