Tesla sells used vehicles directly through its own website, alongside new ones. It’s a different buying process than a private-party or third-party dealer purchase, with its own costs and rules worth knowing before you order.
The price is fixed
Every pre-owned Tesla listing has a set price, and Tesla does not negotiate on pre-owned vehicle pricing. There’s no back-and-forth over the sticker number the way there might be at an independent used-car lot.
What the price includes
Before it’s listed, every pre-owned Tesla goes through a 102-point inspection, and Tesla provides an Autocheck history report for the vehicle. The purchase also comes with Tesla’s Pre-Owned Vehicle Limited Warranty, plus whatever is left of the car’s original New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
That original coverage matters for cost planning. Tesla’s Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty runs 4 years or 50,000 miles from when the car was new, and the Battery and Drive Unit warranty runs 8 years, with a mileage cap of 100,000 to 150,000 miles depending on the model, plus a guarantee that the battery retains at least 70% of its original capacity through that period. A 2-year-old used Tesla could still have most of that clock left; a 5-year-old one may already be out of basic coverage and running only on the longer battery warranty.
What costs extra
Placing an order requires a $500 deposit. It’s refundable if your financing application is denied, or if you switch the order to a new Tesla instead while it’s still active — otherwise it becomes non-refundable once the order is placed.
If the car isn’t already near you, Tesla will transport it to your nearest Delivery Center for a transport fee between $500 and $2,500, depending on distance. That fee is charged at order time and is non-refundable, and delivery isn’t offered in every region. Tesla estimates one to four weeks from order to delivery, with a firmer window given after the order is confirmed.
What doesn’t carry over
Pre-owned purchases don’t qualify for new-vehicle programs like Refer and Earn. Some states offer their own tax credits for used EV purchases, but those vary by state and should be checked directly rather than assumed.
Before you order, weigh the transport fee and remaining warranty term against the listed price — a car with three years of Basic Warranty left is a different value proposition than one with none, even at the same sticker price.
Photo by Luke Miller.