The Best Used Tesla To Buy
With great reliability ratings and high-tech driver assistance features, the Model 3 is the best used Tesla to buy.
Written by Ethan Moser
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Table of Contents
- The best used Tesla to buy: Tesla Model 3
- What makes the Tesla Model 3 a good used car?
- The true cost of owning a Tesla Model 3
- Safety features of the Tesla Model 3
- Is the Tesla Model 3 a reliable used car?
- Customization and styling
- How to find affordable insurance for a used Tesla
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The Tesla Model 3 is the best used Tesla to buy. It provides the best of Tesla’s award-winning performance, unique styling, and extensive safety features.
The Model 3 is one of the world’s best luxury compact vehicles. With a responsive touchscreen display and best-in-class comfort, this used Tesla model is the perfect option for you if a new Tesla is out of your price range.
Despite only being in the car-making business since 2008, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to Tesla’s cutting-edge manufacturing.
Thankfully, the top-rated
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The best used Tesla to buy: Tesla Model 3
Tesla stakes its claim as a leader in automotive technology and innovation. Since the
Tesla Model 3
maintains the innovative feel that all Tesla models are known for, it stands out as the best option for used car shoppers.What makes the Tesla Model 3 a good used car?
It’s hard to go wrong when it comes to buying and driving a Tesla model, but what exactly sets apart the Model 3 as the manufacturer’s best used car?
Our system for evaluating the best used cars focuses on four key elements: true cost to own, safety features, reliability, and customization. Let’s dive into each:
- True cost to own: Buying a used Tesla is an investment in and of itself, but you can’t forget to factor in additional costs for maintenance, insurance, andcar repairswhen drafting your budget. The best used Tesla will remain affordable even with these included.
- Safety features: Used car buyers often have to sacrifice state-of-the-art safety technology. An ideal used Tesla will feature safety tech and driver assistance tools that are ahead of their time.
- Reliability: There’s no point in springing for a used luxury Tesla if it's going to break down the day you buy it. The best used Tesla model should be able to grow with you.
- Customization and styling: While you won’t have total control over customizing your used Tesla in terms of appearance and add-on features, the best used model will be available in a variety of styles while maintaining a modern aesthetic.
The true cost of owning a Tesla Model 3
To calculate the true cost of owning your used Tesla, you’ll need to combine the purchase price with costs of operation including maintenance, insurance, and loan costs.
Unfortunately, since Teslas are luxury vehicles from a relatively new manufacturer, you’re likely to pay higher rates for repairs and maintenance than you would for a run-of-the-mill sedan. Those costs make owning a used Tesla a long-term investment.
Luxury vehicles like Teslas are also going to be more expensive to insure—increasing your overall cost of ownership.
Let’s take a deeper dive to determine the true cost of owning a used Tesla Model 3.
Purchase price
The Tesla Model 3 features a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $45,190, but a used model will cost somewhere closer to $40,000.
Costs of operation
The key to keeping your
car loan
payments and interest costs low is to have a good credit score and/or make a good down payment
.A fresh-off-the-line Tesla Model 3 can lose up to 44% of its value in the first five years thanks to depreciation. The good news is a used Tesla model is going to depreciate at a slower rate, making it less likely that you’ll lose money on your investment.
We recommend the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus Model over the Long Range or Performance models because there is no other electric vehicle at its price point that offers the same levels of performance with 263 miles of range on a single charge.
Going with the lower trim level will also result in lower costs for maintenance and insurance over higher trim level options.
With a Tesla, you don't have to worry about fuel costs associated with a typical gas-powered vehicle. If you’re using a public Tesla supercharging station, you can expect to pay an average of $0.25 per KW for Teslas purchased after 2017.
Key Takeaway Purchasing a used Tesla Model 3 will lead to a more approachable MSRP, a lower depreciation rate, and overall lower costs for maintenance and insurance.
Safety features of the Tesla Model 3
While luxury vehicles like Tesla models aren't typically acclaimed for their safety features, the Tesla Model 3 boasts advanced safety tech that comes standard, earning it top marks on crashworthiness from the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS
). Standard safety features on the Model 3 include: - Anti-lock brake system
- Stability control
- Front-impact airbags
- Side-impact airbags
- Overhead airbags
- Knee airbags
- Pretensioners
- Security system
The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
gave the sedan an overall safety rating of five out of five stars during collision tests. MORE: How to find vehicle safety ratings
Is the Tesla Model 3 a reliable used car?
When it comes to the Tesla Model 3’s reliability, there are mixed reviews. According to customer comments listed with the NHTSA, a common issue that plagues the Tesla Model 3 includes excessive braking distance.
The model was listed as “Not Recommended” by
Consumer Reports
in both 2018 and 2019 for excessive braking distance and issues of poor fit, finish, and body panel installation. However, both recommendations were later reinstated following updates that CR stated Tesla “satisfactorily addressed” the issues. Despite the Tesla Model 3’s rocky relationship with the NHTSA and CR about its reliability, the best thing drivers can do to make their used Tesla as reliable as possible is to perform regular maintenance checks. Routine maintenance will not only help address expected wear and tear but also help to halt any developing issues before it’s too late.
Overall, you can expect your Tesla Model 3 to last around 300,000 to 500,000 miles depending on its trim level.
Customization and styling
Beyond price and reliability, you’ll also want to enjoy the experience of owning your used Tesla. Thankfully, the Tesla Model 3 features a variety of options for customizations—all with the sleek style expected from luxury cars of its caliber.
The Tesla Model 3 is available at three trim levels:
- Standard Range Plus
- Performance
- Long Range
This means you’ll have an easier time finding a Model 3 that not only suits your needs but also your personality.
Additionally, the Model 3 offers drivers Bluetooth audio connectivity, internet radio, and graphics-intensive Tesla Arcade games as part of its upgraded Infotainment system.
How to find affordable insurance for a used Tesla
Owning a luxury car is great—until you learn that you’ll end up paying more for an insurance policy than you would for a less expensive car.
Thankfully,
Jerry
is here to help! As a licensed insurance broker and all-around trustworthy super app
, Jerry can provide users with competitive quotes from 50+ top insurance providers in less than 45 seconds. Just download the app, enter your information, and watch as the savings roll in. Jerry saves users an average of $887 per year on
car insurance
. Those savings could reduce your annual cost of insuring a used Tesla Model 3 by more than 50%!“Wow! What an amazing app! I saved about $65 on auto insurance withJerry! Switched from Progressive to Mercury for auto insurance and it was so easy.” – Rachel R.
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