One of the big promises of electric vehicles is that they require less maintenance than a gas-powered car and therefore cost less over time. This is largely because EVs have far fewer moving parts. When you don’t have an engine, you don’t have to worry about oil changes, spark plugs, or exhaust systems, just to name a few examples.
The Tesla Model 3 is no different in this regard. While Tesla cars notoriously suffer from issues like blank panels and other factory defects, Tesla covers these repairs under warranty as long as you buy the car from Tesla itself. After that, there are few costs associated with maintenance. Here’s a rundown of the maintenance costs you can expect as a Tesla Model 3 owner.
Tesla Model 3 Maintenance
Here’s a look at the typical maintenance you can expect from a Tesla Model 3.
Tire rotation
Perhaps the most common recommended maintenance for a Tesla Model 3 is a tire rotation. Tesla recommends that customers rotate their tires every 6,250 miles or when the difference between the tread depth of the front and rear tires reaches 2/32 inch or more.
Tire rotations, fortunately, are not very expensive. An average tire rotation will cost you $35 to $45, according to RepairPal.
Windshield wiper replacement
For optimal visibility on the road, Tesla recommends replacing your windshield wipers every six months. A quality pair of wipers typically costs between $20 and $50, making it perhaps the lowest maintenance cost of the Model 3.
Cabin air filter replacement
Next is the cabin air filter, which prevents things like pollen and dust from entering your car’s cabin. Tesla says the cabin air filter should be replaced every two years in the Model 3. Replacing the cabin air filter costs between $60 and $200 in the Tesla Model 3.
Tesla warranty
Tesla offers a fairly comprehensive warranty for other defects you may experience. In fact, the Model 3 is covered by Tesla’s warranty, which lasts eight years or 100,000 miles — whichever comes first. As usual, the warranty won’t cover things that are the driver’s fault — but it will cover the repair and replacement of Tesla-installed parts that wear out under normal use. This also includes battery replacement or repair, so if you have problems with the car’s battery, Tesla will take care of it if it’s under warranty.
conclusions
As you can see, it’s easily cheaper to maintain a Tesla – or any electric car for that matter – compared to a gas-powered car. In a particularly expensive year of standard maintenance, you might spend $400, and that’s only if all of the above maintenance is due in the same year. This is much less than other cars, which require oil and other fluids changes, spark plug changes and more.
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