Tesla Extended Warranty

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Select Tesla owners are eligible to purchase an Extended Service Agreement to extend certain warranty coverage 2 years/25,000 miles.

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Dash Lewis Content Writer 04/24/2024 12:00 AM

The Gist:

Tesla vehicles may only require minimal maintenance, but that doesn’t mean repairs don’t come up. A Tesla extended warranty can help cover repair costs beyond the vehicle’s factory warranty period. However, this warranty is only available for the 2012-2020 Model S, 2015-2020 Model X, Model 3, or Model Y.

If you own a newer Tesla or a different model, there are other options for repair coverage beyond Tesla’s offerings. We’ve reviewed the best extended car warranty companies to help drivers find coverage that works for them. Get quotes from multiple providers to see what you’d pay to cover your Tesla after its factory warranty expires.

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Endurance

Endurance is our first choice for extended warranties

Quick Facts Plan Coverage and Perks Plan Coverage and Perks
Plan coverage includes Endurance Elite perks™
Exclusionary plan One-year membership for free
Powertrain plan Tire repair and replacement
Maintenance coverage with Endurance Advantage Key fob replacement
Roadside assistance Total loss protection
Towing Collision discount
Rental car $250 rewards voucher
Trip interruption coverage Endurance Protect app

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What Does A Tesla Extended Warranty Cover?

Tesla’s extended warranty plan is available for Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y vehicles. It’s called the Tesla Extended Service Agreement, or ESA for short. The ESA can extend certain factory warranty coverages up to 2 years/25,000 miles. The coverage is exclusionary, which means it covers most vehicle parts other than those specifically not listed.

Tesla extended auto warranty coverage begins when factory warranty coverage ends. As far as coverage levels go, there is only one option, and it’s similar to a standard bumper-to-bumper warranty. This means Tesla will pay to repair or replace powertrain parts like the motor or inverter along with all other componenents except for a list of exclusions. Lithium-ion batteries and drive units are not included in coverage but other warranties may apply.

Here are some Tesla coverage exclusions:

The key thing to remember is that the Tesla Extended Service Agreement covers defects in materials or workmanship, not normal wear and tear.

What Does A Tesla Extended Warranty Not Cover?

Here are a few vehicle parts that the Tesla extended warranty doesn’t cover:

Tesla Warranty Services

If you experience a breakdown in your Tesla, you are required to take your car to the nearest Tesla Authorized Service Center. Since there are areas of the country with no nearby Tesla service center, the company will cover vehicle transportation for the first 500 miles.

Tesla Roadside Assistance

Tesla’s extended warranty includes roadside assistance, which covers the long-distance towing mentioned above and help with a flat tire. If you have a flat tire that can’t be changed where you are, Tesla will pay for towing up to 50 miles to the nearest Tesla Service Center. It also covers lockout assistance, which has a towing limit of 50 miles if Tesla is unable to remotely unlock your vehicle or retrieve your key.

Since Tesla models are electric vehicles, there is no need for other roadside services like fuel delivery.

Tesla Extended Warranty Cost

Tesla conveniently lists extended warranty prices on its website. Since the company sells plans directly to consumers, you’ll pay these prices no matter where you live. Each model has a different total cost for the vehicle service contract:

You must purchase the Tesla extended warranty before or upon the expiration of the Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty. The plan requires a $100 deductible for repairs.

Is The Tesla Extended Warranty Worth It?

While Tesla’s vehicles are considerably different from standard cars with combustion engines, many aspects of the cars are similar. Tesla models have suspension and steering systems, air conditioning, and electronics. In some cases, the systems in a Tesla are much more complex than the counterparts in a standard car.

For example, a driver’s side door handle on the Model S is made from dozens of sensors, motors, and micro-switches. Tesla can charge around $500 to replace a door handle on an older Model S, for example.

With a Tesla, you won’t have to repair a radiator, replace your transmission gearbox, or fix misfiring engine cylinders. But even with repairs few and far between, replacement parts and labor can still carry a hefty price tag due to the advanced design of the cars.

Tesla Repair Costs

According to YourMechanic, an average Model S repair costs around $283, though more expensive repairs can reach $4,074. Model X average costs per repair are about $162, with an upper range of $769. The average repair for a Model 3 is $193, and more expensive repairs reach $1,134.

Tesla Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty

All new Tesla vehicles come with a New Vehicle Limited Warranty that covers almost any part of the car except a list of exclusions for up to 4 years/50,000 miles. The battery and drive unit are covered with a longer warranty as follows:

Used vehicles sold by Tesla with remaining factory warranty receive an additional 1 year/10,000 miles limited warranty. Used vehicles sold outside the factory warranty period are covered for 1 year/10,000 miles from the purchase or delivery date.

Benefits Of A Third-Party Extended Warranty

Once your Tesla factory warranty expires, you won’t be able to purchase extended warranty coverage from the manufacturer. In contrast, third-party auto warranty providers let you add a warranty at almost any point.

Another thing to think about is the maximum coverage term available. If we add Tesla’s extended warranty to the factory warranty period, it covers a maximum of 75,000 miles on the odometer after purchasing a new car. Other companies like Endurance can cover vehicles up to 200,000 miles or more. If you take good care of your Tesla, there’s no reason it wouldn’t last well beyond 100,000 miles. Third-party plans can give you peace of mind that repairs are covered for much longer.

Tesla
Extended Warranty
Endurance
Extended Warranty
Start DateMust buy before factory warranty expiresAny time
Longest Term25,000 miles200,000+ miles
Number of Plans16
Deductible$100$0, $50, $100, $200
Repair FacilitiesTesla service centersRepair shops certified
by the National Institute
for Automotive Service Excellence
(ASE ® )
Extra Benefits• Roadside assistance1 year free of Elite Benefits, which includes:
• Roadside assistance
• Total loss protection
• Collision discount
• Tire repair/replacement
• Key fob replacement
• Endurance mobile app
How to PurchasePurchase from dealerships or
in the Tesla app
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Tesla Extended Warranty: Our Take

Tesla’s service agreement extends coverage for a few years, but it’s not the longest coverage option on the market. There’s also only one choice for Tesla owners, and it may not fit your budget. If you’re thinking about an extended warranty for your Tesla, it would be a good idea to also check out third-party providers.

Can You Buy An Extended Warranty On A Used Tesla?

If you purchase a used car directly from Tesla, it will come with an additional factory warranty period. You can purchase a Tesla extended warranty if there’s remaining original factory warranty when you buy a used Tesla. However, if you bought a used Tesla from a private party or a non-Tesla dealer, you won’t be eligible. Still, if the original owner purchases a Tesla extended warranty, the coverage can be transferred.

Tesla Isn’t A Franchise (And Why That Matters)

Here’s an interesting bit of trivia. Most car dealerships are franchises. So, your local Acura dealer is actually an independent business that sells Acura products. Tesla, on the other hand, skips the middleman and sells its vehicles directly to consumers. Regulations around car sales require Tesla to sell vehicles online and have customers pick them up in stores. Why does this matter? Well, Tesla’s website provides many more details about the Tesla extended warranty program than other automakers’ sites. It even lists warranty prices. Since other companies use a franchise model, individual dealers are able to offer different incentives and even different plans. That can make it hard to know if you’re getting the best deal. An Acura extended warranty, for example, can be offered at different prices even between two dealerships in the same town. But Tesla has complete control of all its products and can keep its offerings consistent between locations, which is nice to know when you’re shopping around.