If your Tesla sleeps in the driveway or on the street, a Tesla windshield snow cover can turn a 10-minute scrape into a 30-second job. Today’s pick from our Tesla Gear page is the Tevlaphee magnetic windshield cover: a universal, foldable cover that sits on the glass overnight and comes off with the snow and frost on top of it.
We haven’t tested this cover hands-on. Everything below about the product comes from its Amazon.ca listing, and the Tesla-specific advice is what we’d check before buying any universal cover.
What the Tevlaphee cover is
According to the listing, the cover has four layers: a PEVA aluminum-foil top, spunlaced cotton, composite cotton and a black non-woven lining. It holds in place three ways:
- Three magnets (15 x 6 mm each), wrapped in cloth so they don’t scratch paint.
- Side wings that you close inside the front doors, which also makes the cover hard to steal.
- Elastic straps that loop over the side mirrors.
It folds small for storage. The seller says it is a universal size for “most” cars, trucks, vans and SUVs, and notes it does not fit rear windows. When we checked on November 1, it had a 4.3 out of 5 average from more than 10,000 ratings on Amazon.ca and was listed at about $30. Prices and ratings change, so check the listing.
View the Tevlaphee windshield snow cover on Amazon.ca
Will it fit a Model 3 or Model Y?
The listing does not mention Tesla, so there is no official fit for the Model 3, Model Y, Highland or Juniper. It is a one-size cover, so the same product would go on any of them. Two things to know:
- The listed size isn’t consistent. The title says 197 x 128 cm, a bullet point gives an “expanded size” of 197 x 157 x 128 cm, and the spec table lists 193 x 126 cm. Before you order, measure your windshield across the bottom edge and from the bottom up to where the glass meets the roof line, then compare.
- Teslas have a lot of glass. On the Model 3 and Model Y, the windshield runs up into a glass roof. A windshield cover protects the windshield only. You’ll still need to brush snow off the roof before driving, or it can slide down onto the windshield the first time you brake.
Winter tips for Teslas
- Test the magnets first. Magnets only grip steel. Hold a fridge magnet against the edge of your front trunk lid and front fenders. If it won’t stick, the door wings and mirror straps will be doing all the work, which is fine on calm nights but less secure in wind.
- Mind the frameless windows. Model 3 and Model Y doors have frameless glass that drops slightly when you open the door. Close the wing flaps in the door jamb, not across the glass, and check that the window seals properly after you close the door.
- Check mirror auto-fold. If your mirrors fold automatically when you lock the car, the straps over the mirrors may get in the way. Turn off auto-fold on nights you use the cover, or attach the straps after the mirrors fold.
- Bring it in dry. A snowy cover is wet and salty. Shake it out, fold it, and store it in a bag in the frunk or trunk so it doesn’t soak your floor mats.
- Freezing rain is different. A cover helps with snow and frost, but after an ice storm it can freeze to the glass. Don’t yank it. Warm the car with climate on first.
Free and low-cost alternatives
Use the Tesla app. Every Tesla can heat the cabin and defrost the glass from your phone, and you can set a scheduled departure so the car is ready when you leave. If you’re plugged in at home, most of that energy comes from the wall instead of your battery. On a light-frost morning this may be all you need, and it costs nothing extra to try. Our Tesla winter driving guide for Ontario covers how preconditioning affects range.
A good snow brush. You’ll want one anyway for the roof. Our Tesla Gear page lists an extendable brush and scraper long enough to reach across a Tesla’s glass roof.
Who should skip it
- Owners who park in a garage every night.
- Anyone who parks in a spot where wind is strong and the magnets don’t stick to their panels.
- Drivers who mostly face freezing rain rather than snow, where preconditioning does more of the work.
For everyone else who parks outside, a cover like this is a cheap way to save time on snowy Ontario mornings. Measure first, test the magnets, and keep it in a bag in the trunk.
How do you deal with a frosted windshield? Share your winter morning routine with 18.0K owners in Tesla Model Y & 3 [Ontario, Canada], Canada’s most active Tesla Facebook group, or in our X community Tesla Model* [Ontario, Canada].
Featured image: Tevlaphee magnetic windshield snow cover. Image: Amazon.ca product listing.
Prices and availability are shown on Amazon.ca and may change at any time.
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