Desk notes · how to use a tesla referral code
How to Apply a Tesla Referral Code at Checkout (2026)
There is no code box at Tesla checkout. Here is where the referral benefit really appears — and the one moment you must not miss it.
The single most common mistake with a Tesla referral is looking for a box to paste the code into at checkout. There isn't one. The benefit is tied to the session, not to a field you fill in, so the order of operations is what matters.
Step 1 — open the referral link before anything else
Open a valid referral link (a ts.la/<code> address) in the same browser you will order in. Clicking it silently tags your session with the code. If you have already been configuring a car in another tab, start fresh from the referral link so the tag takes.
Step 2 — configure and reach the order screen
Build your Model 3, Model Y or eligible Cybertruck as normal. When you reach the order summary — the screen with the price breakdown, before payment — look for the referral benefit line. On an eligible order it shows the three-month Full Self-Driving (Supervised) trial as included. This is the moment to check.
Step 3 — confirm it is listed, then pay
If the referral benefit appears in the summary, you are set — submit the order. If it does not appear, stop: Tesla does not add a referral to an order after it is placed. Go back, re-open the referral link, and rebuild the order so the tag is applied.
Flow checked against Tesla's Refer and Earn page on July 13, 2026. The benefit appears in the order summary; there is no manual code entry.
Why it works this way
Tesla moved away from typed promo codes to a link-based referral so the credit can be attributed cleanly to the referring owner. The upside for you: nothing to mistype. The catch: if you skip the link step, there is no second chance once the order is in.