Used Tesla pre-purchase inspection
Buying a used Tesla? Check the battery and charging before you commit.
An EV-trained inspector reads the battery data the car exposes, runs the charge test, checks the 12-volt battery and open recalls, and completes the full inspection — report within 24–48 hours of the visit. Flat $349, Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X.
What the inspection reads on a used Tesla
Tesla is not a separate product: it is the flat EV inspection, run on a Tesla. Here is what that means for the car you are looking at.
Battery state of health, where the car exposes it
The figure the vehicle’s own diagnostic system provides, plus a range-versus-original-rating comparison from the charge test. Where a precise percentage is not available through consumer-accessible tooling, the report documents range and charge behaviour and says plainly what could and could not be measured.
Charging, on the car you are buying
Where a charger is accessible, an AC (Level 2) session and, where a DC fast charger is reasonably accessible, a fast-charge session, documenting charge rate, taper behaviour, and any error codes. This is where charge-port and battery-management faults show up.
The 12-volt battery
A small, separate battery that wakes the high-voltage pack. It is a common and inexpensive failure point that gets mistaken for a dead main battery, so its age, voltage, and terminal condition are checked every time.
Drive unit, thermal system, and the full inspection
The drive unit and cooling on the road test, plus the same body, interior, brake, suspension, and tire inspection every vehicle gets, with 25+ photos.
Software version and open recalls
The current firmware version is noted against the latest release, and the VIN is run against the manufacturer’s open-recall list before the visit. The inspector does not perform updates.
This page is about Tesla buyers’ questions. For how to read a state-of-health number, see how used EV battery health is checked before buying.
What to ask the seller of a used Tesla
Some of what matters on a Tesla is not something an inspector can measure. These are for you and the seller to settle.
Which paid software features are on this car?
Check what is enabled on the car’s own screen, and confirm with Tesla whether paid features stay with the car after a sale. The terms have changed over time, so do not rely on the listing.
Will you remove the car from your Tesla account at handover?
Ask whether the car is still linked to their Tesla account or phone key, and have them remove it. Make sure you leave with every key card and key you were promised.
What is the title history?
Check the title for a salvage, rebuilt, or flood brand and confirm lien status with your state’s DMV before you pay, exactly as you would on any car.
How much of the battery warranty is left?
Warranty terms depend on the model and model year. Read Tesla’s published terms for that car and put them next to the battery reading in the report.
Has it been in a collision or had body repair?
Panel gaps and paint are part of the standard inspection; ask the seller for repair records and photos of any previous damage.
How a Tesla inspection works
Book the EV tier
One flat price for every EV. Paste the listing or the seller’s address and, where one is available in your area, we match an EV-trained inspector to the car.
The inspector goes to the car
High-voltage safety protocol, EV diagnostic tooling, and the charge test, on-site with the seller. You do not need to be there.
Report within 24–48 hours of the visit
Battery readings and charge-test results with photos, the 12V check, recalls, and a plain-English summary of what passed and what needs attention.
Decide with the numbers
Use the report, the title check, and the seller’s answers to set your price or walk. If you are buying from another state, the inspection comes before the transport.
Common questions
- Do you inspect used Teslas?
- Yes. Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X are covered by the flat $349 EV inspection, the same tier every EV is booked on. EV inspectors are trained separately from the combustion-vehicle pool and know that each manufacturer exposes battery data differently, Tesla included. If we do not have an inspector matched to your specific make in your area, we tell you before you book.
- Can you tell me the exact battery health percentage of a Tesla?
- The report gives the state-of-health figure the vehicle’s own diagnostic system exposes, where the platform makes that data available, plus a range-versus-original-rating comparison from the charge test. Not every manufacturer exposes a precise percentage through consumer-accessible tooling; where that is the case the report documents range and charge behaviour and says plainly what could and could not be measured.
- Will you charge the Tesla during the inspection?
- Yes, where a charger is accessible. The inspector runs an AC (Level 2) session and, where a DC fast charger is reasonably accessible, a fast-charge session, and documents charge rate, taper behaviour, and any error codes.
- Do you do a cell-level or lab test of the battery?
- No lab teardown. The Tesla’s battery is assessed through the car’s available diagnostics, charge behaviour, and range verification.
- Is the Tesla’s software or Autopilot part of the inspection?
- The inspector notes the firmware version against the latest release and flags a pending update, and function-checks the driver-assistance features the car offers on the road test. The inspector does not certify those features, does not evaluate paid software, and does not perform updates. Check which features are on the car and whether they transfer with a sale directly with Tesla.
- How much does a used Tesla inspection cost, and when is my card charged?
- A flat $349 nationwide, regardless of model, with no complexity surcharge for the battery diagnostics or charge test. Your card is saved at booking and charged only after the inspection is completed.
- The Tesla is in another state. How does that work?
- The inspector goes to the car where it is, and the report reaches you before you travel or arrange transport. The EV inspection is typically scheduled 3 to 5 days before pickup or transport so there is time to act on the findings.
Buying from a private seller? Read what to check before you pay on Marketplace. In another state? See the out-of-state car buying inspection page, or a real sample report.
Inspect the Tesla before you commit.
Flat $349 nationwide, EV-trained inspectors, report within 24–48 hours of the visit. Card saved at booking, never charged until your inspection is completed.
Book a used Tesla inspection