Tesla Jack Pads: Where the Lift Points Are and How to Lift a Tesla Safely
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Jack pads usually come up when you are about to swap wheels, rotate tires or take the car to a tire shop that doesn't often see Teslas. The reason is simple: most of the underside of a Tesla is battery, and a jack in the wrong place can damage it. This guide explains, from Tesla's manuals, where you may lift the car, what a jack pad does, how to lift it safely, and what to check before you buy pads. The products we list are third-party products, not made by Tesla, and your own manual has the final word for your car.
What Tesla says about lifting
The "Jacking and Lifting" pages of the Model 3, Model Y and Model S manuals give the same rules:
- Approved points only. Tesla says the locations shown in the manual are the only approved lifting points, and that lifting anywhere else can cause damage.
- Never under the battery or side rails. In capitals: DO NOT position the lift arm pads under the battery or side rails.
- Unplug first. Never raise the car with the charge cable connected, even if it isn't charging.
- Proper support. Do not work on an incorrectly supported vehicle. Tesla warns this can cause serious damage, injury or death.
- Close everything. Make sure the area is clear and the doors, frunk and trunk are closed when lifting and lowering.
- Warranty. Damage caused by lifting the car incorrectly is not covered by the warranty.
- Tell the shop. Make sure any non-Tesla repair facility knows these instructions, including the lift points.
What a jack pad does
A jack's saddle is a hard, narrow metal or rubber cup. Pressed straight against the body, it can slip toward the battery or dent the lift point. A jack pad is a small block that fits into the lift point and gives the jack a flat, solid surface to push on. The jack lifts the car through the pad, and the pad keeps the jack centered on the approved point.
How to lift a Tesla with a jack, step by step
Tesla's manual pages describe a workshop lift. For a floor jack at home or at the roadside, we follow the same rules:
- Flat, solid ground. Park on level concrete or asphalt, never on soft ground or a slope, and keep the car in Park.
- Unplug. Disconnect the charge cable, as Tesla requires.
- Close everything. Doors, frunk and trunk closed, and the area around the car clear.
- Model S or Model X with air suspension: turn on Jack Mode first. The Model S manual tells you to raise the suspension to Very High, then touch Controls > Service > Jack Mode, because otherwise the car can try to self-level while it is on the jack.
- Fit the pad. Push the jack pad into the lift point nearest the wheel you are working on.
- Center the jack under the pad and lift slowly, checking that the pad stays in place.
- Never go under the car while it is held only by a jack. If you need to, support it properly first, as Tesla's warning about incorrectly supported vehicles requires.
- Lower slowly, remove the pad, and turn Jack Mode off again on cars that have it.
Jack pads at the tire shop
Tesla asks you to make sure any non-Tesla repair facility knows the lift points and warnings. In practice, many owners keep a set of four pads in the trunk and hand them to the technician with the keys. It takes ten seconds and removes the guesswork for a shop that rarely lifts a Tesla.
Before you buy
- Fit. Pads are shaped for the lift points of specific models. Check that the listing covers yours.
- Material. A hard, solid body with a rubber face is common. Avoid pads that look hollow or flex by hand.
- One or four. One pad is enough for a single tire change. A set of four suits tire rotations and shop visits.
- Your jack. Check that the jack's saddle sits flat and centered on the pad.
- Storage. A case keeps the pads together in the trunk, so they are there when a tire goes flat.
- Warranty. Tesla's manuals say damage from lifting the car incorrectly is not covered by the warranty. Separately, in the edition of Tesla's New Vehicle Limited Warranty that we read (Qatar, effective July 2024), non-genuine parts and accessories, and their installation, are not covered, and damage linked to their installation or use is excluded. Editions differ by region, so read yours.
Is it worth it?
Yes, for most owners. Jack pads cost little, weigh almost nothing and protect the most expensive part of the car from the most common lifting mistake. If you never touch a jack yourself, a set of four is still useful to hand to tire shops.
Which version for which car
| Product | Listed by the seller for |
|---|---|
| Jack pad adapters (1, 4, or 4 with case) | Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X |
| Tire plug repair kit | Tubeless car tires, for small tread punctures |
| Bluetooth TPMS sensors (set of 4) | Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X from 2021, replacing parts 1490701-01-B and 1472547 |
What we list
These are general-purpose accessories from third-party sellers, not made by Tesla.
- Tesla Jack Pad Adapters for the Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X, as a single pad, a set of four, or four with a storage case. The seller lists a POM plastic body with a rubber washer.
- Tesla Tire Plug Repair Kit and a Cordless Tire Inflator with an LCD display.
- Bluetooth TPMS Sensors, a set of four, for cars from 2021.
For what to do when a tire goes flat, read flat tire in a Tesla with no spare, and for a flat 12V battery, how to jump-start a Tesla.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need jack pads for a Tesla?
They are not built into the car, and Tesla only allows lifting at the approved body lift points. A pad makes it much easier to lift exactly there without the jack slipping toward the battery.
Where are the jack points on a Tesla Model Y or Model 3?
Four body lift points, one near each wheel, shown in the "Jacking and Lifting" section of your manual. Never lift under the battery or the side rails.
Can I jack a Tesla under the battery?
No. Tesla's manuals say not to position the lift pads under the battery or side rails, and damage from incorrect lifting is not covered by the warranty.
Can I lift a Tesla while it is plugged in?
No. Tesla says never to raise the car with the charge cable connected, even if it isn't charging.
What is Jack Mode?
On a Model S or Model X with air suspension, Jack Mode stops the suspension from self-leveling while the car is lifted. Tesla says you must turn it on before lifting or jacking.
Can I use jack stands?
Never work under a car held only by a jack. Tesla's warning is clear: do not work on an incorrectly supported vehicle, so make sure it is properly supported before going under it.
Will a tire shop know where to lift my Tesla?
Not always. Tesla asks you to make sure non-Tesla shops know the lift points and warnings. Handing them a set of pads helps.
Will incorrect lifting affect my warranty?
Yes. Tesla's manuals say damage caused by lifting the car incorrectly is not covered by the warranty.
Next steps
Browse the Tesla Roadside & Emergency collection for jack pads, tire repair and jump starters, or pick your car from the model pages to see everything listed for it.