How To Build a Custom Tesla Model S

Customize your Tesla Model S for a tailor-made driving experience.
Written by Mariza Morin
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
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Tesla’s Model S is designed for an elite experience on the road. Although built for optimization, it does offer several customizable features that allow you to add a personal signature to your ride.
When you ride in a
Tesla
Model S, you’re making a statement. You’re driving the vehicle that redefined the electric auto industry! But your Tesla is more than that. It’s yours. And with Tesla’s range of customization options, it can also reflect you.
But where to begin? What options are there? Our team of experts has created this guide to break down all there is to know to take full advantage of Tesla’s customization options.
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2022 Tesla Model S trims

The Model S is one classy ride. It’s sleek. It’s modern. It’s fast. And, most importantly, it’s fun. Despite the growing market
electric vehicle
market, the Tesla Model S still wins out over the competition, ranking #1 on Car and Driver. To truly own this vehicle, Tesla offers a few opportunities to make it your own.
The 2022 Tesla Model S comes in two trims: Model S and Model S Plaid. The base Model S trim starts at $99,990. Upgrade to the Plaid trim and you’ll be looking at a $135,900 price tag—that’s a $35,910 difference! But that price is going to get you a few important things—time to spell out the specs.

Model S

When you’re driving a Tesla, you’re in a league of your own. So even though the Model S is the base trim, it sure packs a punch—its dual-motor all-wheel drive provides more control and power than any other Tesla model. With 670 hp and a top speed of around 155 mph, the Model S can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds hitting an estimated range of 405 miles.

Model S Plaid

Now for the upgrade. While all Teslas are in a league of their own, the Plaid trim redefines the league. With its tri-motor all-wheel drive, you can maintain 1,000+ hp up to 200 mph. Yeah, you heard right: 1000+ hp. 
Not only can you hit those ridiculous numbers with an S Plaid, but you also get torque vectoring and independent carbon-sleeved rotors. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.99 seconds, with a range of 396 miles.

2022 Tesla Model S customization

After you select your trim, you’ll still have plenty of options to further customize your vehicle. 
Your vehicle’s exterior expresses your personality to the world. The Model S is painted Pearl White. But for an additional $1,500, you can switch it up and paint it black, silver, blue, or red.
The Model S’s 19” Tempest Wheels are certainly well-constructed. But you can up your tire ante by upgrading to their Arachnid Wheels for an additional $4,500.
Your car’s interior will come in a beautiful all-black with ebony décor. However, if all black isn’t your thing, for $2,000 you can select a black and white or cream interior with walnut décor.
Ready to ride your vehicle into the future? For $12,000 you can upgrade your Model S to full self-driving capability. This will allow your car to navigate on autopilot, auto change lanes, and auto park—Tesla has plans to trick this feature out even more with an option to auto-steer on city streets.

How to customize your Tesla Model S to save money

Alright, so if you’re in the market for a Tesla, budget may not be your primary concern. But that doesn’t mean you can’t save a few bucks.
Choosing a Tesla Model S has a big upfront cost, sure. But over time, it may actually save you money. An electric vehicle will save you about $5,500 in potential gas savings—that’s quite the chunk of change!
You may already know you can save money by going electric, but did you know you may become eligible for state, local, or utility incentives? In some states, you can get a rebated discount on your vehicle cost and you may even be offered carpool access or free municipal parking. The incentive depends on your location—to know what you qualify for, you can check out Tesla’s
state breakdown
Another cost to consider is your insurance. The more you upgrade your vehicle, the more value you add. But that also means that you have more to lose if you get into an accident, causing insurers to hike your premium to manage their increased risk. These costs add up, so they’re something to consider before you click add to cart.
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How to find affordable insurance for your Tesla Model S

If you’re insuring a Tesla, you’re going to see a higher premium than you would insuring most cars. Your car has some serious value. You want to keep it protected. But that doesn’t mean you need to pay more than you should. 
When you switch with
Jerry
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All you need to do is download the app, put in your info, and within seconds we’ll generate customized quotes from the top car insurers in the market. We’ll also help you make the switch and can even help you cancel your old policy.
How much can you save? How does an average of $877 every year sound? Not too bad!
“Because I have a luxury car, I was more interested in finding better coverage than the exact price.
Jerry
helped me upgrade my policy, and when my record is cleared next year, I will be using Jerry again to choose an even cheaper plan!” —Paige W.
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