Tesla’s electric vehicles are designed to require less maintenance than standard gas-powered cars, but that doesn’t mean expensive repairs aren’t required from time to time. The company sells its own vehicle service contract, known as the Tesla Extended Service Agreement (ESA), to help Tesla owners drive with more peace of mind.
Tesla extended warranty coverage merits a closer look, as there are some drawbacks to consider. In this article, we’ll examine the extended protection Tesla offers. We’ll also compare Tesla ESA plans with what’s available from some of the best extended car warranty companies.
What does a Tesla extended warranty cover?
The Tesla Extended Service Agreement will repair or replace most vehicle parts if there are defects in materials or workmanship. There’s only one coverage option, and it’s similar to the factory warranty you receive when you buy a new Tesla vehicle. That means bumper-to-bumper coverage with only a short list of exclusions.
You can purchase the Tesla ESA for the Model S, Model 3, Model X and Model Y as long as the vehicle is still covered by the 4-year/50,000-mile Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty. A Tesla ESA plan can’t be added to the purchase price of a vehicle — you can only purchase a plan separately through the Tesla app after taking delivery of the vehicle.
Tesla extended warranty added benefits
Tesla Roadside Assistance comes with every Tesla ESA plan. Keeping in mind that the availability of certain services can vary by area, these are the basic benefits that come with Tesla Roadside Assistance:
- Towing: If you experience a covered breakdown far from a Tesla service center, the company will cover transportation for up to 500 miles.
- Flat tire: In some locations, Tesla can provide drivers with a spare tire or loaner wheel. If these items aren’t available, Tesla will cover towing to a service center or other location for up to 50 miles.
- Lockout assistance: If your key fob or Tesla app malfunctions and leaves you locked out of your vehicle, the automaker will either remotely unlock the car or send a Tesla Roadside Professional to manually open your door.
Tesla extended warranty exclusions
Exclusions to the Tesla ESA are consistent with other manufacturers’ extended warranties. These are a few of the key issues and components that aren’t covered by a Tesla long-term vehicle protection plan:
- Damage due to misuse, lack of routine maintenance or improper storage
- The battery and drive unit (covered by a separate warranty)
- Unauthorized repairs or modifications
- Damage from accidents, environmental causes, fire, vandalism or theft
- Tires and wheels
- Wear-and-tear components such as brake pads, hoses, wiper blades and shock absorbers
Does Tesla offer a maintenance plan?
Tesla once offered a prepaid service plan in 16 states. These maintenance plans included scheduled yearly inspections and could last up to eight years or 100,000 miles. The company no longer offers these maintenance plan options.
In 2019, Tesla switched from recommending yearly inspections to suggesting specific services on an as-needed basis. These regular services include cabin air filter replacement every two to three years, tire rotations about every 6,250 miles and brake fluid tests every four years.
What is Tesla’s factory warranty?
The most popular Tesla vehicles (Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y) come with a new vehicle limited warranty that lasts four years or 50,000 miles. This warranty protects Tesla owners against factory defects and flawed workmanship. You also get a separate warranty for the battery and drive unit — depending on the Tesla model, this coverage lasts up to eight years or between 100,000 and 150,000 miles.
Tesla’s factory warranty coverage is average for the automotive industry. The fact that a Tesla ESA only extends this protection by two years or 25,000 miles does cast doubt on whether it’s a worthwhile investment. You may be able to find similar coverage with much longer terms through a third-party warranty provider.
How much does a Tesla extended warranty cost?
Unlike other automakers, Tesla lists the prices of its extended service agreement. Here’s a breakdown of these costs, with a reminder that each plan has a term of two years or 25,000 miles and comes with a $100 deductible:
| Tesla Vehicle Model | ESA Total Price |
|---|---|
| Model X | $3,500 |
| Model S | $3,100 |
| Model Y | $2,000 |
| Model 3 | $1,800 |
What does the average extended warranty cost?
We gathered quotes from eight leading third-party extended warranty providers to give you an idea of how much a vehicle protection plan costs on average. We used profiles of a few different vehicles with varying mileages.
Here are the average total costs we found, arranged by coverage level:
| Extended Warranty Type | Total Cost |
|---|---|
| Bumper-to-bumper | $2,804 |
| Midlevel | $3,151 |
| Powertrain | $2,807 |
Is a Tesla extended warranty worth it?
