Official: Model S Service Plans

[BertL]

My car is on order and I could use some advice. I bought a 2014 Inventory Car that has 40k miles on the clock (high but since it's from inventory my warranty is 4/50 and battery 8/unlimited from now).

Will Tesla go by mileage instead of calendar year, so I would be looking at the 50k $900 service as my first service, complete with the battery coolant replacement? Does starting with high mileage affect the prepaid service costs? As far as I can tell, I would still get the same four services, just rotated in a different order.

I'm also thinking about paying out of pocket for that first service, then having my next service at 75k, skipping the inspection and cabin filter in between. I don't see how those have a $500 value, but I'm new here so if I'm way off base, please be gentle in correcting me!!

Congratulations on your soon to be new-to-you MS!

I suggest you ask your Delivery Specialist your questions about service, and do that via email if you can. It would seem to me some of the answers or decisions you come to, may depend upon what service has already been done on your MS, and frankly how Tesla interprets their own terms when it comes to miles/time and prepaid service -- or even if prepaid service is available on an inventory vehicle, I'm not sure.

In terms of skipping a service -- some do, some don't. It's a lot of reading, but many owner's POV is expressed upthread. Personally, I pretty much follow the mfgr recommendation on time or miles. When I've paid cash for service in the past, with my relatively low mileage, I've been known to push service out for a few months on my former ICE. I'd probably do the same with my Tesla, but with my prepaid MS service, I will always following the rules and have service done based on miles or within 30 days of my anniversary date. Service terms are clear the work needs to be done within 30 days of the anniversary date. (I took delivery of my MS 10/5/2015, and it is presently in for it's first annual service. )

Good luck and enjoy that MS!

 

[HankLloydRight]

So, YOU bought that Inventory P85D with 40k miles! Congrats. There was some speculation here that it was mis-tagged as an Inventory car, but was really a CPO. So you're getting that with the federal tax credit. Great deal.

In terms of the service schedule, I think only Tesla can answer what they'd do. Yes, you get four services. It depends on what service the car go before delivery to you.

Many people here are doing the "skip every other year" plan to save some money. I also bought an Inventory car with 8k miles on it in 2014, and bought the 8-year service plan for $3800 (which includes the wheel alignments). But with the new schedule and costs, the skipping plan makes sense, too.

 

[sorka]

So with a discount if $1/mile and $1k for each month you got at least $60k off list? This assumes it was made in December of 14 or the discount would be even higher.

 

[Gig103]

So with a discount if $1/mile and $1k for each month you got at least $60k off list? This assumes it was made in December of 14 or the discount would be even higher.

Is that the typical discount? I got $1/mile but no month-to-month discount.

 

[Buster1]

I must be missing something. I am new to Teslas and searching for one now (not a current owner). Why would I need a service plan if the car comes with a warranty? Someone said the service plan covers "bugs" and such. Wouldn't the warranty cover that?

I understand that the service plan takes care of brakes and wipers and the such (but not tires). But if the computer fails, or the batteries stop charging or something, wouldn't the stellar Tesla warranty cover that?

Please educate me.

 

[BertL]

@Buster1, lots of this discussion is upthread, so we probably don't need to repeat all that here. Lots of passionate and knowledgeable people have taken a lot of time expressing their POV if you'd like to grab a cool one and do some scanning at your leisure.

My summary is if you purchase, Tesla does not say you HAVE to do preventive maintenance to maintain the basic warranty, but even an EV has some mechanical things that wear out or could possibly benefit from lube, tightening, or whatever upon occasion. Some people lease or flip vehicles fairly often, and treat their purchase almost as a disposable asset, so they see little to no benefit putting maintenance into something that they know they are going to get rid of before the basic warranty expires. OTOH, there are some of us that either plan to keep our vehicles beyond basic warranty and/or believe that having the mfgr give our vehicle a "once over" at least annually improves our confidence in both the reliability of the vehicle and/or safety. In addition, you'll note in the maintenance schedule, Tesla does recommend some things be done like replacing battery coolant every other year or with mileage... again, that's something some people will do, others won't. You'll also find others now taking an approach of only doing preventive service every-other-year, as those tend to be the bigger ones. Look at the schedule and you'll see what I mean. You then need to decide for yourself the potential benefits in preventive service as Tesla recommends, or something less.​

Good luck with your research and decision.

