Ghost cars, the FBT bill and what your Tesla really costs

For a few nights in October, Tesla owners turned their cars into ghosts, haunted houses and neighbourhood entertainment.

Halloween Mode changed vehicle avatars, transformed surrounding traffic on the screen, added spooky sounds and allowed compatible cars to flash their lights when trick-or-treaters approached. Some owners incorporated the car into full Halloween displays. Others discovered that the smallest details, including owl-like indicator sounds and unexpected laughter, could become the most talked-about part of the update.

It was playful, unnecessary and surprisingly revealing.

Most vehicles are tools. A Tesla can also become part of how its owner works, travels, celebrates and tells stories.

That’s the larger shift worth watching.

Halloween Mode showed the scary side of software-driven cars (pun intended)

Tesla released Halloween Mode through software update 2026.38.3. Compatible vehicles could display a ghost costume, transform pedestrians into skeletons, change the FSD (Supervised) path to purple and activate a Trick or Treat experience for approaching visitors.

Tesla got into the spirit too, with a video of a Tesla dressed up for trick-or-treat: Halloween Mode running and the frunk filled with lollies. It made us wish we were kids again. Deep down, we think we still are.

Public owner discussions showed people using the mode at family events, neighbourhood displays and trunk-or-treat gatherings.

The strongest reaction wasn’t about transport. It was about delight.

We’ll admit it: this was one of the most enjoyable moments we’ve had in a car. All we wanted to do was drive around so we could watch the ghost cars and the skeletons walking past on the screen. The owl-sounding indicators did, however, become too much for the “more mature” member of the family, and when Halloween was over, the Avocado car wrap made a quick reappearance.

We reflected on this fun update and had a long conversation about how cars like Tesla are no longer just a functional item in our lives, but part of our lifestyle, our identity and something we value beyond getting us from A to B. Needless to say, we are already thinking about Santa Mode and jingling all the way… ho, ho, ho… We can already predict that the “more mature” member of the family may be secretly switching Santa Mode off when driving alone.

A quick caution for you: turning on Trick or Treat Mode switches off Sentry Mode, the security alarm and walk-away lock while it’s active. Read the release notes and understand the settings before leaving the feature running.

Sources: Tesla Halloween Mode coverage and Tesla software release details.

The practical side of Tesla ownership is changing too

While owners were having fun with Halloween Mode, an Australian tax development moved closer to becoming law.

The Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 4) Bill 2026 was introduced on 27 October and passed the House of Representatives on 29 October. It has not completed the parliamentary process and is not yet law.

The proposed framework would progressively change the fringe benefits tax treatment of eligible electric vehicles.

Under the bill:

• Eligible electric vehicles valued at A$75,000 or less would retain the full exemption from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029.
• Eligible vehicles above A$75,000 would move to a 25% FBT discount from 1 April 2027.
• From 1 April 2029, eligible vehicles would generally receive the 25% discount.
• Existing eligible arrangements would retain the treatment applying when the last relevant commitment commenced, subject to the final legislation and transitional rules.

The proposed 25% discount would apply to the normal 20% statutory fraction, effectively reducing that fraction to 15%.

This does not mean every employer or Tesla driver will need a logbook. It does mean that reliable business-use records may become more valuable in some circumstances, particularly when an employer and its adviser compare the statutory formula with the operating cost method.

The result depends on the vehicle, its operating costs, the verified business-use percentage and the applicable arrangement. A registered tax agent should determine how the rules apply.

CAILO does not provide tax advice. CAILO Connect records trips, dates, distances, locations, charging information and the classifications selected by the customer.

Sources: Official second-reading speech and Treasury consultation background.

Ownership costs deserve a more honest conversation

The latest Australian inflation data gives EV owners another reason to pay attention to real costs rather than assumptions.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that automotive fuel prices rose 9.4% in September. Transport prices were 8.7% higher over the year. Electricity costs also contributed to higher housing inflation.

So “EVs are always cheaper” doesn’t necessarily hold up.

An owner’s actual result depends on where and how the car is charged. Home charging, solar, off-peak tariffs, destination charging, Superchargers and other public networks can produce very different costs.

The better question is simple: What did your Tesla actually cost to use this month?

That’s where connected vehicle records become valuable. They let owners move from estimates to their own charging and journey history.

Want to know yours? CAILO Connect prices every charging session at your own tariff, including peak and off-peak, and shows Supercharger sessions as Tesla billed them. The 7-day free trial is available on the 1-vehicle plan. See plans.

Source: ABS September 2026 CPI release.

Owners are helping decide where Tesla journeys go next

Tesla’s current round of Supercharger voting opened in late August and is still running. Owners can vote for proposed sites and suggest new locations.

So where would you put the next one? Our vote: somewhere on the Nullarbor. And the best stop isn’t always the one with the most stalls. Travellers also care about:

• Safe access at night
• Toilets and food
• Space for trailers
• Nearby accommodation or campsites
• Reliable mobile coverage
• Shade and weather protection
• Something worthwhile to do during the stop

For Tesla travellers, charging is part of the journey rather than a separate task. The location and experience of the stop can shape the entire route.

Have your say: vote on Tesla’s Australian Supercharger voting page.

A caution for Tesla campers using unofficial V2L equipment

Not a Tesla App reported that software releases beginning around 2026.38.5.1 may have broken compatibility with some unofficial vehicle-to-load adapters.

These devices have been used by some owners to power camping equipment and appliances from the vehicle battery. The current evidence is based on owner reports rather than a formal Tesla statement. It’s unclear whether the change was deliberate, related to safety or simply an unintended compatibility issue.

Owners shouldn’t rely on an unofficial V2L workaround for essential camping or emergency power without checking compatibility after vehicle updates. Equipment that communicates with the vehicle’s charging system also deserves careful safety scrutiny.

It’s a developing story, not a confirmed Tesla policy announcement.

Source: Community-reported V2L compatibility change.

What might Tesla unwrap for Christmas?

Tesla hasn’t announced its 2026 Holiday Update or confirmed a list of features.

Based on previous years, the main Holiday Update has usually appeared during the first half of December. Past releases have included Santa Mode changes, light shows, games, entertainment and vehicle customisation.

That history makes another seasonal release plausible, but current predictions should be treated as speculation until Tesla publishes release notes.

We’d love to see what owners do with it: Christmas light shows, festive journeys, decorated charging stops and community events that turn software features into shared experiences.

What do you think Tesla will unwrap this year? Head to our Facebook page and add your prediction.

The complete story of how you use your Tesla

Ghost cars one week, an FBT bill the next. Whatever your Tesla gets up to, CAILO Connect keeps the record: trips, charging, receipts and FSD (Supervised) use on compatible vehicles.

Your Tesla already creates the information. CAILO Connect helps you keep the story.

General information only, not tax, financial or legal advice. CAILO is not a registered tax agent, so speak to one before relying on this for a claim or return.