Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y sit lower than most crossovers and sedans, and their smooth, panel-gap-minimized bodywork shows road grime more visibly than a typical car. Mud flaps, also sold as splash guards, mount behind each wheel well and block the spray of water, gravel, and road salt that your tires kick up, keeping it off the rocker panels, lower doors, and paint behind the wheels.
Most Tesla-specific sets, like the EVANNEX mud flaps for Model 3 and BASENOR’s set for Model Y, are designed to use the factory bolt holes already in the fender liner, so installation doesn’t require drilling into the body. That’s worth checking before you buy: a flap designed for the wrong hole pattern either won’t mount cleanly or needs tape, which holds up worse over time and in cold weather.
Fitment is the detail that trips people up. Tesla has changed the fender and bumper design more than once, the 2024+ Model 3 “Highland” refresh and the 2025+ Model Y “Juniper” refresh both moved mounting points compared to earlier model years, so a set built for an older Model Y won’t necessarily bolt onto a current one without modification. Confirm your exact model year against the listing’s fitment chart before ordering, not just the model name.
Whether you need them depends on where you live and drive. On dry, well-maintained roads, they’re a cosmetic nice-to-have. If you deal with gravel roads, road salt in winter, or heavy rain, they’re a cheap way, most sets run well under $50, to protect paint and cut down on the grime you’re wiping off before every wash.
Photo by Riku Keto.
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