Dear Community,
I'm reaching out to seek guidance on managing a situation I've encountered with my new Tesla. I appreciate any advice you can offer.
Background:
I took delivery of my Tesla Model 3 yesterday. While driving a few miles away from the Tesla Service Center, I engaged Autopilot on a local road. To my surprise, the system failed to detect a red light and did not slow down the vehicle. I braked immediately but unfortunately still collided with another car at a speed well below 40 mph.
Thankfully, there were no injuries, and we exchanged information to contact our insurance companies. My car is now near the Tesla Collision Center Oceanside, although the earliest appointment available is after November 20th.
Car Damage:
The impact primarily affected the right front side of the vehicle, disabling the headlight and damaging the front wheel on that side. The camera is also malfunctioning. (As a new user, I'm unable to post pictures.)
The Issue:
Regrettably, I only secured liability insurance and had intended to switch to Tesla Insurance once eligible—my current temporary driver's license precludes me from obtaining a quote. Consequently, my insurance will not cover the damages to my Tesla.
I am facing the prospect of out-of-pocket expenses for repairs and am seeking the most cost-effective approach.
I've received preliminary estimates in excess of $12,000 from a Tesla-approved center based on photos of the damage.
While I understand that repair costs often align with insurance pricing standards, I am hopeful that there may be a way to obtain repairs at a more manageable price as an individual payer.
Based on the situation, is there anything I can do about it? My goal is to spend less than $5000 to fix this. (higher than this would be a little bit hard for me as a student
)
Additional Questions:
I have previous experience driving Teslas and using Autopilot, but this incident has shaken my confidence in the system. I'm beginning to question its reliability.
I would be grateful for your insights on minimizing repair costs and any similar experiences with Autopilot.
Thank you for your time.
I'm reaching out to seek guidance on managing a situation I've encountered with my new Tesla. I appreciate any advice you can offer.
Background:
I took delivery of my Tesla Model 3 yesterday. While driving a few miles away from the Tesla Service Center, I engaged Autopilot on a local road. To my surprise, the system failed to detect a red light and did not slow down the vehicle. I braked immediately but unfortunately still collided with another car at a speed well below 40 mph.
Thankfully, there were no injuries, and we exchanged information to contact our insurance companies. My car is now near the Tesla Collision Center Oceanside, although the earliest appointment available is after November 20th.
Car Damage:
The impact primarily affected the right front side of the vehicle, disabling the headlight and damaging the front wheel on that side. The camera is also malfunctioning. (As a new user, I'm unable to post pictures.)
The Issue:
Regrettably, I only secured liability insurance and had intended to switch to Tesla Insurance once eligible—my current temporary driver's license precludes me from obtaining a quote. Consequently, my insurance will not cover the damages to my Tesla.
I am facing the prospect of out-of-pocket expenses for repairs and am seeking the most cost-effective approach.
I've received preliminary estimates in excess of $12,000 from a Tesla-approved center based on photos of the damage.
While I understand that repair costs often align with insurance pricing standards, I am hopeful that there may be a way to obtain repairs at a more manageable price as an individual payer.
Based on the situation, is there anything I can do about it? My goal is to spend less than $5000 to fix this. (higher than this would be a little bit hard for me as a student
)Additional Questions:
I have previous experience driving Teslas and using Autopilot, but this incident has shaken my confidence in the system. I'm beginning to question its reliability.
I would be grateful for your insights on minimizing repair costs and any similar experiences with Autopilot.
Thank you for your time.
