Even low-speed Teslas are often too expensive to repair
Insurance companies charge more for electric vehicles All in all, but some of the biggest names in the business are summing up Teslas that barely make it through huge repair bills with less than 10,000 miles on the meter.
Electric vehicles can save you money on fuel, but they’re expensive to repair and insure. And more advanced technology a car that is, the higher the cost for minor bumps and scratches. Sensors, cameras and electronics can send even modest repair costs fly. And Teslas—the best selling EV manufacturer on the roads in the United States – full of that stuff. A report from Reuters shows that Teslas in particular are subject to high repair bills:
Of the more than 120 Model Ys totaled after crashes and then put up for auction in December and early January, the majority have driven less than 10,000 miles on the odometer, according to live data. online from Copart and IAA, the two largest salvage auction houses in the United States.
The retail prices of those cars ranged from about $60,000 to over $80,000.
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Of the 15 Model Y Long Range cars built in Austin between June and November and sent for auction after a total crash, all but one had less than 10,000 miles on the odometer. Street.
An Austin-built 2022 Model Y Long Range that involved a frontal collision and was listed by the IAA in early January has a retail price of $61,388 and an estimated repair cost of $50,388. The owner of the vehicle was not listed.
A second Model Y built by Austin, involved in a side crash and listed by the IAA, has a retail price of $72,667 and an estimated repair cost of $43,814.
Teslas and EVs in general are notorious for costing owners 30% more in premiums than ICE cars. The car company has set up its own insurance branch in an effort reduced insurance premiums for owners in 2019. During a recent fourth-quarter call with investors, CEO Elon Musk said the company will also work on redesigning some parts to make repairs cheaper and more affordable.
It can be difficult to find someone who can repair a Tesla for an affordable price. Even Tesla himself was not always able to understand. In 2021, a Tesla Model 3 owner was quoted $16,000 to fix a local shop can complete for $700. Owners report weekly waits for service center appointments, and last year GM President Mark Reuss told investors that a some GM dealers have quietly repaired Teslas for several years.