What to inspect on a used Tesla

A Tesla inspection is short if the seller has the app open. If they will not sit in the car with the software, walk.

Battery

Ask for a recent energy graph and a Supercharger session that reached a high state of charge. Degradation of a few percent on a 2021 Model 3 is normal. A car that has lived on 100% in Darwin heat is a different story. Do not buy from a screenshot of the estimated range on a cold morning.

Tyres and wheels

Read the date codes. 20- and 21-inch performance wheels eat tyres and range. Confirm the car still has a tyre-repair kit. Check for kerb rash on the rear right — Australian carparks are not kind.

Glass and body

The Model 3/Y hatch glass chips. Look along the roof line and the charge-port door. Falcon-wing Model X struts are a specialist job; budget for them on any X older than five years.

Software and hardware

• MCU2 on older S/X cars.
• CCS versus CHAdeMO on cars that predate the native CCS port.
• Heat pump versus older resistive heating.
• Whether Enhanced Autopilot or FSD capability is actually on the car, not on a brochure.

Test drive

Precondition. Use Autopilot on a marked freeway, then turn it off. Listen for a hum from the rear motor on dual-motor cars. Check air suspension on S/X through a speed hump. Park, open every door, and sit in the third row if it is a Y or X.

Bring a CCS cable or know the nearest Supercharger. A used Tesla that cannot take a DC charge is not a small problem.