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Model 3

Tesla Model 3: Carseats that Fit (and Don’t Fit) in the Model 3

LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) Locations

The lower anchor connectors secure the bottom of the carseat to the vehicle while the tether secures the top of a forward-facing carseat (and in some rare cases, a rear-facing carseat).

You may install a carseat using either LATCH connectors or the seat belt, but not both at the same time (there are exceptions, so be sure to read your carseat manual and vehicle manual, which is occasionally updated). The LATCH connectors are on the carseat and the anchors are in the vehicle’s seat bight.

The top tether is used with ALL forward-facing installations, LATCH or seat belt, and some rear-facing carseats use it in a technique known as Australian-style tethering. Lower LATCH anchor installations are limited by the child’s weight; check the labels on your carseat or your carseat’s LATCH installation section for weight limits.

All Model 3 Model Years:

For carseat installations in the Model 3, there are 2 dedicated lower LATCH locations in the outboard seating positions in the back seat and 3 top tether locations for all seating positions.

The Model 3 underwent a refresh in October 2023. The back seat angle was adjusted and the center head restraint completely redesigned.

When using a tether for a forward-facing carseat, the tether is routed to the door side of the head restraint. If the tether is V-shaped (Britax), the tether straps go around the head restraint. In the center seating position, the tether is routed over the top of the head restraint (place in its lowest position, if adjustable).

Very tall carseats and boosters installed in outboard positions may not be able to have headwings extended to their full height because of the slope of the vehicle roof. Check your booster instruction manual too. Dorel (Cosco, Maxi-Cosi, Safety 1st) requires 5″ between the vehicle roof and its boosters to prevent head injuries due to roof crush in rollover crashes. While Tesla vehicles are unlikely to roll due to the battery weight creating a low center of gravity, owners are still instructed to not go against carseat instruction manuals for their children’s safety.

Trying to fit 3-across a Model 3 is very difficult but can be done with the correct carseats. You must use the seat belt for all three carseat installations for maximum flexibility in installation; using LATCH locks the outboard carseats into that 11″ space directly in front of those lower LATCH anchors. Using the seat belt allows you to slide the carseat over a bit, tighten the belt, and lock it into position.

Installing a carseat in the center seating position of the Model 3 is especially challenging. When installed rear-facing in the center, many carseat bases will sit on top of the driver’s side buckle, making the driver’s side seating position unusable for a passenger. It also has a very firm cushion, which makes getting tight installs difficult.

I recommend using a carseat that has a belt-tensioning device, such as a Britax Willow S, Britax Marathon ClickTight (not the Poplar, which won’t work forward-facing with the headrests)*, Chicco Fit360, Clek carseat, an Evenflo LiteMax NXT, or a Graco SnugLock. Be sure to read the instruction manual since not all belt-tensioning devices will lock the seat belt.

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The popular rotating carseat, the Evenflo Revolve360, in any of its versions, will not work in forward-facing mode once its headrest is raised more than halfway above the shell of the carseat. You can see it in this video here.