5 Recommended Car Seats for Tesla Model 3 In 2024

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Written by: Fatima O. Millers, CPST

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Are you looking for a car seat that can fit nicely in your Tesla Model 3 car and still be safe for your precious cargo? 

As a parent, I know firsthand how important it is to have a safe and reliable car seat for your child. And when you have a Tesla Model 3, finding the right car seat can be a challenge. 

As a proud Tesla owner myself, I’ve spent countless hours researching and testing different car seats to find ones that fit properly in my Model 3. 

It can be frustrating to discover that not all car seats fit well in this car model.

But don’t worry, I’ve put together a comprehensive list of car seats that have worked well in my Model 3 and can help other parents who are in the same situation. 

How We Picked 

Simple to install

We have chosen car seats that are equipped with LATCH and a seatbelt lock-off device to make the installation easier

Safe

We chose car seats that showcase strong safety features such as having a sturdy frame, side impact protection & secure harness buckles & straps

User-friendly

A user-friendly seat in the Tesla Model 3 helps ensure that your child is comfortable & safe during long drives

Narrow & Compact

The compact design of the car seat helps tremendously in providing a better fit inside the Tesla Model 3

5 Best Car Seats for Tesla Model 3

Garaco 4Ever DLX SnugLock (Best Convertible car seat for Tesla Model 3)
Graco Slimfit3 LX (Best Car Seat For 3 Across In Tesla Model 3)
Chicco Keyfit 30 (Best Infant car seat for Tesla model 3)
Clek Fllo (Best Toxins-Free Car Seat for Tesla Model 3)
Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus (Best Booster for Tesla Model 3)

Best Overall

best car seat for tesla model 3 Graco 4ever DLX

Long-lasting

Comfortable

Budget-friendly

Best For Infants

best car seat for tesla model 3 best car seat for tesla model 3 Chicco keyfit 30

Lightweight

Easy to use & Install

Budget-friendly

Best For 3 Across

best car seat for tesla model 3 Graco slimfit3 lx

Fits 3 Across

Easy to use

Budget-Friendly

Garaco 4Ever DLX SnugLock (Best Convertible car seat for Tesla Model 3)

best car seat for tesla model 3 Graco 4ever DLX
  • Rear-facing limits: 4-40 lb
  • Forward facing limits: 22-65 lb
  • Highback booster limits: 40–100 lb 
  • Backless booster limits: 40–120 lb
  • Seat Weight: 23.7 lb
  • Amazon Price: $330

The 4Ever DLX Snuglock is one of the several Garco car seats that fit very well in the Tesla Model 3. 

In addition to being a great fit in the Tesla Model 3, The Graco 4Ever is only the seat you will ever need. It will last from infanthood to …..

With the Graco 4Ever Snuglock rear-facing in the Tesla Model 3, there is enough legroom in the front seat passengers. 

Even with the car seat’s headrest fully extended and the seat in the lowest recline position, you will have enough space for the driver and the passenger to sit comfortably.  

And of course, as your child grows, you can adjust the seat more upright giving extra space in the front. 

The Graco 4Ever Snuglock car seat is designed to be installed with both LATCH and the seat belt which means you get to choose between all the 3 seats in the car.

(Note: Tesla Model 3 only allows belt installation in the center seat)

Also, with the 4Ever Snuglock belt lockoff system, tightening the belt is a lot easier as you don’t have to use the belt retractor lock-off. 

Pro Tip: When installing the Snuglock in the middle seat, use all your body weight on the front of the seat before closing the Snuglock lockoff. This ensures a safe installation in the Tesla 3. 

What we love

  • Integrated belt lock-off that makes the installation easy
  • Long-lasting car seat from infant to booster

What can be improved

  • It is made of a steel frame so it’s kinda heavy 
  • You can’t rear-face more than 40 lb

Graco Slimfit3 LX (Best Car Seat For 3 Across In Tesla Model 3)

best car seat for tesla model 3 Graco slimfit3 lx
  • Rear-facing limits: 5-40 lb
  • Forward facing limits: 22-65 lb
  • Highback booster limits: 40–100 lb 
  • Seat Weight: 19.2 lb
  • Amazon Price: $ 280

The Graco Slimfit3 LX is also called the Graco True3Fit LX. This car seat does not only fit in the Tesla Model 3 snugly but can also be used for 3 across installations. 

The Slimfit3 LX is designed with a slim and narrow profile to be able to fit in smaller cars.

This car seat is also equipped with the seat belt lockoff system to help you secure the installation if you are using the seat belt. 

With this car seat, you won’t struggle to load the kids in and out of this, as it has a low side profile. 

While the Slimfit3 fits both rear-facing and forward-facing in all car seat positions, it leaves bigger legroom space for the front passengers when installed in the center seat. 

Pro Tip: To have a 3 across in the Tesla Model 3 with the Graco Slimtfit3, use the seatbelt on the outboard seats instead of LATCH. This will give you the flexibility to adjust the car seat positions a bit if necessary.

What we love

  • Fit perfectly in a 3 across
  • Belt-lock off system
  • Rapid-remove cover for easy cleaning
  • Breathable fabric

What can be improved

  • Not so comfortable for infants
  • Thin padding compared to other brands

Chicco Keyfit 30 (Best Infant car seat for Tesla model 3)

best car seat for tesla model 3 best car seat for tesla model 3 Chicco keyfit 30

The Chicco Keyfit 30 is the first infant car seat I always recommend for small car owners. 

