Used Tesla Battery Warranty: How to Check What's Left

The battery is the most expensive part of any electric car, so the first question most used-Tesla shoppers ask is: is it still under warranty? The good news is that Tesla's battery warranty stays with the car when it's sold. Here's how to work out what's left.

What Tesla's battery warranty covers

Tesla's Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty on the Model 3 and Model Y runs 8 years or a mileage limit, whichever comes first:

• Standard Range, Standard Range Plus and RWD versions: 8 years or 100,000 miles
• Long Range and Performance versions: 8 years or 120,000 miles

It also guarantees the battery keeps at least 70% of its capacity over that period.

Step 1: Check the miles

This part is simple. Subtract the odometer reading from the mileage limit for that version. For example, a Model 3 Standard Range Plus with 81,000 miles has about 19,000 miles of battery coverage left. A Long Range or Performance car with the same miles has about 39,000.

Not sure which version a car is? Listings aren't always right. The VIN tells you whether a car has one motor or two and whether it's a Performance model. Any reputable dealer should be able to confirm it for you.

Step 2: Check the in-service date

The 8 years don't start on the model year. They start on the original in-service date, the day the car was first delivered to its first owner (or first used as a demo). A 2021 model-year car might have gone into service in late 2020 or partway through 2021.

To find it:

• Ask the seller. The original purchase paperwork shows the delivery date.
• Check the Tesla app after purchase. Once the car is transferred to your Tesla account, the app shows its warranty details.

Step 3: Look at battery health

Some range loss over time is normal. To get a feel for a specific car, look at its estimated range with a full charge and compare it with what that version was rated for when new (fueleconomy.gov lists the EPA ratings). Ask the seller to show you the range at 100%, or charge it up during your visit.

The bottom line

A used Tesla with a few years and plenty of miles left on its battery warranty is a lot of car for the money. Our Tesla listings show how many miles of battery coverage are left and the car's EPA range when new wherever we've verified them, and we're happy to confirm the in-service date on any Tesla we have.

Browse our used Teslas near Lynchburg or call us at (434) 525-2256.