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- Tesla new car factory warranties vary slightly by model.
- Some Tesla cars are eligible for an extended vehicle warranty.
- Tesla offers its own extended service agreement, but you can also purchase coverage from third-party providers.
A Tesla warranty will cover most repair and replacement costs if your vehicle needs to be fixed. While each new Tesla comes with a factory warranty that lasts for four years or 50,000 miles, you can buy extended coverage from Tesla or from an independent provider once that expires.
In this article, we’ll break down the coverage and term lengths of the factory Tesla warranty. Then, we’ll take a look at the electric car manufacturer’s in-house extended service contract to see how it compares to the market’s best extended car warranty plans.
What Is the Tesla Warranty?
The Tesla warranty varies greatly depending on whether it’s for a new or a used car. Covered components and your length of coverage also vary by Tesla model.
New Vehicle Limited Warranty
All new Teslas come standard with the company’s new vehicle limited warranty. This factory coverage plan is composed of three parts: the basic vehicle limited warranty, the supplemental restraint system (SRS) limited warranty, and the Tesla battery and drive unit warranty.
Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty
The basic vehicle limited warranty is standard across all Tesla models. It covers repairs caused by factory defects or workmanship flaws for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. The basic vehicle limited warranty is essentially bumper-to-bumper Tesla warranty coverage, so it protects all but a few components.
Supplemental Restraint System Limited Warranty
The supplemental restraint system limited warranty is also standard across all Tesla models. This Tesla warranty covers your vehicle’s seat belts and air bag system for either five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Tesla Battery and Drive Unit Warranty
The battery and drive unit warranty covers certain critical Tesla parts that need repair or replacement due to workmanship or material defects. Unlike the other two pieces of the new vehicle limited warranty, coverage lengths of the battery and drive unit warranty vary by model.
Tesla Battery and Drive Unit Warranty Terms by Model
The factory warranty for your Tesla’s battery and drive unit comes with varying coverage terms depending on the model, as seen below:
| Tesla Model | Battery and Drive Unit Warranty Length |
| Tesla Model S | 8 years/150,000 miles |
| Tesla Model X | 8 years/150,000 miles |
| Tesla Model Y Long Range | 8 years/120,000 miles |
| Tesla Model Y Performance | 8 years/120,000 miles |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range | 8 years/120,000 miles |
| Tesla Model 3 Performance | 8 years/120,000 miles |
| Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive | 8 years/100,000 miles |
For every model, Tesla guarantees 70% battery capacity retention over the life of the battery and drive unit warranty. That means the Tesla warranty can be used to replace your car’s battery if its maximum capacity drops below 70% of its factory amount.
Tesla Used Vehicle Limited Warranty
Tesla offers a used vehicle limited warranty to people who purchase a secondhand Tesla straight from the company. You’ll receive the remainder of the basic vehicle limited warranty if it’s still in effect or one year or 10,000 miles of coverage if it’s already expired.
The used Tesla warranty also retains the balance of the original battery and drive unit limited warranty if it’s still current.
Additional Tesla Warranty Coverage
Tesla also includes a parts, body, and paint repair limited warranty with all of its new vehicles. This coverage is meant for the repair or replacement of parts that have failed during normal use. Coverage is limited to Tesla parts purchased directly from the company and installed at either a Tesla service center or collision center.
This coverage starts from the date that your vehicle is delivered and extends for one year or 12,500 miles, whichever comes first. The following parts receive longer coverage:
- Drive unit/powertrain*: Four years or 50,000 miles
- High-voltage battery*: Four years or 50,000 miles
- Wall connectors: Four years
- Touchscreen and media control unit: Two years or 25,000 miles
- Sheet metal: Limited lifetime
*The Tesla Roadster only receives two years or 25,000 miles of coverage.
