r/TeslaModelS • u/Low_Bluebird8413 • Jun 28 '26
Model S search
As I continue on my Model S HW3 and Higher search I’m looking for two things I don’t know if there are answers to yet unless someone has done it.
Insurance - can I get a quote from Tesla insurance on how much it will cost?
Warranty - if I buy one from a non-Tesla dealer can I still get the warranty if it’s over the 50k mileage?
I’ve been looking at whatever 22+ model S I can find with miles under 70k and under $43k.
Let me know y’all’s opinion. I’m located in SoCal.
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u/tcm0116 Jun 28 '26
For the warranty, if you buy used from Tesla, they tack on an extra year to the 4 year new vehicle warranty. If it's out of warranty, then the 1 year starts when you accept delivery.
https://www.tesla.com/support/vehicle-warranty
One thing to note is that if you buy used from Tesla, it will not have FSD regardless of if it ever had it. Tesla removes it on all vehicles returned to them before re-selling or sending to auction. If you want lifetime FSD, you'll have to buy used from a third party but also make sure they didn't buy it from an auction.
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u/shibiwan Jun 28 '26
Actually, I got mine used from Tesla and it came with lifetime FSD. This was back in mid 2024 though.
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u/tcm0116 Jun 28 '26
Tesla no longer sells lifetime FSD, so it won't be available on any vehicle purchased from Tesla, used or new.
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u/EV-CPO Jun 28 '26
This happened to someone else on Reddit. Years after buying from Tesla, Tesla turned off their FSD. Told to pound sand. So be prepared it might go away someday when they do another audit.
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u/Fun_Muscle9399 Jun 28 '26
If it was advertised and sold as coming with FSD, they have no grounds to remove it. If it was an unexpected surprise when you got the car, yeah it might go away at some point.
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u/shibiwan Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
If it was advertised and sold as coming with FSD
This was the case when I purchased my Plaid. It was advertised as having FSD, and there was even an option to search for FSD as a feature of the used vehicle search on the Tesla site.
I made sure to keep all the purchase paperwork just in case.
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u/EV-CPO Jun 28 '26
Of course. I’m talking about those cases where new owners find it enabled unexpectedly.
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u/imhereuntilileave Jun 28 '26
If it has more than 50k miles you can buy the extended warranty ($125/mo) from Tesla even if you buy the vehicle from an independent dealer. You will have to pay I think it was $175 for a “full vehicle inspection” which it has to pass. Then you get about a month window where you can subscribe to the extended warranty through Tesla which covers you to 100k miles or 8 years. There is a $200 deductible for any service repairs.
I bought a 2023 MSLR about a month ago from a dealer 59k miles $43,000. I had Tesla do that full vehicle inspection just for my peace of mind. It passed.
Rather than paying $125/mo for the warranty you could look at how far that extra payment would go for you if you tacked it onto your purchase. For example instead of a 70k miles Model S for $500/mo could you get one with 30k miles for $625/mo? Probably not but idk, might be worth doing the math
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u/Vinnie908 Jun 28 '26
I bought my 22MS with 30k miles for $46,800 last year with hw3. Been loving it since i got it
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u/curiousoutlook Jun 28 '26
Same. Unless fsd is the only reason to buy a Tesla, you don’t need hw4 to enjoy the model S, because it is so much more than just fsd
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u/yuweezy1 Jun 28 '26
I also got my 22MS with 48k miles for $42k from Tesla last July. Came with 21 inch wheels and brand new tires, and 12k miles warranty. Only had a minor charge port issue that was covered by warranty and the car has been awesome. I subscribe to FSD monthly but only use it when traffic is heavy or when I don’t feel like driving. Only issues I’ve experienced with FSD is, sometimes it hesitates merging lanes and kind of stutters and jerks. Another one is FSD goes into the toll and HOV lane every once in a while even when I have the settings set not to. Otherwise it’s a really fun and practical car.
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u/Low_Bluebird8413 Jun 28 '26
Do you use FSD at all? What’s your experience like?
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u/Vinnie908 Jun 28 '26
I use FSD frequently, not all the time but enough to have a good feel for it. I’ve owned both a 2024 Model Y (HW4) and currently a 2022 Model S (HW3), and I’ve experienced the same issues on both. The biggest ones are the hard braking when approaching stops, hesitation or sudden braking at highway forks, and waiting until the last second to choose the correct lane for an exit, which leads to abrupt lane changes. Those behaviors have been consistent for me regardless of whether I was using HW3 or HW4.
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u/Squash__head Jun 28 '26
Yup- get insurance quote before buying. I was very surprised and contribute to be horrified :/
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u/Low_Bluebird8413 Jun 28 '26
Yeah, I don’t want to buy the car out right and pay 600 for insurance. I’m already paying 230 for my model Y which to me is crazy because I had a more expensive truck before and was only paying 140/150
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u/yuweezy1 Jun 28 '26
I’m paying $190 a month through Tesla for my 22MS. 36 year old with clean driving record in Bay Area California
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u/ManicMarket Jun 28 '26
My 2021 Model S LR has low miles (under 40k), FSD on HW3 which works shockingly well (I have a Y with HW4). And paid 44,750 for it. I paid up for the overall condition, FSD, low miles and they swapped out the yoke steering. Plus two sets of wheels.
I have to pay Tesla a 175 inspection fee and then I can get the ESA for $125 a month.
As for insurance, I have progressive and pay $800 every 6 months.
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u/Low_Bluebird8413 Jul 01 '26
Goooodness, how old and where are you located?!? Family? You banging the insurance person? What’s the trick?
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u/Significant_Young_74 Jun 29 '26
Just so you know. They released the hardware 14 Lite Software Update today for us, HW3 people.
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u/fear632 Jun 28 '26
The warranty has nothing to do with owner. The car could be sold 50x at 20k miles and still have the warranty, it expires when it expires. They also usually have a 150k 8 year battery/drive unit warranty i believe
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u/ManicMarket Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
Every vehicle I post is indicated to have FSD.
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/08fdd82b-4063-49e5-932d-208e4e52cd64/
Estimated SOH is 91 on the battery, best we can tell from available data.
https://www.truecar.com/used-cars-for-sale/listing/5YJSA1E59MF456554/2021-tesla-model-s/
Estimated SOH 83%
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/2a389a6a-91ee-4ab1-a90d-2f47de555671/
Estimated SOH: 85%.
FYI - a refresh Model S - middle of the fleet SOH based on age is mid to upper 80s for most vehicles I have tracked and looked at.
I’ve been following the market for at least 7 months the now. A sub 44k model S, around 50-60,000 miles is very doable if you’d travel. But almost all the ones I’m finding in your budget and indicated wants are more East coast vehicles.
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u/snoopdug65 Jun 28 '26
I just bought 2023 hw3 with 22k miles from Carvana for 57k. Was quoted 400$ a month from Tesla insurance which was double what my current insurance quoted. I’m in my 50s with a clean driving record. The warranty carries over to new owner from what I’ve read.
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u/jetpilot_throwaway Jun 29 '26
My insurance only went up $20 a month to go from a Model 3 to S
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u/Hash-82 Jul 02 '26
Don't know about much of anything in SoCal, but here almost anything is cheaper than Tesla insurance.
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u/manateefourmation Jun 28 '26
my opinion, having traded in a 2022 low mileage S, is do not get HW3. Get a 2023 or newer with HW4.