How To Get a Tesla for Cheap: The Best Options Available

The “how to get a Tesla for cheap” is one thing many EV lovers want to discover. Buying used from a private seller is one of the best options, but you can also get a demo or basic model at a discounted price.

We have the details of that and more, including the option to consider if you only want to drive your favorite Tesla without the hassle and long-term commitment that come with owning a car. So, continue reading.

How To Find a Tesla on a Budget?

To find a Tesla on a budget, consider buying used from a private seller or directly from Tesla through their CPO program. Alternatively, you can get a basic or demo model at a discounted price. If you must find cheap Tesla on EV marketplaces, be careful not to be scammed.

Tesla cars are so far the most expensive electric vehicles (EVs). Even a second-hand Tesla may be costlier than most new typical gasoline cars. For that, finding a Tesla for cheap is usually challenging. However, knowing where to begin looking and a few tricks can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars if you’re determined to drive a Tesla.

So, the answer to “can you get a Tesla under 20K?” is hard but possible. With diligence, good negotiation skills, and perfect timing, you can get a Model 3 or Model S for about $20-$30K standard range and $31K-$40K long range. But note that some cars may be high mileage vehicles, which isn’t always bad. Let’s now explain in detail how to get a Tesla for cheap.

– Buy From a Private Seller (Buy Used)

Buying from a third-party or private seller is the absolute cheapest way to get a Tesla for cheap. It’s also the trick most people use to buy any car.

You can haggle and knock off hundreds of bucks quite quickly. With Tesla’s business model, haggling on the lease or purchase price isn’t allowed, which means there’s no way to save money.

How do you find a seller? Find a good electric car marketplace and go through the listings. Contact people with reasonable posts and try to negotiate a good deal on the second-hand Tesla. If you want to know “where is the cheapest place to buy Tesla”, you can check Find My Electric or Classified Ad sites.

Find My Electric is a marketplace that has gained a good reputation and can be a good place to get a Tesla under $30K. Its advanced searching and sorting functionalities make it great, allowing you to search and sort Tesla models based on several features, including colors, battery capacities, manufacture years, Autopilot hardware, and software. You get results instantly, making finding what you want according to your budget easier.

Also, Find My Electric has proper systems that root out spam. Therefore, you won’t need to register to contact sellers as a user. You can publish your contact information on the listings while keeping it hidden from guys with bad intentions.

Classified Ad websites like Craigslist are another best place to buy used Tesla. However, like the EV marketplaces, these sites are generally full of spam ads for fake Tesla cars that aren’t worth your time. Most sites lack good systems to curate them and solely rely on community monitoring, such as flagging. So, keep that in mind.

– Avoid Scams on EV Marketplaces

The EV marketplace can be a great place to start when buying the cheapest Tesla. However, it’s very easy to get scammed. The marketplace is typically a group, for example, on Facebook, consisting of EV enthusiasts sharing what they love about their Tesla. So, it’s different from a true car marketplace.

The people specializing in listing Tesla vehicles and getting them sold are notorious for dramatically upping prices. They know that the people (potential buyers) joining the marketplace are highly interested in EVs and are willing to pay the price.

Moreover, placing ads on these so-called EV marketplaces is also quite costly, which turns many sellers away. The searching and sorting functionalities could be better, and you’ll find so many ads that are non-Tesla electric cars. They are worth a try, but keep those factors to avoid being scammed or ripped off.

– Go Basic

The cheapest and standard offering of any car is its base model. What makes it the least expensive is having the least number of features. In other words, it’s the simplest version of that particular car. The higher trim levels typically cost more and have extra technology, features, and generally enhanced performance.

You can save more than $15,000 by going for the basic model. The good thing is Tesla vehicles are almost identical, and you may not feel significantly different. Your goal is to get a Tesla for cheap, and going basic might be the way out.

– Consider a High-Mileage Tesla

As mentioned, high mileage isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially for EVs. Unlike gasoline engines with an average lifespan of 300,000 miles, a typical EV’s motor and battery packs can last over 500,000 miles!

So, a popular car-buying tip when you’re on a budget is to go for the high-mileage options. You can find a Tesla Model S selling under $25,000 because it has 120,000 miles on the odometer. Technically, the vehicle is still far from the grave.

– Get a Demo Tesla

Finding a demo Tesla is usually challenging, but you may be lucky. Demo cars are those that manufacturers or dealers use for their customer test drives. Also, their employees may use them to commute. For example, you may find a 2014 Model 3 demo with around 120K miles at 20 percent less than the list price.

Also, if the model was manufactured before the introduction of technology, such as Autopilot, it could be cheaper. If you get a demo, you may never have to worry about being licensed and can also get the Federal tax credit. A demo is a great option for anyone who wants to know how to get discount on Tesla Model 3. You get an almost new car for a used car price and probably get an EV tax credit!

– Find a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Tesla

Buying your dream Tesla directly from the manufacturer through their CPO program is the next best way to get it cheap. Unlike buying from a private seller or a certain marketplace, purchasing directly from Tesla offers great peace of mind.

The program could be better (it’s a bit more expensive than other options discussed here). Still, it remains a decent place to acquire second-hand Tesla at a discounted price. The CPO vehicles undergo thorough testing and inspection before they are ready for resale, making this option a low-risk way of buying used cars. So, see if you can find a Tesla that fits your budget.

– Consider a Tesla Subscription

A Tesla subscription requires you to pay a monthly fee for driving it. You won’t own the vehicle at the end of the subscription. The advantage of this trick is the flexibility. You don’t need to save up to buy your dream car outright or go through the hassle and long-term commitments of owning a vehicle.

If, at some point, you wish to drive a different car or the contract becomes unaffordable, you can easily cancel the subscription. You would require to notify the company in advance.

Once you pay for your first month, the company will deliver the vehicle to your home. The monthly fee will cover all your driving costs, including charging. Sometimes it can also cover the insurance. The subscription is a great way to enjoy the benefits of driving your favorite Tesla model without breaking the bank!

Conclusion

Buying your dream car on a budget is now easy after going through our guide on “how to get a Tesla for cheap.”

Here’s a summary:

• Getting a cheap Tesla requires diligence, negotiation skills, and the best timing.
• The best ways to find a Tesla for cheap include buying a used one from private sellers or the CPO program.
• You can also get a cheap Tesla if you buy a high-mileage, basic, or demo model.
• You can try a Tesla subscription if you need more time to prepare for the hassle and long-term commitment of owning a car.

You’re now well-informed on how to find a cheap Tesla. So, choose the method that works for you, and don’t allow yourself to fall into the hands of scammers.