Tesla Warranty Exclusions
The original Tesla warranty covers a lot of car components, but it doesn’t protect everything. Here are some of exceptions from the company’s coverage:
- Normal wear and tear items such as brake pads and wiper blades
- Damage caused by improper use of the vehicle
- Paint defects or corrosion damages
- Damages caused while towing the vehicle
What Voids a Tesla Warranty?
You could potentially void your Tesla warranty coverage if you don’t follow the company’s guidelines. Some of the actions that can void your warranty include:
- Not performing scheduled software updates
- Not making necessary repairs
- Exceeding the car’s load limit
- Not following a recall advisory
- Getting repairs done at an unauthorized facility
Tesla may also refuse to cover cars that have been salvaged or written off as a total loss by a car insurance company. This could include cars that have been stolen or otherwise have title issues associated with their vehicle identification number (VIN).
How Long Is the Tesla Warranty?
The new Tesla warranty lasts for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever limit comes first. On top of that, new cars come with a battery and drive unit warranty that lasts for eight years and anywhere from 100,000 to 150,000 miles.
There’s also a used Tesla warranty which offers one year or 10,000 miles of protection. While this isn’t very extensive, it could come in handy if you’re considering a pre-owned car.
Does a Tesla Warranty Transfer?
Tesla warranties do transfer to new owners, but only if the transaction is done entirely through the company. The original or previous owner must sell the vehicle to Tesla and the new owner must purchase the vehicle from Tesla for warranty coverage to transfer over.
Is There a Tesla Extended Warranty?
Tesla does offer extended warranty coverage, but just for certain vehicles. Owners can only purchase a Tesla extended service agreement (ESA) for Model S and Model X vehicles produced between 2012 and 2020.
The Tesla extended car warranty covers repair and replacement of approved parts during the warranty period with the exception of the lithium-ion battery and drive system. Our research indicates that the Tesla extended service agreement comes with a $200 deductible.
Tesla Extended Warranty: Plans and Cost
The cost of a Tesla extended service agreement varies depending on your car’s model, the length of coverage, and when you purchase coverage. All Tesla extended warranties come with lengths of either two years and 25,000 miles or four years and 50,000 miles.
| Tesla Model | Warranty Length | Cost: Bought Within 180 Days | Cost: Bought After 180 Days |
| Tesla Model S | 2 years/25,000 miles | $2,500 | $3,100 |
| Tesla Model S | 4 years/50,00 miles | $5,100 | $5,700 |
| Tesla Model X | 2 years/25,000 miles | $2,900 | $3,500 |
| Tesla Model X | 4 years/50,00 miles | $5,750 | $6,350 |
To clarify, the 180-day time period starts from the initial delivery date of your Tesla vehicle. Note that you can’t get one of the automaker’s extended warranties if you own a Tesla Model Y, a Tesla Model 3, or another one of the company’s cars.
Tesla Extended Warranty vs. Third-Party Providers
The extended Tesla warranty may be good for certain Model X or Model S owners who prefer parts and service from Tesla. However, those with other Tesla vehicles aren’t eligible for coverage and must look elsewhere for an extended warranty.
Fortunately, many of the best third-party warranty providers offer coverage for Tesla models. These companies specialize in developing, selling, and administering vehicle protection plans.
Third-Party Extended Warranty Benefits
Even owners of Tesla cars that are eligible for the extended service agreement may want to consider independent warranty companies. That’s because these providers offer several key advantages over manufacturer extended warranties like Tesla’s option, including:
- Eligibility: Again, only Model S and Model X vehicles produced between 2012 and 2020 are eligible for the Tesla extended service agreement. Third-party providers offer coverage for nearly every other Tesla model in addition to those.
- Cost: Extended warranty plans from independent providers are often less expensive for similar coverage than those from Tesla and other automakers.
- Options: The extended Tesla warranty only has two coverage lengths and a single level of coverage. Independent warranty providers typically offer several levels of protection and often have additional coverage choices for purchase.
