Checking your Tesla's mileage is crucial for understanding your vehicle's history, tracking your personal driving habits, or even when considering selling your car. Unlike traditional cars with a visible odometer on the dashboard, Tesla integrates this information within its advanced touchscreen interface and mobile app.
Step 1: Embark on a Digital Journey – Accessing Your Tesla's Odometer
Ready to dive into the digital heart of your Tesla? Let's uncover that mileage! There are a few convenient ways to check your Tesla's total mileage (odometer) and trip-specific data.
Via the Tesla Touchscreen ️
Your Tesla's large central touchscreen is the primary interface for most vehicle functions, including checking your mileage.
Option A: Controls > Software
Tap the "Car" icon at the bottom-left of your touchscreen. This will open the Controls menu.
Navigate to the Software tab.
Beneath the image of your vehicle, you'll see key information including the Vehicle Model, your Odometer reading, and the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). The odometer reading here represents the total distance your Tesla has traveled since it left the factory.
Option B: Controls > Trips
Again, tap the "Car" icon to access Controls.
Select the Trips tab.
At the bottom of this screen, you'll also find the Odometer reading. This section is particularly useful for tracking individual trips, as we'll explore next.
Via the Tesla Mobile App
For those times you're away from your car but still want to check in, the Tesla mobile app is your best friend.
Open the Tesla app on your smartphone.
Once the app loads and displays your car, simply scroll down to the bottom of the main screen.
You'll find the total odometer reading displayed there, typically under the vehicle's image and name.
Step 2: Decoding Your Drives – Understanding Trip Information
Beyond the total mileage, Tesla offers detailed "trip meters" that allow you to track the distance, duration, and energy usage for specific journeys. This is incredibly useful for monitoring fuel efficiency, tracking business mileage, or simply understanding your driving patterns.
Accessing Trip Information on the Touchscreen
Tap Controls (the car icon).
Select the Trips tab.
Here you'll find various trip meters:
Current Trip: This meter shows the distance, duration, and average energy usage for your current drive. It typically resets after a period of being parked or at the start of a new drive.
Since Last Charge: This meter tracks the distance and energy used since your vehicle was last charged. It's a great way to see how efficient your driving has been between charging sessions.
Trip A and Trip B: These are two customizable trip meters.
You can name or rename them by touching the trip's name and entering a new one. This is useful for categories like "Work Commute" or "Road Trip to Goa."
To reset a specific trip meter (Trip A or Trip B), touch its associated "Reset" button.
Quick View Trip Cards (Model 3 & Model Y) ⚡
For Model 3 and Model Y owners, there's an even faster way to glance at trip information:
When you're on the main driving display, swipe left on the driving visualization area (where you see your car moving).
This will bring up the "Trip Card" which quickly displays information like distance, energy used, and average consumption for your current trip or chosen trip meters. You can swipe left again to cycle through other cards, like tire pressure.
To customize which trip(s) appear on these cards, go to Controls > Trips and select "Show in Trips Card" for the desired trip meters.
Step 3: Maximizing Your Mileage Insights – Tips for Effective Use
Now that you know how to access your mileage data, let's explore how to make the most of it.
Tracking Efficiency
The "Since Last Charge" and "Current Trip" meters are excellent for understanding your energy consumption. Pay attention to the "Wh/mile" (watt-hours per mile) or "Wh/km" (watt-hours per kilometer) reading. Lower values indicate better efficiency. Factors like driving style, weather, and terrain can significantly impact this number.
Long-Term Monitoring
Consider using one of your Trip A or Trip B meters to track your lifetime mileage for specific purposes. For example:
Trip A for Annual Mileage: Reset it once a year to track your total miles driven in a given year for tax purposes or personal records.
Trip B for Tire Rotations/Maintenance: Keep a running tally of miles since your last tire rotation or service appointment to help with maintenance scheduling.
Understanding the Energy App
Your Tesla's Energy app (found in the app launcher) provides a much deeper dive into your energy usage.
Drive Tab: This tab lets you monitor real-time energy consumption, compare it against baseline projections, and even provides range tips to help you drive more efficiently. You can choose to view data for your "Current Drive" or "Since Last Charged."
Consumption Tab: Here, you can compare your actual energy consumption to Tesla's rated consumption over various distances (15, 150, or 300 km/miles). This helps you understand how your driving habits deviate from the car's official ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tesla Mileage
How to check the total mileage on my Tesla?
You can check the total mileage (odometer) on your Tesla by going to Controls > Software or Controls > Trips on your car's touchscreen. Alternatively, open the Tesla mobile app and scroll to the bottom of the main screen.
How to reset a trip meter in a Tesla?
To reset a trip meter, go to Controls > Trips on your touchscreen. You'll see individual "Reset" buttons next to "Current Trip," "Trip A," and "Trip B." Tap the one you wish to reset.
How to name a trip in my Tesla?
In the Controls > Trips section, touch the name of "Trip A" or "Trip B," then enter a new name and press "Save."
How to see my energy consumption in a Tesla?
You can see your energy consumption in the Controls > Trips section or by opening the dedicated Energy app from the app launcher on your touchscreen.
How to track mileage for tax purposes in a Tesla?
Utilize either Trip A or Trip B by resetting it at the beginning of your tax year. You can rename it something like "Tax Mileage 2025" for easy identification.
How to know how much range I have left in my Tesla?
Your estimated remaining range is displayed prominently on your Tesla's instrument panel or main screen. For a more dynamic estimate based on your driving, use the Energy app's "Drive" tab.
How to improve my Tesla's mileage efficiency?
To improve efficiency, drive smoothly, avoid aggressive acceleration and braking, maintain proper tire pressure, and use regenerative braking effectively. The Energy app provides personalized "Range Tips."
How to find the VIN on my Tesla's touchscreen?
Your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is displayed alongside the odometer reading under Controls > Software on your Tesla's touchscreen.
How to view past trip data in a Tesla?
Tesla's trip meters primarily focus on current and recent trips. For more historical and detailed trip data, many owners use third-party apps that integrate with Tesla's API, which can log and analyze past drives.
How to get quick trip information on Model 3/Y?
On Model 3 and Model Y, swipe left on the driving visualization area of your touchscreen to bring up "Trip Cards" for quick access to trip information. You can customize which trips appear in Controls > Trips.
Check out this video for a visual guide on finding your Tesla's odometer:
