Are you currently in the market for a used Tesla and not sure what steps to take before purchasing? Pre-owned EVs (Electric Vehicles) are built and measured differently than traditional gas-powered vehicles, and as new entries to the used car market, they present a challenge to buyers.
As such, evaluating and purchasing a used Tesla requires some preparation. In this article, we share our top 5 tips for buying a pre-owned Tesla so that you can make pre-owned purchase decisions with confidence.
So, what should you do before buying a used Tesla?
1. Get a Remote Diagnostic
Remote Diagnosis is a process unique to EV’s that allows technicians to remotely access a vehicle’s data to check its health and diagnose potential service issues.
AmberCare provides a full complimentary 150-point remote diagnostic inspection for Tesla vehicles. This means you can access invaluable information about the condition, status, and potential faults of a used Tesla vehicle before you commit to a purchase.
A remote diagnostic can help protect you from large unexpected repair bills, emergency service visits, and potential vehicle hazards.
Get started now with our easy sign-up process.
2. Develop a Charging Plan
Charging is the most important aspect of owning an Electric Vehicle. When you are planning your Tesla purchase, you will need to determine the best charging method for your home.
There are four standard options a Tesla owner might choose:
While DC FAST Charging offers the highest rate of charge, it can present drawbacks if it is your only charging option. You will need to drive to a charging station and wait for your vehicle to charge each time your range depletes. If you often drive long distances, this may mean spending 30 minutes or more at a charging station multiple times per week.
Home charging, on the other hand, comes with a higher up-front cost but allows you to routinely charge your vehicle overnight so that your battery is full each morning.
We strongly recommend speaking to an electrician to decide on your preferred charging method.
3. Understand Current Range versus New Rated Range
Range can be a confusing statistic when researching pre-owned EV options. Many Tesla vehicle listings use the rated range of that particular vehicle when it was brand-new; however, that new rated range estimate is often not accurate for pre-owned vehicles.
When Tesla releases a new vehicle or battery, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tests that new vehicle to determine its estimated new rated range. This is an estimated number of miles that the vehicle can travel before needing to recharge.
Over time, the High Voltage (HV) battery that powers each Tesla begins to degrade. Under normal conditions, the expected rate of degradation for a Tesla is 3-5% in the first year, and 1-2% each year after.
Each year, a Tesla vehicle becomes slightly less efficient and thus experiences a decrease in vehicle range over time. High vehicle mileage also contributes to this degradation over time, as each charging cycle reduces the HV battery’s efficiency.
This difference in new rated range versus current range is an important factor to keep in mind when selecting a pre-owned Tesla vehicle. Perhaps the vehicle was rated with a range of 250 miles per charge when it was new, but you can expect that its current range will be lower.
To get a specific understanding of what range a particular used Tesla can achieve, check out Recurrent.
4. Ensure Your Vehicle Can Access WiFi
Tesla vehicles have the unique ability to continuously improve via over-the-air firmware updates. These updates, downloaded to the vehicle over WiFi, contain everything from bug fixes to brand new vehicle features.
When purchasing a Tesla, it is important to consider that your vehicle will not be able to install critical updates without a WiFi connection. Ideally, you want to ensure your home WiFi signal can reach the area where you will park the vehicle.
If your WiFi connection cannot reach the vehicle, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can provide a WiFi connection extender that will allow your WiFi signal to reach a larger physical area.
WiFi connectivity also affects whether or not your vehicle can be accessed or serviced remotely. If you park your vehicle in an underground parking garage, your vehicle will likely have little-to-no connectivity. In this case, your Tesla Mobile App will not function properly, and should the vehicle need service, service technicians will not be able to assist remotely.
If you are unable to provide WiFi access to the vehicle at your home - for example, if you live in an apartment complex, condominium, or only have street parking - you will need to establish a plan to access a WiFi network regularly for update installation.
Perhaps your workplace offers a WiFi connection and allows EVs to connect, or perhaps you can work with your local service center to identify the best times for you to update at their facility.
5. Determine the Vehicle’s Warranty Status
Is the Tesla you want to buy still covered by its New Vehicle Basic Limited Warranty? Is its 8 year battery and drive unit limited warranty still active?
Before purchasing a used Tesla, ensure you understand what coverage the vehicle may, or may not, come with. New Tesla vehicles come standard with a New Vehicle Limited Basic Warranty which covers most vehicle components for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. They also come with a Battery and Drive Unit limited warranty which is active for 8 years or 100,000/150,000 miles, depending on the Tesla model.
The New Vehicle Basic Limited Warranty and Battery Warranties can both protect you from a wide array of possible vehicle issues, but if they have expired on a pre-owned Tesla, it’s likely you’ll need to plan how you want to handle service issues when they arise.
To get more information on your options post-warranty-expiration, including purchasing an extended protection plan, take a look at our guide: Is an Extended Warranty Right for Me?
Conclusion
We hope these tips help you make decisions about your used Tesla with confidence. To get more assistance, sign up for remote diagnostics, or get post-warranty vehicle coverage, check out our AmberCare Services.
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