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Renting a Tesla? Here’s What You Need to Know

202207 what to know renting tesla model y model 3 scaled jpg Tesla Model Y (left) and Model 3 | Cars.com illustration by Paul Dolan

So right now, chances are, you’re holding a credit-card-sized piece of plastic in an airport parking garage, looking at the Tesla Model 3 or Model Y you’ve just rented and trying to figure out how to open the damn thing. So you brought out your phone, Googled “how to open a Tesla,” and now you’ve found yourself here. Well don’t worry, we’re going to help you figure out just how to use that car you’ve rented in the video below, which will teach you “how to Tesla.” It has everything you need to know to operate your rented Tesla as quickly and easily as possible.

Related: 5 Things to Know Before Renting an Electric Car

You see, you’ve likely just discovered something fundamental about Teslas: They don’t work like other cars. They’re loaded with quirks and features that have been reinvented in head-scratching, unintuitive ways. Opening the car door is just the first step — it gets even weirder once you get inside.

The video below is divided into chapters that answer the questions you probably have if you’ve never touched a Tesla before. How do you unlock and open it? How do you start it? Where is the steering-wheel adjustment? How far can I drive before I need to charge it? Feel free to skip to a particular topic, or if you want a tutorial on all the basics, watch the video all the way through.

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Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

Detroit Bureau Chief
Aaron Bragman

Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman has had over 25 years of experience in the auto industry as a journalist, analyst, purchasing agent and program manager. Bragman grew up around his father’s classic Triumph sports cars (which were all sold and gone when he turned 16, much to his frustration) and comes from a Detroit family where cars put food on tables as much as smiles on faces. Today, he’s a member of the Automotive Press Association and the Midwest Automotive Media Association. His pronouns are he/him, but his adjectives are fat/sassy.

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