Coverage terms and total cost aren’t the only factors to consider when deciding whether a manufacturer’s extended warranty is worth it. You also have to weigh vehicle reliability and average repair costs.
Are Teslas reliable?
According to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, Tesla vehicles come in well below average in terms of reliability. This study measures problems vehicle owners experience after three years of ownership. The industry average is 190 problems per 100 vehicles on the road.
Although not technically eligible for J.D. Power ranking because Tesla doesn’t meet all study criteria, the automaker checked in with 252 problems per 100 vehicles. That would place Tesla at No. 26 out of 30 car brands.
How much are Tesla repairs?
RepairPal estimates an average annual repair cost of $832 for a Tesla vehicle. This is well above the industry average of $652 across all automakers. The average is especially high for the Tesla S, which RepairPal puts at $1,047 per year.
What Tesla owners say
You’ll find a wide range of opinions on the Tesla ESA from customers online. On message boards such as Tesla Motors Club, it’s a pretty even split between those who believe a Tesla extended warranty is worthwhile and those who think any vehicle service contract is a waste of money. That’s pretty par for the course with any manufacturer’s extended warranty.
Tesla vehicles are known for having issues with small parts including door handles and window motor regulators. Repairs and replacements for these components can be pretty expensive, although Tesla owners often point out the availability of affordable aftermarket parts in online comments and reviews.
Where should you buy a Tesla extended warranty?
As mentioned above, you need to purchase a Tesla extended warranty before the new vehicle limited warranty expires. You can do so through the Tesla app. While that’s convenient, there are definitely some advantages to purchasing a vehicle protection plan from a third-party provider instead.
Tesla extended warranty vs. third-party provider
Buying an extended auto warranty from an independent provider differs from going with a manufacturer’s plan in a few key ways. Here are a few of the main advantages that come with choosing an independent warranty provider over a Tesla ESA:
- Purchase flexibility: Rather than having to purchase a Tesla plan before your factory warranty expires, you can buy a third-party extended warranty at any time.
- Choice of repair shop: With the Tesla ESA, covered repairs must be performed at Tesla dealerships. You can take your Tesla to any licensed repair shop with an independent provider.
- Additional benefits: The roadside assistance benefits you get with a Tesla warranty are good, but you’ll likely get more perks (such as rental car reimbursement and key fob replacement) with a company such as Endurance, CarShield or Carchex.
- More coverage options: The Tesla ESA is only available for two years or 25,000 miles. You’ll find a host of warranty term options with third-party companies, with some lasting up to 10 years or 250,000-plus miles.
Here’s a quick look at how our top-rated extended car warranty companies compare with Tesla in terms of coverage, mileage limits and deductible options:
| Tesla | Endurance | CarShield | Carchex | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Availability | 50 states | 49 states (no CA) | 49 states (no CA) | 50 states |
| Number of Plans | 1 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Coverage Length | Up to 25,000 miles | Up to 200,000 miles | Up to 300,000 miles | Up to 250,000 miles |
| Deductible | $100 | $0, $50, $100, $200 | $0, $50, $100, $200 | $0, $50, $100 |
| Transferability | Yes | Yes, for $50 | Yes, for $50 | Yes, for $50 |
| Roadside Assistance | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Cancellation Policy | Prorated refund if plan has started | Full refund within 30 days | Full refund within 30 days | Full refund within 30 days |
What’s next?
If you want to protect your Tesla from expensive repairs in the future, you may be best served by a third-party warranty provider. The automaker’s extended service agreement only protects your vehicle for two years or 25,000 miles, which isn’t long.
These coverage limits pale in comparison with top-rated independent warranty providers such as Endurance, Autopom, Carchex and CarShield. We recommend that you compare free quotes from these companies before you purchase a Tesla extended warranty.
Our rating methodology for auto warranty companies
At Homefront, we analyze, rate and rank top vehicle service contract providers to help you discover the right one for your needs. The best automotive service contract companies offer transparency, affordability and expansive coverage options, among other qualities.
We rate companies using our objective scoring methodology. We assess brands on factors that are important to consumers like you — including cost, coverage, market standing, trustworthiness and customer experience. After scoring companies on a 100-point scale, we simplify final scores into the 5-star ratings you see in our content.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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