Mud flaps are the easiest accessory on this site to sell to someone who does not need them, because the pitch is protection and nobody argues against protection. So here is the test first, and the products afterwards.
The test
Why the answer varies so much
What a mud flap intercepts is the spray your front wheels throw rearward and outward. How much of it there is depends almost entirely on what is on the road: brine and grit in a salted winter, loose stones on a gravel road, fine dust in a dry climate. Brine on a stone chip is how rust starts, so in salt country flaps are genuinely preventive maintenance. Dust is dust.
The secondary case is stone chipping on the leading edge of the rear door, which is a real and visible kind of damage on gravel roads and essentially nonexistent on paved ones.
Quick picks
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Tesloid snow and mud flaps The coverage upgrade over the factory flap, for the people who need it. | If the test says yes | 8.7 | |
| 2 |  Tesla mud flaps (factory) The safe flap. Buy it for certainty, not for maximum coverage. | If you have a steep driveway | 8.2 | |
| 3 | Tesery Model 3 / Model Y mud flaps The discreet flap. Choose it when you want protection nobody notices. | If you dislike how flaps look | 8.2 |
Scores are our editorial assessment of fitment scope, published materials and coverage. They are not lab measurements and we have not tested these products.
1. If the test says yes
Tesloid snow and mud flaps
Deeper than the factory flap, which is the only reason to fit one, in a material chosen to stay flexible when cold. Deeper flaps are more exposed on steep driveway lips and curbs.
Best for: Winter drivers who want more coverage than the factory flap
Fits: Model Y (2020-2024) · Model Y Juniper (2025-2026)
What works
- Deeper than the factory flap, which is the whole point of fitting one
- Stays flexible rather than going brittle when it is genuinely cold
What does not
- Deeper flaps are more exposed on steep driveway lips and curbs
- Finish is functional rather than invisible
Manufacturer specifications
- Flexible impact-resistant material chosen to stay pliable in cold weather
- No drilling required
- Separate 2026 Model Y and Model 3 part numbers
Specifications as published by the manufacturer. We have not independently tested this product.
Specification sources: Tesloid Model Y snow and mud flaps (2026), Independent Juniper mud-flap comparison
2. If you have a steep driveway
Tesla mud flaps (factory)
Conservative coverage, deliberately — Tesla has to accommodate ramps and curbs worldwide, so the factory flap is the one least likely to catch. Priced above several aftermarket sets that cover more.
Best for: Owners who want a factory-fit flap and no drilling debate
Fits: Model Y (2020-2024) · Model Y Juniper (2025-2026) · Model 3 (2017-2023) · Model 3 Highland (2024-2026)
What works
- Fitment and finish match the car because it is the car maker's own part
- No question about whether a fastener will hold
What does not
- Smaller coverage area than the deeper aftermarket flaps
- Priced above several aftermarket sets that cover more
Manufacturer specifications
- Sold by Tesla for the specific Model Y generation
- Mounts to existing fixing points with no drilling
- Four-piece set
Specifications as published by the manufacturer. We have not independently tested this product.
Reference: Tesla Shop — Model Y mud flaps — we do not earn a commission there.
Specification sources: Tesla Shop Model Y mud flaps
3. If you dislike how flaps look
Tesery Model 3 / Model Y mud flaps
The lowest-profile flap here, so it is the least visually intrusive. Less protection follows directly from that, and the Model 3 and Model Y variants share a product page.
Best for: Owners of either car who want one brand to cover both
Fits: Model 3 (2017-2023) · Model 3 Highland (2024-2026) · Model Y (2020-2024) · Model Y Juniper (2025-2026)
What works
- Convenient if you run one of each car in the household
- Low profile, so it is the least visually intrusive flap in this group
What does not
- A line that spans two cars means you must read the variant picker carefully
- Lower profile means less protection than the deeper winter flaps
Manufacturer specifications
- Single product line listed for both Model 3 and Model Y
- No-drill fitment using existing arch fixings
- Four-piece set
Specifications as published by the manufacturer. We have not independently tested this product.
Specification sources: Tesery Model 3 / Model Y mud flaps
Who should fit them
- Anyone driving regularly on salted roads in winter. This is the strongest case and it is about corrosion, not appearance.
- Anyone on gravel or unsealed roads, where stone chipping is the issue.
- Anyone keeping the car long term in a wet climate, where the cumulative effect over years is what matters.
Who should not
- Anyone in a dry climate on paved roads. There is nothing for the flap to intercept.
- Anyone with a steep driveway apron or regular ramp use, unless you fit the shallow factory flap — a deep flap will eventually catch and tear off, taking a fixing with it.
- Anyone who dislikes how flaps look on these cars, which is a legitimate position. They are visible and they do change the lines of the lower body.
The range question
Anything added to the underbody disturbs airflow, and flaps sit in a high-pressure region behind the wheels. The effect on range is small, and nobody has published a credible figure for these specific cars, so we are not going to invent one. If you want a number for this, treat anyone who gives you one without a methodology with suspicion.
One rule if you do buy
No drilling. Every worthwhile set mounts to existing fixing points. Drilling into an arch liner or body panel is unnecessary on these cars, it creates a corrosion path in exactly the area you were trying to protect, and it is visible to any future buyer. Our picks are all no-drill — see Model Y mud flaps.
Questions people actually ask
Are Model Y mud flaps necessary?
Only if your wheels are actually throwing debris at your paint. Check the rocker panel behind the front wheel after a wet week: a fan of grime means yes, clean means no.
Do mud flaps hurt range?
Slightly, in principle, because they disturb airflow in a high-pressure area. No credible figure exists for these cars and we will not invent one.
Will deep flaps catch on a driveway?
Eventually, if the apron is steep. Fit the shallower factory flap in that situation rather than losing a deep one and a fixing with it.
Do mud flaps need drilling?
No. Every set worth buying uses existing fixing points. Treat a drilling requirement as a reason to look elsewhere.
Sources
- Independent Juniper mud-flap comparison
- Tesla Shop Model Y mud flaps
- Tesloid Model Y snow and mud flaps
Specifications and fitment claims on this page come from the manufacturer and retailer pages listed above. We have not tested these products and do not claim to have.
Read next
Floor Mats & Liners
Best Mud Flaps for the Model Y and Model 3
No-drill mud flaps for both cars, with a straight answer on which climates actually need them.
Floor Mats & Liners
Best All-Weather Floor Mats for the Model Y and Model 3
All-weather liners across both cars, ranked on how much water they actually keep off the carpet.
Guides
How to Clean Tesla Floor Mats
Step-by-step cleaning for all-weather liners and carpeted mats, and the drying mistake that warps a liner.
Floor Mats & Liners
Best Floor Mats for the Model Y Juniper (2025-2026)
Six mat sets listed specifically for the refreshed 2025-2026 Model Y footwell, cargo floor and frunk tub.
Interior Protection
Best Door Sill Protectors for the Model Y
Door sill, trunk sill and bumper protectors for the Model Y, with the adhesive trade-off stated.