 

[FireLT]

I must be missing something. I am new to Teslas and searching for one now (not a current owner). Why would I need a service plan if the car comes with a warranty? Someone said the service plan covers "bugs" and such. Wouldn't the warranty cover that?

I understand that the service plan takes care of brakes and wipers and the such (but not tires). But if the computer fails, or the batteries stop charging or something, wouldn't the stellar Tesla warranty cover that?

Please educate me.

There are 2 things... warranty and service plan. Service plan covers wiper blades, annual maintenance and things like that.
Warranty covers issues with the car.. such as door handles, computer screen or any other issues you might have. You can extend the warranty on the car before 4 yr / 50k miles.
Hope that helps.
Btw... PM me if you are interested in Model S... I am selling mine as I bought a new one.

 

[sdorn]

So I am leasing a Model S for 3 years and will likely put less than 12,000 miles per year on the car. That means if I bought the service plan, I likely would only ever use 2 of the services as the third service would not be due until time to turn in the car at the end of the lease. It seems like there is no reason to buy the service plan in this situation, right? Are there benefits that are worth paying that much for upfront besides the two annual service inspections?

 

[HankLloydRight]

Right. The service plan includes 4 service intervals... so if you're only using two, it makes no sense for you at all. Just pay for the two you'll use a-la-carte and you'll be much better off.

 

[ChadS]

They have a new service plan with only 3 visits.

I was going to skip it for my 2-year lease, but my DS said they will refund the unused portion when you turn the car in.

 

[HankLloydRight]

They have a new service plan with only 3 visits.

"I did not know that"

 

[sdorn]

"I did not know that"

I did see this option, but still with a 3 year lease you would only use 2 of those services unless you hit the mileage trigger for inspections more often than once per year, right? Otherwise the third inspection would be due at the time you are ready to turn the car in, so why do another inspection at that point?

 

[r1cw3b]

Does anyone have anything new to share about the Tesla Maintenance Program? It’s been about two years since that last post. I’m a new Tesla owner and wonder how folks feel based on history and current day approach for purchasing a maintenance. I don’t understand pricing for one time cost so it makes it tough to understand if I need to spend an additional $2500 on a maintenance plan. Thanks!

 

[P85_DA]

Does anyone have anything new to share about the Tesla Maintenance Program? It’s been about two years since that last post. I’m a new Tesla owner and wonder how folks feel based on history and current day approach for purchasing a maintenance. I don’t understand pricing for one time cost so it makes it tough to understand if I need to spend an additional $2500 on a maintenance plan. Thanks!

Not worth it

 

[r1cw3b]

Not worth it

Thank you

 

[FURY]

SO, I have an S, which I purchased from TESLA end Dec 2014, as a previous loaner. Currently 30K miles and last of my prepaid service plan scheduled maintenance being done as I post here. Driver is front door handle went out the day before the service appointment. I also jsut moved from SO Cal to Cape Cod, Mass. Wonder what the MTBF is for those handles...

Wrestling with what to do with service plan and warranty options. Where are the fullrange of options and pricing for each of those please. Any advice appreciated. I will likely drive 5,000-8,000 miles per year.

Thanks for any input!!

Thank you very much

FURY

 

[Tam]

...pricing...

Service Plans are listed at:

Car Maintenance

Warranty is at:

Vehicle Warranty

They used to list prices there but they discontinued it so you have to go to your Tesla Account Page to see your specific prices.

If you believe in prevention then you should pre-pay for Service Plans (for some discount) or just pay (full price) when you go.

