Tesla test drive: locations, procedure and costs

Are you thinking about buying a Tesla? Then you are not alone - after all, the manufacturer's sales figures are increasing and Tesla models are becoming more and more present on the roads.

If you follow the Teslabs blog, you probably already know a lot about the popular electric cars, maybe you've even fallen in love with one or two accessories. However, before you buy a Tesla, you should definitely take a test drive to see the driving characteristics and equipment for yourself.

But how exactly do you arrange a Tesla test drive and how does it work? Here you can find out everything you need to know about test drives with the US car manufacturer.

Test drive Tesla: simply book online

Just like the vehicle order itself, booking a Tesla test drive is also done completely online. Using a form, you provide Tesla with your name, e-mail address, telephone number and zip code, and select the desired vehicle model.

At the moment, only a Tesla Model 3 test drive or a Tesla Model Y test drive are available, but with the arrival of the revised Model S and X in Germany, these should also soon be available for test drives.

A few days after submitting the request, an employee from the nearest service center usually contacts you and confirms an appointment for a test drive. You're ready to go!

Tesla test drive: procedure and preparation

On the day of the appointment, Tesla recommends arriving at least 10 minutes before the test drive starts so that you can get a brief introduction to the vehicle before the clock starts ticking. Tesla only gives you around 30 minutes to test the vehicle.

So that you can really spend this time driving, we recommend that you prepare thoroughly for the test drive and familiarize yourself with the special features of a Tesla. We have put together our own guide for this, but there are also help videos from Tesla for the Model 3 or Model Y test drive.

Also remember to take your driver's license and ID with you on the test drive - you must be at least 21 years old.

Tesla test drive costs

Test drives are generally free of charge at Tesla. The vehicle is fully charged on collection. As you can't possibly empty the battery in half an hour, you don't have to pay for charging.

However, if you want to drive the vehicle for longer than 30 minutes, you have to rent it from Tesla (or other providers). This is usually not cheap, but can be well worth it to get a deeper insight into the everyday characteristics, range and comfort.

Tesla test drive weekend

If you want to drive a Tesla model for a whole weekend, you also only have the rental option. However, Tesla usually also offers the shorter, free test drives at the weekend. However, it can be difficult to get an appointment here due to the naturally higher demand.

Tesla test drive locations

Individual test drives at Tesla take place exclusively at the service centers. The booking form automatically selects the nearest center based on your postal code.

If that's too far away for you, you can check out Tesla's test drive events, which are offered in selected cities over a longer period of time. Alternatively, you can book a rental car with a third-party provider.