Tesla maintenance schedule: what servicing your Tesla really needs, and how often

One of the nicest surprises for new Tesla owners is how little the car asks of them. There are no oil changes, spark plugs or fuel filters, and Tesla does not require an annual service. But "no annual service" does not mean "no maintenance". Here is what Tesla actually recommends, and how often.

What a Tesla does not need

According to Tesla's maintenance page, its cars need no routine oil changes, fuel filters, spark plug replacements or emission checks, and no regular fluid changes. Regenerative braking, where the motor slows the car and recharges the battery, means brake pads wear slowly and rarely need replacing. The battery coolant normally lasts the life of the car.

The maintenance schedule

• Tyre rotation: every 6,250 miles (10,000 km), or sooner if the tread depth between two tyres differs by 2/32 inch (1.5 mm) or more.
• Cabin air filter: every 2 years on Model 3 and Model Y; every 3 years on newer Model S and Model X (2 years on cars built from 2012 to 2020).
• HEPA and carbon filters: every 3 years, on cars that have them.
• Brake fluid test: every 4 years, and replace if needed. Check sooner if you tow, drive in the mountains, drive hard or live in a hot and humid climate.
• Brake cleaning and lubrication: every year or 12,500 miles (20,000 km) if you drive where roads are salted in winter. Tesla says Model Y cars built after February 2025 no longer need the lubrication.
• Wiper blades: once a year.
• A/C desiccant bag: not scheduled on cars with a heat pump. Older cars without one have their own interval, for example every 6 years on a Model 3 built from 2017 to 2023.

Some jobs are done only when needed: wheel balancing, wheel alignment (always worth doing after new tyres), cleaning the radiator, and cleaning the inside of the windscreen camera housing.

Small checks you can do yourself

• Washer fluid: check monthly and top up.
• Air conditioning: check monthly that it works properly.
• Cameras: clean them weekly in wet weather and monthly in dry weather.
• Tyre pressures: the car shows them on the screen, so a quick look before a long trip costs nothing.

Leave brake fluid and battery coolant alone. Tesla's manual says only Tesla or a professional should check them, and opening the coolant reservoir voids warranty cover for any damage that results.

Where to find your car's own schedule

Intervals depend on model, build date and where you drive. The car keeps track for you: go to Controls, then Service, then Maintenance to see what is due and when. Tesla notes that some of these reminders need software 2024.44.25 or later. You can book service in the Tesla app, and Tesla says Mobile Service technicians and remote diagnostics reduce the need to visit a service centre.

Tesla service or an independent garage?

Tyre fitting, rotation, wipers and cabin filters are routine work that many tyre shops and independent garages can handle. For anything involving the high-voltage system, Tesla says only trained technicians should work on it. Its warranty also excludes damage caused by repairs from non-certified technicians, so for work on a car still under warranty it is worth checking first.

Inspections are a separate matter

Tesla's schedule does not replace local roadworthiness tests. In the UK, for example, a car needs its first MOT by its third registration anniversary and then every year. Other countries have their own rules, so check with your national transport authority.

The bottom line

A Tesla's maintenance list is short, but it is not empty. Rotate the tyres, replace the filters on time, have the brake fluid tested every four years and, if you live where roads are salted, have the brakes cleaned every year. Do that, and the car's low running costs stay low.