Tesla Charging Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules
Nobody puts this in the manual. But get it wrong & you're that person at the Supercharger.
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There's an unofficial code at Superchargers. Most Tesla drivers figure it out through experience, or by watching someone else do something annoying & learning from it.
Here it is, written down. Share it with new owners.
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Don't ICE the Supercharger
"ICEing" is when an internal combustion engine car parks in a Supercharger spot without charging. It happens. It's infuriating.
If you drive a Tesla, you'd never do this intentionally, but double-check that you're in the right spots, especially at locations shared with a parking lot. Some Supercharger stations are tucked into retail parking & the lines can be unclear.
And if you see someone ICEing a spot? Politely note it to the location's staff if there are any & it's a habit you've noticed. Don't leave aggressive notes on cars lol. Bad look for everyone.
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Move Your Car When You're Done Charging
This is the big one.
When you're finished charging, or when you've hit your target state of charge — move the car. Don't sit in the stall while you finish lunch, take a call, or shop for another 45 minutes.
Tesla charges idle fees once your car is at 80% & the station is more than 50% occupied. But beyond the financial penalty, it's just inconsiderate. Another driver might be sitting there waiting, stressed about their range, watching your car sit at 97% for 30 minutes.
If you need to step away, set a notification in the app. Tesla will ping you when you're nearly full so you can come back & move on.
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Don't Unplug Someone Else's Car
Never. Under any circumstances.
Even if a car has been sitting at the stall for a while. Even if it looks done charging. Even if you're frustrated. You don't unplug someone else's car.
There are edge cases (emergency situations/a genuine safety issue) but "I want to charge & they're taking too long" is not one of them.
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4. Be Mindful of Paired Stalls
Many Supercharger stations have paired stalls, labeled 1A & 1B, 2A & 2B, etc. When two cars are plugged into the same pair, they share the power cabinet & both charge slower.
If a stall's paired partner is empty, you'll charge faster. When the station is busy & you have to take a paired stall, that's fine, just understand your speed might drop.
Some stations still have V2 hardware, which pairs stalls. V3 & V4 stalls are each independent, no sharing. You can usually tell by the charging speed shown in the app before you arrive.
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Don't Leave Your Car Unattended for Too Long at a Busy Station
If the Supercharger is packed & there are people waiting, be decent about it. Get back to your car when you said you would. Don't disappear into a restaurant for an hour while the stall sits at 100% & someone else waits.
This isn't about being rushed; it's about being a reasonable person who understands that other drivers are in the same situation they were in last week.
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Leave the Cable Organized
When you unplug, hang the cable back on its holder properly. Don't let it drag on the ground. Don't leave it lying in a puddle.
It takes three seconds. The next driver will appreciate it. Sometimes the cable dragging on the ground is how connectors get damaged & then nobody's happy.
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Non-Tesla EVs at Superchargers, A Word
Tesla has been opening Superchargers to other EVs in Canada. If you pull up & there's a Ford F-150 Lightning or a BMW i4 plugged in, that's now a feature, not a malfunction.
The etiquette is the same regardless of brand: charge what you need, move when done, respect the stall. Most EV drivers get it. Welcome to the club.
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A Little Friendliness Goes a Long Way
Charging stops are where Tesla owners end up talking to each other. It just happens.
You're both parked for 20 minutes. You have the same car. The conversation starts easily.
Some of the best tips on this site came from someone who started a conversation at a Kingston Supercharger. Be that person. Ask questions. Share what you know.
The community is one of the genuinely good things about owning one of these cars. The Supercharger lot is part of where that happens.
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Have a Supercharger horror story or an unexpectedly great experience? Tell us in the community section. The good ones are just as worth sharing as the bad.
