Tesla Order Guide for 2026: What to Check Before You Order
An independent, owner-written guide to ordering a Tesla: picking a model and configuration, preparing before checkout, understanding referral timing, budgeting for incentives and financing, getting home charging ready, and inspecting the car at delivery.
Last reviewed: August 2026
What this guide is
- Written by a Tesla owner, not by Tesla
- No ads and no sponsored placements
- Official sources linked so you can verify
- Referral information included, not required
- Useful whether or not you use any referral link
Start with what you need
Each area below has a dedicated guide. Most buyers work through them roughly in this order.
Pre-order preparation
The full checklist to work through before you put money down.
Read the guideChoosing a model and configuration
Trim, range, wheels, and the options that are hard to change later.
Read the guideReferral timing
Why a referral link has to be opened before checkout, and how to confirm it.
Read the guideBuyer vs loyalty benefits
Two different Tesla programs that buyers regularly mix up.
Read the guideFinancing and trade-in considerations
What to line up at checkout so the order does not stall.
Read the guideState and utility incentives
Where to look for rebates, tax treatment, and charger programs.
Read the guideHome charging
Outlet vs wall connector, and what to tell your electrician.
Read the guideDelivery inspection
What to check before you accept the car.
Read the guideWhich Tesla are you ordering?
Each model guide covers the trims currently offered, the configuration choices that matter most, and the practical differences buyers notice after delivery.
- Tesla Model Y ordering guide - the default choice for most buyers.
- Tesla Model 3 ordering guide - lower cost, better efficiency.
- Cybertruck ordering guide - truck-specific tradeoffs and logistics.
- Tesla Solar ordering guide - separate process from a vehicle order.
Pre-order preparation: the short version
If you only do five things before placing the order, do these.
- Lock in the trim, wheels, and options you actually want. Some are hard to change after ordering.
- Price the total, not the headline number: destination, order fee, taxes, registration.
- Check state, local, and utility programs separately from anything Tesla offers.
- Get home charging planned so the car is not sitting on a 120V outlet for a week.
- If you intend to use a referral link, open it before checkout, not after.
Referral timing, in one paragraph
A Tesla referral link has to be opened before you place the order. Tesla applies any current benefit at checkout, and it generally cannot be added afterward. People search for a "Tesla referral code," but the current process is a link rather than a code you type in. Tesla decides who is eligible and what the benefit is, and can change or end the program at any time, so check Tesla's official Refer and Earn page for current terms.
- How to use a Tesla referral link before ordering
- Can you add a Tesla referral after ordering?
- Referral vs loyalty benefits: what's the difference?
- Tesla referral link FAQ
Referral disclosure: If you use my referral link for an eligible purchase, Tesla may provide a buyer benefit to you and may provide referral credits or another benefit to me. I do not charge you for using the link. Tesla determines eligibility and benefits.
Common ordering mistakes
- Opening a referral link after the order is placed, when it can no longer be applied.
- Assuming a federal tax credit still applies. The new-EV credit ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025.
- Budgeting for the configurator price only and being surprised by taxes and fees.
- Waiting until after delivery to think about home charging or an electrician.
- Rushing the delivery inspection because the appointment window is short.
Before you place your Tesla order
0/5A short checklist. Your progress is saved on this device.
Referral disclosure: If you use my referral link for an eligible purchase, Tesla may provide a buyer benefit to you and may provide referral credits or another benefit to me. I do not charge you for using the link. Tesla determines eligibility and benefits.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check before ordering a Tesla?
Confirm the trim and options you want, budget for taxes and fees, check state and utility incentives, plan home charging, decide on trade-in or financing, and, if you plan to use a referral link, open it before you place the order.
When does a Tesla referral link have to be used?
Before the order is placed. Tesla applies any current referral benefit at checkout, and a referral generally cannot be attached to an order that has already been submitted.
Is there a Tesla referral code to type in?
Tesla's current process uses a referral link rather than a code you type at checkout. People often search for a Tesla referral code, but in practice you open the owner's link and continue from there into your order.
Who is eligible for a Tesla referral benefit?
Tesla sets eligibility. It has generally applied to new buyers placing a qualifying order through a referral link, and it can change or end at any time. Verify the current terms on Tesla's Refer and Earn page before you order.
Is this site run by Tesla?
No. EV Order Guide is an independent informational site run by a Tesla owner. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or operated by Tesla, Inc.
About EV Order Guide
EV Order Guide is an independent informational site maintained by a Tesla owner to help buyers understand the ordering process, avoid common mistakes, and find current official resources.