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Can you take a Tesla through a car wash?
Short answer
Tesla's owner's manual recommends hand washing and advises caution with automatic car washes — if you use one, choose a touchless wash and enable Car Wash Mode first. Brush washes can mark the soft paint many Teslas are known for, and you should never take any EV through a wash with the charging port open.
What Tesla's manual actually says
Tesla's owner's manuals recommend washing by hand and warn that automatic car washes — particularly those with brushes — can damage the paint and exterior trim. This is not unique to Tesla, but their paint is widely regarded as softer than average, so the advice matters more.
If in doubt, check the manual for your specific model and year — guidance can change between updates.
Use Car Wash Mode
Teslas have a Car Wash Mode (under Controls > Service) that closes the windows, locks the charging port, disables windscreen wipers, Sentry Mode and walk-away locking, and puts the car in neutral for conveyor washes. Enable it before entering any automatic wash.
Forgetting this is how wipers get torn off and charge flaps get forced open — the two most common Tesla car-wash mishaps.
Touchless vs brush washes
Touchless (jet-only) washes are the safer automatic option: no brushes touch the paint. The trade-off is they clean less thoroughly and rely on stronger chemicals, which can strip wax faster.
Brush or soft-cloth washes clean better but carry the scratch risk Tesla warns about — especially if the brushes are dirty or worn. For a Tesla you care about, hand washing or a professional detailer remains the best option.
EV-specific things to watch
Make sure the charging port is closed and locked before any wash. Avoid directing high-pressure jets straight at the charging port door, cameras, or sensors. After washing, dry the door handles and mirrors — water freezing in them is a known cold-weather annoyance on Teslas.
- Charging port closed and locked
- Car Wash Mode enabled
- No high-pressure jet directly on cameras or sensors
- Dry handles and mirrors in freezing weather
Sources
Common questions
Can you take a Tesla through a car wash?
Tesla recommends hand washing and advises caution with automatic washes. If you use one, pick a touchless wash, enable Car Wash Mode first, and make sure the charging port is closed and locked.
What is Tesla Car Wash Mode?
Car Wash Mode (Controls > Service > Car Wash Mode) closes windows, locks the charge port, disables wipers, Sentry Mode and walk-away locking, and enables free-rolling for conveyor car washes. Turn it on before entering any automatic wash.
Will a car wash scratch my Tesla?
Brush car washes can — Tesla paint is widely regarded as softer than average, which is why the manual advises caution. Touchless washes avoid contact but clean less deeply. Hand washing with the two-bucket method is the safest option.
How do you wash a Tesla at home?
The same way as any car: rinse first, two-bucket hand wash top to bottom, dry with a microfibre towel. Keep high-pressure jets away from cameras and sensors, and dry the door handles in freezing weather.
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