Tesla Pre-Purchase Inspection in Sydney
A Tesla pre-purchase inspection is an independent check of a used Tesla before you buy. Aussie Auto Care comes to the car, 7 days, across Greater Sydney and NSW regions. Book Comprehensive ($329) or Elite ($449), and add the EV/Hybrid Battery Test (+$199) for an independent, calculated State of Health estimate on the battery, the car's most expensive part.
Comprehensive
with code SAVE10
Elite Buyers' Protection
EV/Hybrid Battery Test add-on
Last updated:
Tesla inspection: key facts
| Service | Mobile pre-purchase inspection of used Teslas (Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X), at the seller's home, dealer or auction yard, subject to permission and safe access |
|---|---|
| Packages | Essential $199 Afterpayor 4 interest-free payments of A$49.75 Comprehensive $329Save $33 $296 with code SAVE10 Afterpayor 4 interest-free payments of A$74.00 Elite $449 Afterpayor 4 interest-free payments of A$112.25 |
| Our recommendation | Comprehensive ($329) + EV/Hybrid Battery Test (+$199) = $528, or Elite ($449) + battery test = $648. Comprehensive $329Save $33 $296 with code SAVE10 Afterpayor 4 interest-free payments of A$74.00 EV/Hybrid Battery Test add-on +$199 Elite Buyers' Protection $449 Afterpayor 4 interest-free payments of A$112.25 |
| PPSR check | Included in Comprehensive and Elite (not Essential) |
| Checklist | 150+ Point Checklist on Comprehensive and Elite; Essential has a narrower safety and condition scope |
| Report | Instant on-site report (Comprehensive and Elite); same-day report (Essential) |
| Battery warranty (Tesla AU) | 8 years and 160,000 km (RWD) or 192,000 km (Long Range, Performance), 70% minimum retention, according to Tesla Australia; coverage varies by delivery date and configuration |
| Battery test | Add the EV/Hybrid Battery Test (+$199); not included in any package. Exact-vehicle coverage confirmed when booking. |
| Areas | Greater Sydney, Newcastle (including Maitland), Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong/Illawarra |
| Availability | 7 days, subject to seller access and inspector availability. Regional inspections are subject to availability. |
| Travel | No travel charges, the quoted price is the price, in every region we cover. |
| Book | Book online · 02 8320 1246 · Afterpay available |
Don't buy a used Tesla on a range estimate and a screenshot
Book Comprehensive ($329) for our 150+ Point Checklist, PPSR and an instant on-site report, and add the EV/Hybrid Battery Test (+$199) for an independent State of Health estimate with a numbered battery certificate. Want a senior inspector, paint readings on every suitable panel, on-site negotiation and up to $3,000 cover for 30 days or 1,000 km, whichever comes first, from inspection (Terms apply)? Choose Elite ($449) plus the battery test.
Comprehensive
with code SAVE10
EV/Hybrid Battery Test add-on
Elite Buyers' Protection
Comprehensive
with code SAVE10
up to $1,000 / 14 days or 1,000 km, whichever comes first from inspection (Terms apply)
Elite Buyers' Protection
up to $3,000 / 30 days or 1,000 km, whichever comes first from inspection (Terms apply)
Comprehensive: up to $1,000 / 14 days or 1,000 km, whichever comes first; Elite: up to $3,000 / 30 days or 1,000 km, whichever comes first, from inspection (Terms apply). The inspection doesn't stop at handover, so you drive away with repair cover behind you. Details on the Complimentary Cover page. Read the cover terms.
Mobile, 7 days. No travel charges, the quoted price is the price, in every region we cover. Afterpay available.
Why does a used Tesla need an independent inspection?
No oil changes or timing chains, but a used Tesla has its own documented risks:
- The battery is the big-ticket item, and the dash range isn't a health test. Tesla's Service Mode health test drains and recharges the pack and takes at least 12 hours (Not a Tesla App). That's not practical on a seller's driveway, so an independent test on the day fills the gap.
- Warranty depends on variant, kilometres and delivery date. Tesla Australia's battery and drive unit warranty is 8 years or 160,000 km (RWD variants) or 192,000 km (Long Range and Performance), with 70% minimum capacity retention. Tesla says coverage varies by delivery date and configuration (Tesla AU). CarExpert reports the 5-year/unlimited-km basic warranty applies to cars delivered from 1 January 2026, and that before that it was 4 years or 80,000 km (CarExpert), so many used Teslas are close to or past basic cover.
- Ride, suspension noise and build quality. WhichCar's Australian Model Y review called ride quality “the biggest issue” and said suspension noise “can be intrusive”. The reviewer also said earlier Teslas they'd tested had loose trim or misaligned joins, though this car was tight (WhichCar). It varies car by car, so we check the one in front of you.
- Recalls are mostly software, so check the version. For example, REC-006042 covers 34,993 2020–2024 Model 3 and Model Y cars whose bonnet latch may not trigger an “open bonnet” warning; cars on software 2024.20.3 or later aren't affected (vehiclerecalls.gov.au). Others cover tail lamps, notchy steering in the cold and power steering assist (REC-005571, REC-005875, REC-006300).
Search the VIN on vehiclerecalls.gov.au on the day and ask Tesla to confirm VIN-specific completion; a software-version comparison alone does not certify that every recall is complete.
What our inspectors check on a used Tesla
These are the checks in our packages, applied to a Tesla. They're what we inspect, not a list of faults the car will have. Diagnostic scans read available stored/pending codes and live data from supported modules, not every proprietary system. Battery, starter and alternator tests apply to the fitted 12V system; an EV does not have conventional starter/alternator equipment.
Every package (Essential and up)
- Full visual safety check (brakes, tyres, steering, lighting)
- Engine bay visual + fluid leak check
- Full OBD-II scan report, stored, pending and live fault codes, printed into your report
- Digitally verified battery, starter motor and alternator tests, results printed into your report
- Brake pad thickness measured with remaining life estimated in km
- Tyre tread depth measured with remaining life estimated in km
- 3–5 km road test
Comprehensive adds
- Full mechanical inspection (engine, gearbox, cooling, belts, mounts, exhaust, driveline, steering, brakes and suspension and more)
- Full electrical system test
- Interior electronics check
- Exterior paint and body repair indicators
- Engine undertray / belly pan removed where fitted, safely accessible and permitted, leak sources checked for oil, coolant, transmission, power-steering and differential fluid
- Every suspension bush and mount checked for cracking, perishing and play, control arms, sway-bar links and bushes, trailing arms, subframe and differential mounts
- Underbody photos included in the report
- Estimated repair costs
- Odometer rollback check, where supported through the scanner; some vehicles do not support this check
- 6–10 km extended road test
- Full PPSR vehicle history report
Elite adds
- Senior inspector (5+ years experience)
- Market valuation
- Paint thickness gauge on every panel
- Advanced history deep-dive (odometer tampering, owner count, stolen/written-off status, recalls)
- 🤝 On-site price negotiation, unlimited rounds, no extra fee
- 5-year maintenance forecast with estimated costs
- 10–12 km extended road test
EV/Hybrid Battery Test (+$199 add-on, not included in any package): an AVILOO FLASH State of Health (SoH) estimate calculated from available vehicle data, battery capacity at test time compared with new; available usable energy now vs new, cell voltage spread and pack temperature readings; a BMS and high-voltage fault scan; and a calculated real-world range estimate, which is a guide rather than a measured road test. