Where you buy changes what you get
- Tesla Certified Pre-Owned. The car keeps whatever is left of the 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, then gets an extra 1 year or 10,000 miles. If the basic warranty has already run out, the extra year or 10,000 miles starts at delivery. The rest of the original battery and drive unit warranty still applies.
- A dealer or private seller. Any remaining factory warranty follows the car when the transfer is done through Tesla. There is no extra CPO coverage.
- Federal tax credit: the used EV credit (25E) ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, so do not count on it. See Texas EV fees and incentives.
Warranty: know what is left
Battery and drive unit coverage is 8 years in every case on Tesla's current warranty page, with at least 70% capacity retention, but the mileage cap depends on the car:
| Car | Battery and drive unit (Tesla's current page) |
|---|---|
| Model 3 RWD, Model Y RWD and AWD (Standard) | 8 years / 100,000 miles |
| Model 3 and Model Y Premium and Performance, Model Y L | 8 years / 120,000 miles |
| Model S, Model X, Cybertruck | 8 years / 150,000 miles |
Standard and Premium versions look alike; the trim decides the mileage cap, so confirm which one you are buying.
Older Model 3 cars
Older cars were sold under the terms in force at the time. Tesla's earlier Model 3 warranty document, written before the current trim names, splits battery and drive unit coverage by battery: 8 years or 100,000 miles for a Model 3 with a Standard or Mid-Range battery, and 8 years or 120,000 miles for one with a Long Range battery, both with at least 70% capacity retention. Listings for 2017-2023 cars often use the old names (Standard Range Plus, Long Range, Performance), so do not guess from the badge: ask the seller to show you the Tesla app's Specs & Warranty screen for that VIN, or ask Tesla.
Paperwork and history
- VIN history report for accidents, flood damage and title brands. Flood history matters in Texas, especially for cars that came from the Gulf Coast after a storm.
- Open recalls. Our recall lookup lists recalls for the model year. To see whether this specific car still has one open, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Most Tesla fixes are free over-the-air software updates, but some need a shop visit, and those are the ones to confirm.
- Service records. Ask for invoices, and look at the car's Maintenance Summary (Controls > Service > Maintenance on software 2024.44.25 or later). It survives a factory reset, so outside work recorded there stays with the car.
- Software features. Confirm what the car's own software screen lists, for example Full Self-Driving or premium connectivity; listings are sometimes wrong. Tesla says some upgrades, subscriptions and Supercharging credits may not transfer to a new owner.
Hardware recalls worth confirming by VIN
A few examples from NHTSA's records where the fix needs parts, not just software. You can look up each campaign number, or the car's VIN, at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Model 3, 2017-2023 and Model Y, 2020-2023: headlight low beams can be too bright; Tesla replaces the headlights (26V507000). Owner letters were due around early October 2026, so many cars still show it open.
- Model Y, 2020-2022: suspension knuckles inspected and replaced as needed (21V912000).
- Model 3, 2024 built for a foreign market: a small number lack US-required knee airbags, and Tesla is buying them back (26V445000). Check any used 2024 Model 3.
- Model S and X, 2021-2025: driver airbag replacement (24V967000).
- Model X, 2016: roof trim adhesion (24V615000). See living with an older Model X.
- Cybertruck, 2024: the model year with the most Cybertruck recalls, including the drive inverter (24V832000); trucks with 18-inch steel wheels also need 26V255000.
Model-specific details are in our Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck guides.
Self-driving hardware: HW3 vs HW4 (AI4)
Teslas carry one of several generations of the computer that runs Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD). Most cars for sale now have either Hardware 3 (HW3) or Hardware 4, which Tesla now calls AI4. The difference matters most if the car comes with FSD, or if you plan to buy it.
- How to check, on the car: Controls > Software > Additional Vehicle Information. Tesla's support pages use this screen to confirm the car's AI computer type. Ask the seller for a photo of it before you visit.
- Which years, generally: Not a Tesla App reports that 2017-2023 Model 3 cars have HW3 and the updated 2024 Model 3 has HW4; that Model S and X bought after about March 2023 likely have AI4; and that US-built Model Y cars from around late May 2023 onward likely have AI4. Changeovers happened mid-year, so the model year alone does not settle it. Check the screen.
- Why it matters for FSD value: Electrek reported in July 2026 that Tesla's CEO said HW3 does not have the capability to achieve unsupervised FSD, and that Tesla gave no firm timing, method or cost for upgrading HW3 cars. HW3 cars received a reduced FSD v14 "Lite" build instead. If a seller prices FSD into a HW3 car, weigh that.
- Transfer: as noted above, Tesla says some upgrades and subscriptions may not transfer to a new owner, so confirm in writing what the car will have after the sale.
