Tesla Model Y and Model 3 Interior Accessories: What Is Worth Adding and What Tesla Says
Share
A new Tesla has a minimal cabin with a lot of smooth plastic, a glossy console and light-colored surfaces that show every scuff. That is why interior accessories are usually the first thing new owners look for. This guide goes through the cabin area by area: what each accessory does, what Tesla's manual says where it matters, and what to check before you order. The products we list are third-party products, not made by Tesla, and your own manual has the final word for your car.
Tesla interior accessories at a glance
| Area | Accessory | What it does | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center console | Console cover or film | Protects the most-touched panel from fingerprints and scratches | Model and year, adhesive or not |
| Console sides | Kick pads | Takes the scuffs from shoes in the footwell | Made for your exact console |
| Under the front seats | Seat rail guards | Takes the kicks from rear passengers | Seats still slide freely |
| Rear console | Vent cover | Protects the panel and vents at kick height | Fit around the rear screen |
| Footwell | Pedal covers | Sporty look and grip | A firm fit that cannot move |
| Seats | Cushions and pillows | Comfort on long or hot drives | Tesla's airbag warning (below) |
The picture below shows where each of these sits in a Model Y or Model 3 cabin.
Center console: cover, film or kick pads
The top of the center console is the panel everyone touches, and on the Model 3 Highland and Model Y Juniper it picks up fingerprints, dust and fine scratches quickly. A console cover or film sits on that panel and takes the wear instead. The one thing to check is how it holds: a film with glue can leave residue when you take it off, while the suede-style film we list holds by static, according to the seller, and comes off clean.
The sides of the console are a different problem. They sit next to the driver's and passenger's feet, and in the Model Y Juniper and Model Y L they run back to the rear footwell, so shoes scuff them all the time. Faux leather kick pads cover those sides and wipe clean with a damp cloth. They are cut for one console shape, so buy the set for your exact car.
Under the seats and the rear console
Rear passengers put their feet under the front seats, right on the seat rails. Rail guards cover the rails and corners so the kicks land on a part that wipes clean. Check that the guards leave the seat free to slide all the way: the seller of the set we list says they don't affect seat movement, and it is worth testing after you fit them.
In the back, the rear console with the screen and the air vents sits right at kick height for anyone in the back seat, especially children. A rear vent cover protects the plastic and keeps the vent slats from collecting dirt. Tesla's manual describes these rear console vents as part of the climate system, so choose a cover that leaves the vent openings free for the air.
Two smaller items in the same spirit: a silicone OBD port cover keeps dust out of the diagnostic socket until a technician needs it, and on the Highland and Juniper, door release button covers take the wear from fingers on the electronic door buttons. If you are looking at the door buttons, read our guide to the rear door emergency release as well.
Pedal covers
Tesla's Performance trims have aluminum pedals, and the standard cars don't. Pedal covers clip or slide over the original pedals and add the same look, with rubber grip strips. Pedals are not a place for anything loose. Tesla's manual says the driver's floor mat must be secured and that no extra mat should go on top of it, and we apply the same logic to pedal covers: after fitting them, push each pedal hard and check that the cover does not shift. If it moves, take it off. If you have a Model 3 Highland, buy a version listed for the Highland: the seller of the covers we list makes a separate Highland version, with a silicone brake pad included.
Seat cushions and pillows: what Tesla says
This is the one area where Tesla's manual is direct. In the Airbags section of the Model Y manual, Tesla warns not to attach or place objects on or near the front airbags or the side of the front seats, and names seat cushions and pillows as examples, along with steering wheel covers and decals. It also says not to use seat covers on Model Y, because they could restrict the seat-mounted side airbags. The cleaning section adds that aftermarket seat covers can reduce the sensitivity of the seat's occupancy sensors.
So a cushion or pillow in a front seat is a choice you make knowing that Tesla advises against it. If you decide to use one anyway, keep it thin, keep it off the sides of the backrest, and check the passenger airbag status on the screen with someone in the seat. The warning in the manual is about the front seats and the front airbags, so the rear row is the more natural place for a breathable cushion on hot days.
Keeping the cabin clean
A small cordless car vacuum is the accessory most owners use every week: crumbs in the console, sand in the footwells and dust in the seat gaps. Tesla's manual adds a few cleaning rules that matter more than the vacuum you pick: don't over-wet the carpets, don't spray cleaners straight onto the seats, keep water out of the seat belt mechanism, and never let any substance get into an airbag cover. For the screen, use a soft cloth made for displays. Our screen protector guide covers that part.