- Flexibility: If you purchase a vehicle protection plan from Tesla, all repair work must be done at a Tesla service center. Third-party providers, on the other hand, allow you to use nearly any mechanic certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE?) across the U.S.
- Timing: Tesla gives you a limited window to purchase an extended service agreement without paying substantially more for coverage. Independent warranty providers allow you to purchase coverage at nearly any time.
- Benefits: Many third-party Tesla warranties include valuable benefits like roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement as part of their coverage plans.
Do You Need an Extended Warranty for a Tesla?
An extended car warranty helps drivers to manage car repair costs, so they’re valuable for cars that break down regularly. This makes an extended Tesla warranty a good idea since the automaker’s cars are some of the least reliable on the market. In the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study?, Tesla ranked 30th of 33 automotive manufacturers for reliability.
This means that you’re more likely to use Tesla warranty coverage than for most other brands of vehicles. For that reason, it may be a good idea to purchase extended coverage, especially if you prefer making regular payments over worrying about surprise repair bills.
Tesla Repair Costs
To give you an idea of how much you could pay for Tesla repairs, we looked at cost data for the company’s vehicles. Across the brand, RepairPal estimates that the average maintenance and repair cost is $832 per year. This is 28% higher than the industry average of $652 per year, so you could get a strong return on your investment in a Tesla warranty.
Tesla Warranty: Conclusion
The Tesla warranty offers varying lengths of coverage depending on which car model you own. While warranty coverage does transfer to new owners, this is only if all parts of the transaction are done directly through Tesla.
Once your factory warranty expires, you can purchase an extended Tesla warranty to manage costs and maintain your peace of mind. Owners of Model S and Model X vehicles built between 2012 and 2020 can buy an extended Tesla warranty, but it’s smart to consider independent providers that often offer superb coverage at more reasonable rates.
Tesla Warranty: Recommended Alternatives
Our team doesn’t recommend buying a Tesla extended service agreement even if your car is eligible. Instead, we’d suggest getting quotes from reputable extended car warranty companies such as CarShield and Endurance before comparing the rates you get back.
CarShield: Affordable Monthly Payments
Tesla owners looking for an affordable extended warranty option will want to get a car warranty quote from CarShield. The company offers some of the cheapest coverage options among providers in our study, including on coverage for electric vehicles (EVs). CarShield also offers specialty coverage for electronic components, which are a major feature of Tesla vehicles.
Keep reading: CarShield review
Endurance: Best Overall
Endurance earned the highest score in our most recent car warranty study and received the award for Best Overall provider. The company offers affordable prices on a wide range of coverage options and also directly services its own Tesla warranty plans. This tends to make for a simpler claims process and a smoother customer experience than with other providers.
Keep reading: Endurance warranty review
Tesla Warranty: FAQ
How long is the Tesla battery warranty?
The length of the Tesla battery warranty, officially called the battery and drive unit warranty, depends on which model you have. All models get eight years of coverage, but maximum mileage varies between 100,000 and 150,000 miles.
How much does a Tesla warranty cost?
A Tesla warranty costs between $2,500 and $6,350 annually for one of the automaker’s extended service agreements. Coverage is only available for Model X and Model S Tesla cars that were produced between 2012 and 2020.
Do Teslas have good warranties?
The Tesla factory warranty is average for the industry. It includes up to four years or 50,000 miles of basic warranty coverage and varying lengths for battery and drivetrain coverage.
How much does it cost to replace a Tesla battery?
Generally speaking, it costs between $10,000 and $20,000 to replace a Tesla battery outside of the Tesla warranty. Your exact cost will depend on the exact model and year of your vehicle.
Our Methodology
Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best extended auto warranty providers.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
- Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car warranty company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account the number of plans offered by each provider, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations to give this rating.
- Transparency: We consider the transparency of each company’s contracts and the availability of a money-back guarantee when determining this score.
- Customer Service: Reputable extended car warranty companies operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
