Your First Tesla Rental: Charging, Superchargers & FSD, Explained

The first time you get into a Tesla, a few things feel different. There’s a big touchscreen, fewer familiar buttons, and sooner or later you start wondering: Where do I charge this thing? Do I need an account? And what exactly does Full Self-Driving (Supervised) do?

You don’t need to watch an hour of tutorials before pickup. Here’s what matters on day one, in the order you’ll actually need it: get comfortable with the car, plan your charge, plug in, and learn how to use FSD (Supervised) responsibly.

1. Before you leave the pickup location

Take a few minutes to adjust your seat and mirrors. Find the gear controls, wipers, defroster, trunk release and door locks. Make sure you know how your key card or phone key works.

Then check your battery level and estimated range against the day’s plans. Range is an estimate, not a promise; speed, air conditioning, weather and hills can change how much energy you use.

At Movia pickup, we’ll walk you through the car’s basic controls and FSD (Supervised). If you can’t find something, ask while you’re still parked. That’s much easier than hunting for a setting in traffic.

2. For your first charging stop, look for a Tesla Supercharger

If you’re only driving around town, you may not need to charge right away. But if you’re heading to San Diego, Las Vegas or anywhere farther afield, take a look at charging before you leave.

There are two types of charging you’re most likely to encounter:

Superchargers are Tesla’s fast-charging stations. They’re useful on road trips, when you want to recharge and get moving again. Charging time depends on the car, battery level, battery temperature and station, so there’s no single time that fits every stop.

Destination chargers are often found at hotels and parking facilities. They’re usually slower and make more sense when you’re stopping for a few hours or overnight. Availability, pricing, guest requirements and connector compatibility vary by location—don’t assume every hotel charger is free or ready to use.

3. How to find a Supercharger and plug in

You don’t need to download several charging apps just to get started. Search for a Supercharger on the Tesla touchscreen or select a charging location on the map. You can typically see the location, available stalls, pricing and estimated battery level on arrival.

For longer drives, enter your final destination into the car’s navigation. Tesla can suggest charging stops along the way and estimate how long you’ll need at each one. This is especially useful before heading into desert or mountain areas, where charging options may be farther apart.

Once you arrive:

1. 1Park where the cable can comfortably reach the charge port.
2. 2Open the charge port at the left rear of the vehicle, using the supported connector button or touchscreen control.
3. 3Plug in securely and confirm on the screen that charging has started.
4. 4When you’re done, follow the vehicle prompts to unlock and unplug, then move the car out of the charging space.

With a Movia Tesla at a Tesla Supercharger, you generally don’t need to set up your own Tesla charging account or swipe a credit card at the stall. The vehicle is connected to the appropriate charging account, and the costs are handled according to your Movia booking. Third-party chargers may work differently.

4. Do you need to charge to 100%?

Usually, no. Fast charging often slows down as the battery gets fuller, so topping up the final stretch may not be the best use of your time.

For a road trip, the practical goal is to reach your next stop with a comfortable buffer. If you’re crossing a desert, driving through mountains or heading somewhere with limited chargers, you may want more charge. Follow the navigation estimate and the charging recommendations shown in your particular car.

One thing to watch out for: busy Supercharger locations may charge a congestion fee if your car has reached the site’s charging threshold or charging has ended and you’re still occupying a stall. Treat the charger as a place to recharge, not an extra parking spot. Keep an eye on your session and move the car when you’re done.

Supercharger prices can also vary by location and time of day. Check the station details on the screen if you’re comparing stops.

5. How does Movia charge for Supercharging?

Under Movia’s currently published rental pricing, you can choose how Tesla Supercharger energy is billed:

• Charging package: $9.90 per day. Tesla Supercharger energy during your rental is handled through the package.
• Pay for what you use. Skip the package and settle the recorded Supercharging costs at the end of your rental.

Please return the car with at least 80% battery. Movia’s published recharge rate for returning below that level is $0.50 per kWh. Check your booking and rental agreement for applicable rates and the treatment of third-party charging or additional station fees.

A useful habit: before you head back to the return location, check for a convenient Supercharger along the way. It’s much more relaxed than discovering you need to charge when your return time is approaching.

6. So what does FSD (Supervised) actually do?

Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is Tesla’s advanced driver-assistance feature. When it’s available and engaged, it can attempt to follow a route, steer, adjust speed, change lanes, make turns and respond to certain traffic controls.

The important word is Supervised. This is not a driverless car. You can’t use it as an opportunity to text, scroll or take your attention off the road.

The car may slow down unexpectedly, misread a situation or miss something you can see. Keep checking traffic, pedestrians and your surroundings, and take over immediately when needed. Availability and behavior depend on the vehicle and its current software.

7. How do you turn it on—and take back control?

The exact controls can vary by model, build date and software version. That’s why we recommend trying it with the Movia team at pickup instead of relying on a tutorial for a different Tesla.

On supported Model Y configurations, you can typically enable FSD (Supervised) while parked and engage it under the right conditions by pressing the right scroll button on the steering wheel. Some software versions also offer an on-screen start option. The screen will indicate when the feature is engaged.

To disengage, you can use the brake, the supported vehicle control or take over steering. Make sure you know the controls for your actual rental car before using the feature in traffic.

The car may remind you to watch the road or keep your hands ready on the wheel. Ignore repeated warnings and the system may become unavailable for the rest of that drive. Heavy rain, fog or blocked cameras may also affect availability. If FSD (Supervised) isn’t available, continue driving normally—don’t try to force it on.

One last check before you go

You have your key. Your seat and mirrors are set. You know how much charge you have, how to find a Supercharger and how to move the car once charging is finished. And you’ve practiced engaging and disengaging FSD (Supervised).

That’s enough to get started. You don’t need to become a Tesla expert before your first trip. Just get comfortable with the basics, leave yourself a little buffer, and enjoy the drive.