Battery health
- Run Tesla's own check at Controls > Service > Battery Health. The optional test needs at least 5 kW of AC charging and can take up to 24 hours plugged in, so ask the seller to run it before you visit.
- Compare the full-charge range shown in the car with the original EPA range for that version. Some loss is normal; Tesla's warranty threshold is 70% over the warranty period.
- Charge it on a fast charger during the test drive to see that it accepts a normal rate.
Tires and suspension
Heavy EVs wear tires faster than many buyers expect, so look closely.
- Tread depth on all four. Tesla recommends rotation every 6,250 miles, or sooner if any two tires differ by 2/32 inch or more. Uneven wear can mean alignment or suspension work.
- Load rating. Read the door-jamb placard and the sidewalls. If the car calls for XL (extra load) or HL (high load) tires, the ones on it should match.
- Tesla markings. Tesla-approved tires carry a "T" code on the sidewall, and many have sound-dampening foam inside, which affects how a flat can be repaired. Our EV tires guide explains both.
- Staggered setups (different front and rear sizes) cannot be rotated front to back, so expect the rears to go first.
On the car
- Glass roof and windshield for chips and cracks, and any sign of hail repair; see hail season.
- Door handles, seals and, on a Model X, every falcon-wing door several times.
- Cameras clear and working, especially after any glass or bumper replacement.
- Charge port opens, latches and charges.
Get an independent inspection. Tesla publishes service manuals and the parts catalog free, so a good independent EV shop can check most of the car. Find repair shops in our directory for Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, Austin or San Antonio, and ask the shop whether it does pre-purchase inspections before you book.
Buying from a private seller in Texas
A dealer handles the title and tax paperwork for you. In a private sale, you do it, through your county tax assessor-collector's office. TxDMV and the Texas Comptroller set out the steps:
- Get a signed Form 130-U from the seller. It is the Application for Texas Title and/or Registration, and TxDMV says it should show the sales price clearly. Get the signed title too.
- Title it within 30 days. TxDMV says vehicles must be titled in the buyer's name within 30 days from the date of sale.
- Budget for 6.25% sales tax. In a private sale, the buyer pays the 6.25% motor vehicle sales tax when the car is titled. The Comptroller says the tax is figured on the greater of the price you paid or 80% of the car's standard presumptive value (SPV), a value the state sets for each used vehicle; TxDMV has an SPV calculator. If you paid less than 80% of SPV, a certified appraisal obtained within 30 calendar days of purchase can be used instead.
- The seller should file a vehicle transfer notification. TxDMV says a seller who files it within 30 days of the sale is protected from parking tickets and toll violations the buyer runs up. It protects the seller, but it is a sign of a careful one.
- Expect the EV fee at registration. TxDMV charges fully electric vehicles a $200 fee at each yearly registration renewal (a new EV registered for two years pays $400). See Texas EV fees.
After you buy
- Add the car to your Tesla account (My Products > Add Product). Tesla says it can take up to 48 hours.
- Check Specs & Warranty in the app again, now that the car is yours.
- Book any open recalls in the app's Service tab.
- Plan home charging; Standard-trim Model 3 and Y cars are limited to 32 A, which changes what you need. See home charging in Texas.
- Register it in Texas and budget for the EV fee; see Texas EV fees. For where to take it for service, see Tesla service options.
Sources
- Tesla, vehicle warranty (including CPO) (checked October 2026)
- Tesla, vehicle maintenance (checked October 2026)
- Tesla Model 3 owner's manual, Battery Health (checked October 2026)
- Tesla, adding a vehicle to the app (checked October 2026)
- NHTSA recalls search: campaigns 26V507000, 21V912000, 26V445000, 24V967000, 24V615000, 24V832000 and 26V255000 (checked October 2026)
- Michelin, high-load (HL) tires for EVs (checked October 2026)
- Tesla service, parts and tools (checked October 2026)
- EY tax news, credit termination dates (25E) (checked October 2026)
- Tesla, earlier Model 3 New Vehicle Limited Warranty (US and Canada) (checked October 2026)
- Tesla, AI computer installations (checking computer type) (checked October 2026)
- Not a Tesla App, how to check HW3 or AI4 (August 2024) (checked October 2026)
- Electrek, Tesla's HW3 plans after the Q2 2026 earnings call (July 22, 2026) (checked October 2026)
- TxDMV, buying or selling a vehicle (Form 130-U, 30-day titling, 6.25% tax, transfer notification) (checked October 2026)
- Texas Comptroller, private-party purchases and standard presumptive values (checked October 2026)
- TxDMV, register your vehicle (EV fee) (checked October 2026)
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