Other people do not want to waste money on paying for something not broken just yet: Why pay extra when the car has a warranty for any breaking down and getting stranded on the road.

If you believe in pre-paying a known amount in exchange for a peace of mind when the standard warranty expires then do it.

Other people know very well that the house always win: There are more good cars than bad cars otherwise the house would go bankrupt for repairing all those bad cars covered in extended warranty. Thus, they do not want to pay when nothing is broken just yet and they don't want to pay to get the house richer.

For my Model X, I paid 4 year Service Plans for $2,750.00

and

Additional 4 years of warranty for $4,800.00.

 

[David29]

Service Plans are listed at:

Car Maintenance

Warranty is at:

Vehicle Warranty

They used to list prices there but they discontinued it so you have to go to your Tesla Account Page to see your specific prices.

If you believe in prevention then you should pre-pay for Service Plans (for some discount) or just pay (full price) when you go.

Other people do not want to waste money on paying for something not broken just yet: Why pay extra when the car has a warranty for any breaking down and getting stranded on the road.

If you believe in pre-paying a known amount in exchange for a peace of mind when the standard warranty expires then do it.

Other people know very well that the house always win: There are more good cars than bad cars otherwise the house would go bankrupt for repairing all those bad cars covered in extended warranty. Thus, they do not want to pay when nothing is broken just yet and they don't want to pay to get the house richer.

For my Model X, I paid 4 year Service Plans for $2,750.00

and

Additional 4 years of warranty for $4,800.00.

The only option I have on my Tesla account page is to purchase an "Extended Service Agreement." I do not recall ever having the option for prepaid service. Perhaps I had the option early on, but it disappeared after a certain time?
Is the "Extended Service Agreement" what people have been referring to as the extended warranty?
Also, the Tesla website does not give the details of the ESA. Are there deductibles on repairs? Minimum amounts? exclusions? I am surprised they don't give any details, at least none I can find.
Thanks for any insights.

 

[tomas]

The only option I have on my Tesla account page is to purchase an "Extended Service Agreement." I do not recall ever having the option for prepaid service. Perhaps I had the option early on, but it disappeared after a certain time?
Is the "Extended Service Agreement" what people have been referring to as the extended warranty?
Also, the Tesla website does not give the details of the ESA. Are there deductibles on repairs? Minimum amounts? exclusions? I am surprised they don't give any details, at least none I can find.
Thanks for any insights.

Extended service agreement is actually extended warranty. If you read it, it says you have to get annual maintenance... unless they have changed that. Don’t know if they enforce.

They used to sell prepaid annual maintenance as an option at a discount. You used to be able to buy 4 years at time of purchase, and additional 4 years before your warranty expired. Along the way, they dropped the ability to buy second 4 years.

Have they stopped selling prepaid maintenance altogether now?

 

[BertL]

The only option I have on my Tesla account page is to purchase an "Extended Service Agreement." I do not recall ever having the option for prepaid service. Perhaps I had the option early on, but it disappeared after a certain time?
Is the "Extended Service Agreement" what people have been referring to as the extended warranty?
Also, the Tesla website does not give the details of the ESA. Are there deductibles on repairs? Minimum amounts? exclusions? I am surprised they don't give any details, at least none I can find.
Thanks for any insights.

@tomas gives good advice. I’d add that you should get T&Cs from a Tesla site (even if you have to ask them directly) and not depend on what someone here says because the T&Cs have definitely changed over time. We had a long discussion with examples on that perhaps 2 or more years ago somewhere here on TMC ... e.g. I have things included in my Extended Warranty & Service T&Cs like annual alignment being included, that others found within months of me signing-up didn’t have as a guaranteed contractual item, or we couldn’t find in then current T&Cs. I don’t remember all those specifics now, but as @tomas suggests, it’s unclear if perhaps some or all may have come back by now, or what may have changed. Timing is everything, and IMO keeping a copy of everything I sign-up for is critical with Tesla.