Tesla was one of the pioneers of electric vehicles and is still considered one of the leaders in the field. Teslas come with a lot of cool features that not only make the vehicle more eco-friendly but also make driving easier and more fun. Because the Tesla is an innovation, you can't just drive it off the lot as you would a traditional vehicle with an internal combustion engine. When you first get your Tesla, there are a few things you need to do before you take it out on the road.

Read the Manual

Before you take the car out on the road, before you even start looking for cheap car insurance, read the owner's manual for your new Tesla. These vehicles have advanced controls and unique features such as Autopilot. If used incorrectly, these could be potentially dangerous to you and to the people around you. Furthermore, the car and its features have limitations that you have to understand before you actually start driving it. These are just some of the reasons why it is critical to read the manual upon first obtaining your Tesla.

Charge the Battery

Being an electric vehicle, the Tesla runs on a battery that has to be recharged when depleted. You should be careful to charge the battery before you attempt to drive anywhere to be sure that you have enough juice to get where you are going and back.

You may sometimes have to recharge your vehicle at a public charging station. This is especially true if you are taking a long trip. You should keep your own cables in the car for this eventuality as public charging stations often don't have any for you to use. You will also receive a home charger, and most Tesla owners find that this is sufficient to keep them on the road most of the time.

Obtain a Compressor

The more lightweight an electric vehicle is, the more efficient it is. Therefore, Tesla has attempted to eliminate any unnecessary weight from the vehicle, and that includes the spare tire, as incredible as that might seem. You might think that before eliminating the spare, Tesla would have found a way to make its tires impervious to flats or punctures, but unfortunately, this is not the case.

So, what do you do if you get a flat tire while driving your Tesla? Instead of a spare, you should carry around a compressor, which is a tool that shoots out forced air that you may be able to use to reinflate a flat tire, at least long enough so that you can get it to a service station or a mechanic for repair. It may also be a good idea to enroll in a program that provides roadside assistance. You may receive better service if you obtain this from a third party rather than trying to rely on Tesla's roadside assistance.

Set Up Wi-Fi

The Tesla contains a lot of advanced software which will need regular updates to be sure it is secure and functional. When you first get your vehicle, you have to connect it to your home's Wi-Fi. This is a simple, one-time setup that ensures your car can receive software updates automatically as needed, even in the middle of the night.

If you can turn your cell phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot, you may want to connect your car to that too. This can be very helpful if you ever lock yourself out of the car, but the connection has to exist already if you want your car to be able to connect with your phone when you are not inside. In other words, you have to connect your car to your phone before you actually need the connection.

It is important to understand how your new Tesla is different from a traditional vehicle before you start driving it. Be sure you understand how to use all its unique features before you get behind the wheel.