Used Tesla buyer checklist: battery, warranty, FSD, hardware and service history

1. Battery: test this car, not the model

Averages are reassuring, but you are buying one car. Aviloo's 2026 study found that cars of the same model differed by up to 11 percentage points of battery health. The range shown on the screen is an estimate and the in-car Battery Health test was removed on many cars with update 2025.26, according to Not a Tesla App.

Ask the seller for an independent battery certificate (Aviloo is one provider; in Germany ADAC offers it), or make the sale conditional on one. At minimum, look at the range with the car charged to 100% and compare it with what the same version showed when new.

2. Warranty: what is left, and what it covers

Tesla's battery and drive unit warranty lasts 8 years with a km limit that depends on the model and version, and covers capacity falling below 70%. In Turkey, press reports give 160,000 km for the rear-wheel-drive Model Y and 192,000 km for Long Range and Performance versions. The period counts from the car's first delivery, not from your purchase.

In Turkey, Tesla's own prices for a Model Y battery replacement were reported at 389,573 to 690,965 TL in September 2025, excluding labour and VAT. That is why the remaining battery warranty, and the km on the odometer against its limit, matter as much as the car's age.

3. FSD and software features

According to Tesla's support pages, Full Self-Driving that the previous owner bought outright stays with the car, while an FSD subscription does not transfer. Tesla's programme that let owners move FSD to a new car ended on 31 March 2026. Check in the car's Software screen which features are listed, and ask the seller to confirm in writing what is included.

Features also depend on the market: what a car offers in the US may not be available in Turkey or the EU.

4. Hardware: HW3 or AI4

The Autopilot computer decides which future software features a car can run. In the car, open Controls, then Software, then Additional Vehicle Information, and read the Autopilot computer line: it shows whether the car has Hardware 3 or AI4 (also called HW4).

Cars with the same model name can have different hardware depending on the build date, so read it from the car rather than from the listing.

5. Service, damage and paperwork

Before you agree a price, go through this list:

• Service invoices and recalls handled, from Tesla or an independent EV workshop
• The insurance damage record (in Turkey, the TRAMER record) and any repaired battery or underbody damage
• Tyre wear on the edges or one side only, which points to pressure or alignment issues
• That the seller removes the car from their Tesla account, so you can add it to yours and the phone key moves to you
• Charging cable and adapters included, and both key cards

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a used Tesla's battery health?

With an independent battery test such as Aviloo's, because the in-car test was removed on many cars with update 2025.26 and the displayed range is only an estimate. Cars of the same model can differ by up to 11 points.

Does the battery warranty transfer to the next owner?

Yes, the warranty belongs to the car. It runs 8 years from first delivery with a model-specific km limit and covers capacity below 70%.

Does FSD come with a used Tesla?

If the previous owner bought FSD outright, it stays with the car, according to Tesla. A subscription does not transfer. Check the Software screen and get it confirmed in writing.

How do I see if a Tesla has HW3 or AI4?

In the car: Controls, Software, Additional Vehicle Information, then read the Autopilot computer line.

How much does a Tesla battery replacement cost in Turkey?

Reported Tesla prices for a Model Y in September 2025 ranged from 389,573 to 690,965 TL, excluding labour and VAT. Prices change; ask Tesla Service for a current quote.