'It depends where the damage is': Are Teslas expensive to repair? (2024)

At Drive, one of the more common queries we get about electric cars is: What happens if I get into an accident?

With their high-voltage batteries and unfamiliar componentry, electric cars can pose different repair challenges than their conventional counterparts.

But are they categorically more difficult and expensive to fix?

As it turns out, the answer depends on the location of the impact and its severity, both of which can mean the difference between thousands of dollars and tens of thousands of dollars.

Given Tesla is by far the most prevalent electric car brand on Australian roads, representing more than half of all electric cars sold in Australia in 2023, there is understandably plenty of interest in the repair process and how it differs from other automotive brands.

So, are Teslas expensive to repair? And should owners expect parts delays? Finally, are their build quality and their safety credentials just as good as cars from other manufacturers?

To learn more about Tesla repairs, Drive visited Luxury Auto Body – an independent, Tesla-certified smash repairer in Melbourne – to find out what Tesla owners can expect.

“With the exclusion of major outliers, [Teslas cost] maybe $4500–$5000 per repair,” Danny, a panel beater at Luxury Auto Body who has more than 30 years of experience, told Drive.

“Some of the parts on Teslas are unbelievably cheap. Something like a bumper bar – those parts are cheap.When we talk about airbags and suspension, they’re [a bit pricier] but still considerably cheaper than a BMW or a Mercedes-Benz.”

Danny said front impacts on Tesla cars are more affordable and easier to repair than rear impacts.

For example, a smashed Tesla Model Y sighted by Drive in the forecourt of Luxury Auto Body’s Clifton Hill site had sustained a significant front impact, but was going to be more affordable to fix than a Tesla Model 3 with a less substantial rear impact.

“[The cost of this] front impact would be around $25,000 – it needs a new dash, both airbags are deployed – but front impacts are generally easier with Teslas because a lot of the stuff is bolt on and bolt off,” Danny explained of the Model Y.

As for the rear-impacted Model 3, “When you’re repairing the back it requires more expertise,” Danny said. "So something like this would be anywhere from $35,000–$45,000 worth of damage."

That’s still relatively affordable given the same repairs on a BMW, Mercedes or Porsche car “would be more like $50,000–$60,000,” Danny added.

Once again, the answer to this question depends heavily on the location of the impact and resulting damage.

“If we talk about a rear impact it’s definitely more involving because Teslas – depending on the model – are glued and riveted on when you’re replacing a quarter panel, for example. So they’d be more on par with repairing a BMW or a Mercedes,” Danny explained.

“They’re pretty basic at the front, but the back is definitely more involving.”

Meanwhile, "a lot of the sensors and cameras can be calibrated in-house," Danny said, explaining that repairing the technology in Tesla vehicles doesn't typically pose a particular challenge compared to other types of cars.

According to Danny, certified Tesla repairers should have access to an electronic parts catalogue that provides all the information needed to repair a Tesla vehicle.

“The availability of parts and strike rate are really good, and there’s only been a couple of occasions where you have to wait for parts. On one occasion we had to wait six weeks,” he said.

Last year, the American EV maker opened a sales, service, delivery and parts hub in Auckland – its first in the Southern Hemisphere – with the goal of reducing wait times for parts.

In the brand’s early years, Tesla models were occasionally accused of having patchy build quality.

These days, Danny said Tesla's cars are more comparable to those produced by mass-market brands than luxury carmakers.

“[Tesla] build quality is in line with a mass-produced car – not that that’s a bad thing,” Danny told Drive. “They’re a good all-rounder for everyday use.”

As for how Tesla cars behave in an accident – Danny said it's business as usual. “Airbags deploy when they need to deploy, they crumple where they need to – the fundamentals are the same, all the reinforcements will do their job,” he explained.

Danny said Tesla cars are no more likely to be written off than conventional cars.

“We have written off a couple. It all comes back to the cost to repair against the value of the car and what it fetches as a wreck,” he said.

While EV battery fires tend to gain global prominence when they happen, they’re relatively rare.

That’s been Danny’s experience too. “We haven’t had experience with [batteries catching fire]. The way the cars come in, [even when] they’ve been in major collisions, there’s been no risk.

“With the Model Y, they’ve actually got a first responders' wiring harness that [you can] cut for safety reasons … they go into a shutdown mode in the event of an accident.”

Unlike other cars, Tesla cars don’t require servicing at regular set intervals and rather will issue service reminders on a per-use basis, if required.

When a Tesla owner receives a service alert or chooses to schedule a service appointment, they can have their car serviced through Tesla’s existing dealer network, or alternatively they have the option of arranging a remote service visit from the car maker’s mobile servicing network, which can reach even remote locations.

The type of service appointments available depends on the nature of the service, as some services can only be carried out with a service centre visit or a mobile service visit.

In some instances, a service update can be as simple as a system update, which can be carried out remotely by a technician without a customer needing to take their car in.

Service appointments are managed through the Tesla app, where owners can view and approve estimates and log their vehicle's service history.

Tesla customers have the option of repairing their cars through Tesla directly, or through a Tesla-certified body repairer – you can find your closest location here.

Currently, Tesla only has two of its own body repair locations in Australia, with one in Alexandria, New South Wales, and the other in Brisbane, Queensland.

These body repair locations can repair minor or major damage and carry out structural damage repairs and insurance claim repairs.

In addition to Tesla's first AUNZ body repair centre in Auckland, New Zealand – which also serves as a parts warehouse – Tesla is hoping these designated repair centres will drive down repair costs and insurance premiums for owners while providing factory-quality repairs.

If you're a Tesla owner, tell us – in your experience – are Teslas expensive to repair? How much have you had to pay? Let us know in the comments.

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