As for the Tesla Model 3, the Chicco Keyfit can be installed in the middle seat using the seat belt or in the outboard positions using LATCH anchors. 

If installed in the center, the Keyfit 30 would leave plenty of room for both the driver and the passenger. But with this option, you lose the advantage of the LATCH

The base of the Keyfit 30 is one of the easiest to install using LATCH. The base also comes with a seatbelt lock off to help get a secure install when not using LATCH. 

This infant car seat can hold babies up to 30 pounds in weight. If you have a taller-than-average baby this may not be the best infant seat to go with. 

Another good feature of this infant carrier is that’s lightweight and easy to carry around, which can be a real blessing for parents who are constantly on the go. 

What we love

  • Equipped with seat belt lock-off system
  • Lighweight carrier 
  • Can be installed without the base

What can be improved

  • Low height weight capacity compared to other brands
  • The seat is not padded enough

Clek Fllo (Best Toxins-Free Car Seat for Tesla Model 3)

best car seat for tesla model 3 clek fllo
  • Rear-facing limits: 14-50 lb
  • Forward-facing limits: 22-65 lb
  • Seat Weight: 28 lb
  • Amazon Price: $ 400

The Clek Fllo is a narrow convertible car seat, which is ideal for the relatively small back seat of the Tesla Model 3. 

This car seat has a width of 16.9 inches, which is narrower than many other car seats on the market.

Also, the Clek Fllo sits very upright in a position that allows more legroom space for the front seat.

This seat uses is designed with supportive dense EPP foam for comfort with an adjustable headrest. 

Clek uses the Crypton fabric which is odor, bacteria, and stain-repelling (except drift).

I also like the (optional) anti-rebound bar for the rear-facing installation and the belt lock-offs that are easy enough to use. 

The Clek Fllo is a bit heavy and bulky making it a little bit hard to install. But if you are a fan of Clek products and you don’t mind struggling a bit to get the installation right, go for the Clek Fllo. 

Pro Tip: If you are in the US, not using the anti-rebound bar will leave more space for the car seat. ARB is however compulsory in Canada. 

What we love

  • Narrow design
  • Comes with an anti-Rebound bar
  • Free of flame retardants

What can be improved

  • Spot clean only
  • Heavy
  • Hard to install
  • Expensive

Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus (Best Booster for Tesla Model 3) 

best car seat for tesla model 3 Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus

I tried a few car seat boosters and Peg Perego is the only one that fits nicely in the Tesla Model 3. It’s actually recommended by Tesla on their website. 

The Peg Prego doesn’t cover the seatbelt buckle allowing your child to easily put the seatbelt on by herself. 

This booster comes with LATCH connectors and many boosters don’t have this advantage. The LATCH prevents the car seat from sliding on the slippery leather seats of the Tesla Model 3. 

What we love

  • Easy click in and out with LATCH
  • Very lightweight 

What can be improved

  • Thin padding
  • Expensive compared to other boosters

Tesla Model 3 car seat buying Guide

1. Can you fit 3 across car seats in a Tesla Model 3?

Trying to fit 3-across a Model 3 is difficult but can be done with the correct car seats. 

To fit 3 car seats in the Tesla Model 3, choose car seats that are very narrow. With the Graco Slimfit3 LX can easily install 3 car seats in the back seats of the Tesla. 

You can combine two Slimfit3 LX with an infant or such as Garco Snugfit 35 or Chicco Keyfit 30. Or with a booster seat like the Peg Perego. 

Another narrow car seat you can use for a 3 across in the Tesla Model 3 is the Clek Fllo convertible car seat. 

This Clek Fllo measures only 17 inches wide which makes it one of the narrowest car seats on the market. 

2. How easy is the installation of a car seat in a Tesla Model 3?

Installing a car seat in a Model 3 can be challenging if you don’t choose the right car seat. 

I recommend using a car seat that has a belt-tensioning Lock-off. For example, Graco 4Ever DLX, Clek Fllo, Chicco Keyfit 30, and Evenflo Revolve360 are all equipped with a belt-lock-off to make the installation easy.

Choosing a car seat that fits right in your car is essential. Make sure to choose a car seat from the recommended car seats in this list.

These car seats are tried and proven to fit nicely in the Tesla Model 3.

Keep in mind that some car seats are designed for safety more than for ease of installation. So, some car seats may be more difficult to install than others.

This does not necessarily mean that they are less safe. In fact, some car seats that are more difficult to install may actually provide greater protection in the event of a crash due to their advanced safety features. 

Just make sure you install the car seat correctly even if takes more time and effort. 

3. Where can you install a seat in the TESLA model 3

For car seat installations in the Tesla 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 center seat is not equipped with LATCH anchors and the only option to install a car seat in the middle is by using a seatbelt.  

The outboard seats offer easy installation with the LATCH anchors (if you are seat allows LATCH installation) but it’s also possible to use a seatbelt. 

The middle seat is considered the safest place to install a safety car seat (Away from the windows) but again since there is no LATCH it may be tricky to get a car seat fit right. 

The middle seat of the Tesla Model 3 is very narrow making even harder to fit a bulky car seat. 

To install a car seat in the center (which is possible), choose a narrow car seat that’s equipped with a seatbelt lockoff system.  

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About Fatima O. Millers, CPST

Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Fatima delivers insightful car seat reviews and recommendations. Combining her CPST expertise with an engineering background, her advice is both safe and practical.