Before you buy
- Your exact model and year. The Model 3 Highland and Model Y Juniper cabins differ from the earlier cars, and console parts are cut for one shape only.
- How it holds. Prefer clip-on, static or molded parts over strong adhesive on surfaces you may want back in original condition.
- Nothing near the airbags. Per Tesla's warning, keep cushions, pillows and covers off the front seat sides and away from the airbag covers.
- Nothing loose in the footwell. Pedal covers and floor mats must stay fixed.
- Vents stay open. Covers around the rear console should leave the air openings free.
- Warranty. 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?
For most owners, yes, for the protective parts. A console cover, kick pads and rail guards cost little and keep a lease or resale car looking new, especially with children in the back. Pedal covers are mostly about looks. Seat cushions and pillows are about comfort, and they are the one category where you should read Tesla's airbag warning first.
Which version for which car
| Product | Listed by the seller for |
|---|---|
| Center console suede film | Model 3 Highland and Model Y Juniper |
| Console side kick pads | Model Y Juniper and Model Y L 6-seater, separate sets |
| Under-seat rail guards | Model Y 2021–2024 and Model Y Juniper, separate versions |
| Rear console vent cover | Model 3 Highland, Model Y Juniper and Model Y L (cup holder version not for the Model Y L) |
| OBD port cover | Model 3 Highland, Model Y Juniper and Model Y L |
| Aluminum pedal covers | Model 3 (2017+), Model Y (2020+) and Model Y L, with a separate Highland version |
| Breathable seat cushions | Model 3 and Model Y, separate sets |
What we list
These are general-purpose accessories from third-party sellers, not made by Tesla.
- Center Console Suede Film for the Highland and Juniper, in black or gray, with no adhesive.
- Console Side Kick Pads in faux leather for the Model Y Juniper and Model Y L.
- Under-Seat Rail Guards for the Model Y.
- Rear Console Vent Cover, with frame, screen film and cup holder options.
- Aluminum Pedal Covers and Sport Pedal Covers with a snap-lock fit.
- OBD Port Cover and Door Release Button Covers.
- Breathable Seat Cushions and a Headrest and Lumbar Pillow. Read the airbag section above first.
- Cordless Car Vacuum (12,000 Pa) and a 4-in-1 Vacuum, Blower and Inflator.
For the rest of the cabin, see how to choose floor mats, where to keep small things, phone holders and steering wheel covers and yokes.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most useful Tesla Model Y interior accessories?
The protective ones: a center console cover, console side kick pads, under-seat rail guards and a rear vent cover. They cover the surfaces that wear first and come off again.
Are the Model 3 and Model Y interior accessories the same?
Some are, like pedal covers and OBD port covers. Console parts are not: the Highland and Juniper consoles differ from the earlier cars and from each other, so buy the version for your exact car.
Can I use seat covers in a Tesla?
Tesla's Model Y manual says not to use seat covers, because they could restrict the seat-mounted side airbags, and warns that aftermarket covers can affect the occupancy sensors.
Are seat cushions and neck pillows safe in a Tesla?
Tesla names seat cushions and pillows among the objects not to place on or near the front airbags or the side of the front seats. If you use one, keep it thin and off the sides of the backrest.
Will a console cover damage the original surface?
A cover or film without adhesive should come off clean. Strong adhesive films can leave residue or lift the finish when removed.
Are pedal covers safe?
Only if they are fixed firmly. After fitting them, push each pedal hard and check that nothing moves. A loose cover is a reason to take it off.
Do rail guards stop the front seats from moving?
They shouldn't. The seller of the set we list says the guards don't affect seat movement, but slide each seat all the way forward and back after fitting them to check.
Will interior accessories affect my Tesla warranty?
They can. In the edition we read, Tesla's warranty excludes non-genuine parts and their installation, and damage linked to them. Editions differ by region, so check yours.
Next steps
Browse the Tesla Interior Accessories collection, or pick your car on the Model Y Juniper or Model 3 Highland page to see everything listed for it. For the outside of the car, read our guide to Tesla exterior accessories. If you'd like your speed in front of you, see our guide to Tesla dashboard screens (HUD).