Let’s be honest: if you’re reading this, you’ve undoubtedly put “Used Tesla for sale” into your search bar at least once. It may have been midnight. You might have been daydreaming during a dull Zoom chat. You’re ready to go electric, but you have some options to make. Are you sure you want a certified pre-owned (CPO) Tesla, or would a conventional used Tesla work for you? More help!
To begin with, a Certified Pre-Owned Tesla comes straight from Tesla. Tesla’s inspection process has really checked the car. They aren’t employing a prayer and a flashlight. We’re talking about a full inspection from bumper to bumper. Anything strange? It gets repaired or replaced. Also, CPO Teslas come with an extended warranty that usually lasts one to two years or 20,000 to 50,000 miles on top of the original new car guarantee. You receive an extra year or 20,000 miles for the Model S and X, which have been on sale since April 2021. You may add a year or 10,000 miles to Model 3s and Ys. Numbers are important in case life throws you a curveball.
On the other hand, used Teslas that aren’t certified can show up anywhere. You may find it on Craigslist, from an independent dealer, or from Aunt Marge’s neighbor who says he merely drove it to the store. These rides are, well, used—there’s no factory reinspection and no extra warranty from Tesla. Depending on how old and how many miles they have, some people might still have some of their original warranty left, but that’s a gamble. Prices will go down, though. A Model 3 that isn’t a CPO might cost $3,000 to $6,000 less than its CPO sibling. That’s a lot of money, and it might make the difference between getting paint protection film or not.
Let’s talk about software. CPO Teslas get updates, and features like Autopilot and Full Self-Driving Capability will always be there. If Tesla discovers out that the original owner adds software features to a non-certified car without paying for them, the car can lose those features. Weird, right? After a software update, some people say their “Full Self-Driving” goes away. Certified autos safeguard you from these surprises.