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Tesla Battery Warranty Explained: Years, Miles and What It Covers

5 min readBy the FSDClarity team

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Every new Tesla comes with an 8-year Battery & Drive Unit Limited Warranty, capped at 100,000 to 150,000 miles depending on the model, and Tesla guarantees the battery will keep at least 70% of its original capacity during that time. The warranty starts on the car's original delivery date and transfers to every later owner automatically.

See how much warranty your car has left:

Battery Warranty Checker
See how much of Tesla's battery and basic warranty is left — new or used. Coverage runs from the original delivery date.
mi

The original owner's delivery date, shown in the Tesla app.

Battery & Drive Unit warranty

Active

8 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first.

About 4 yr 7 mo or 84,000 miles left — ends around June 2031 if you don't hit the mileage first.

Basic Vehicle warranty

Active

4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first.

About 0 yr 7 mo or 14,000 miles left — ends around June 2027 if you don't hit the mileage first.

Capacity guarantee: Tesla repairs or replaces the battery if it drops below 70% of its original capacity within the battery warranty.

Buying used: the remaining warranty stays with the car and transfers to the next owner automatically.

Tesla battery warranty by model

ModelWarrantyCapacity guarantee
Model 3 RWD8 years or 100,000 miles70%
Model 3 Long Range / Performance8 years or 120,000 miles70%
Model Y RWD8 years or 100,000 miles70%
Model Y Long Range / Performance8 years or 120,000 miles70%
Model S8 years or 150,000 miles70%
Model X8 years or 150,000 miles70%
Cybertruck8 years or 150,000 miles70%

Whichever comes first — years or miles — ends the coverage. Older Model S and Model X built before 2020 had different terms, including unlimited mileage on some packs, so check the warranty booklet for those VINs.

The warranty also covers the drive unit (the electric motor and its electronics). Most other parts fall under the separate Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The 70% capacity clause

If your battery's capacity falls below 70% of what it had when new, during the warranty period, Tesla will repair or replace it. In practice that's a high bar: Tesla reports Model S and Model X packs average about 88% capacity after 200,000 miles. Normal capacity loss above 70% is considered expected wear, not a defect.

How capacity is measured matters. Tesla uses its own diagnostics, not the range estimate on your screen, which moves with temperature and driving. If you suspect heavy degradation, run the battery health test on recent software and book a service visit.

Does the battery warranty transfer to a used buyer?

Yes. The warranty is attached to the car and runs from the original delivery date. A used buyer gets whatever years and miles remain — no transfer fee, no paperwork. Ask the seller for the original delivery date (in the Tesla app's vehicle details) and plug it into the Battery Warranty Checker before you agree a price.

What voids or limits the battery warranty

The warranty doesn't cover damage from:

  • Collisions, road debris or fire
  • Flooding or submersion
  • Unauthorized repairs or modifications to the high-voltage system
  • Ignoring warnings or misuse, such as letting the battery sit at 0% for long periods

Salvage or rebuilt titles can also affect warranty coverage. If you're buying a car with a branded title, ask Tesla about warranty status for that VIN first.

Extended warranty options

The battery warranty is already long, but Tesla sells extra coverage for other parts:

  • Extended Service Agreement (ESA): Tesla offers a monthly ESA that starts after the basic 4-year/50,000-mile warranty ends — reported at about $50 a month for a Model 3 and $60 for a Model Y, with a $100 deductible per visit. It excludes the high-voltage battery, drive unit, body and glass.
  • Battery extension: Tesla has offered a separate battery coverage extension for some Model 3 and Model Y cars. Terms and availability change, so check the Upgrades section of the Tesla app.

Insurance vs warranty for battery damage

They cover different things:

  • The warranty pays for defects and capacity loss below 70%.
  • Insurance pays for damage from covered events — a crash, debris puncturing the pack, or a flood under comprehensive coverage.

Neither covers normal aging above 70%. If a pack is damaged in an accident, file it with your insurer, not under the warranty.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Tesla battery warranty?

8 years, with a mileage limit of 100,000 to 150,000 miles depending on the model.

Does the Model Y battery warranty cover 120,000 miles?

For Long Range and Performance, yes. The Model Y RWD is covered for 100,000 miles.

Is the Tesla battery warranty transferable?

Yes, automatically. It stays with the car from its original delivery date.

What happens if my battery degrades to 75%?

That's above the 70% threshold, so it isn't a warranty claim. It's still a usable battery — about three-quarters of the original range.

The bottom line

Tesla's battery warranty is one of the strongest in the industry: 8 years, up to 150,000 miles, and a 70% capacity floor that transfers with the car. If you're buying used, check how much is left with the Battery Warranty Checker — and read our guide to Tesla battery replacement cost for what happens after it ends.

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