NewsTesla's 2026 referral overhaul made credits expire faster — your UK delivery-day checklist
Tesla's March 2026 shake-up of its US referral and loyalty rewards included one detail that matters just as much on this side of the Atlantic: credits now expire 12 months after their Grant Date, stated explicitly rather than left as a vague "about a year" rule. If you're taking delivery of a UK Model 3 or Model Y soon, here's the checklist worth running on delivery day so your 650 miles don't quietly lapse.
Quick recap: what changed in March 2026
In brief — Model S and Model X were dropped from the US referral-eligible line-up; the referrer reward became a flat $250 Tesla Credit; the separate loyalty discount on premium vehicles was halved from $1,000 to $500; and referral/loyalty credits were confirmed to expire 12 months from the Grant Date. Source: Tesla's Refer & Earn page and Teslarati. We covered the full detail, and what does and doesn't apply in the UK, in a separate post — this one is just the checklist.
Why "Grant Date" is the date that matters, not "delivery date"
Tesla's Grant Date is when a credit actually posts to your account — typically shortly after delivery, per Tesla's own support wording, but not necessarily the same calendar day. Because the 12-month clock starts there, knowing your real Grant Date matters more than remembering the day you drove away.
Your delivery-day checklist
Step one: before you leave the delivery centre (or within a day or two if you took home delivery), open the Tesla app and check your account for the Supercharging-miles credit — confirm it's actually posted, not just promised on the order summary you saw before paying. Step two: note the exact date it appears — that's your personal Grant Date. Step three: set a reminder for around 11 months out, not 12, so you have a buffer to actually use the miles before they lapse. Step four: if a friend referred you, tell them delivery has happened — their own reward is tied to your successful delivery, not just your order, and it's time-bound too. Step five: if nothing's shown within a week or two of delivery, contact Tesla support directly rather than assuming it will turn up eventually — it's easier to chase while your order details are fresh on both sides.
Already took delivery months ago? Check anyway
If you picked up your Model 3 or Model Y earlier in 2026, it's worth ten minutes to open the Tesla app now rather than assuming your miles are still sitting there untouched. Find the date the Supercharging credit actually posted — not your delivery date — and count forward 12 months from that. If you're close to the deadline, use the miles on an upcoming trip rather than letting them lapse on a technicality you only just learned about.
What this means if you're not ordering for a few more months
Nothing changes about what to do today: the rules could move again, as they did in March 2026, so treat any figure on this page — including ours — as something to re-check close to your actual order date. What doesn't change is the mechanics: click your referral link before you configure, confirm the benefit line in your order summary before you pay, and now, track your Grant Date once you take delivery.
The bottom line
The March 2026 overhaul is mostly a US-programme story, but its clearer 12-month expiry wording is worth acting on here too. Don't let a free 650-mile benefit lapse for the sake of a calendar reminder you never set.
UK programme verified: · figures re-checked against tesla.com/en_gb
Pillar: Confirm your 650 free Supercharging miles · Related: Ordering a Tesla Model 3 in the UK, step by step: from referral link to delivery
Your UK Tesla referral code
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Click Open at Tesla first, then configure your car — the benefit is applied automatically before you pay.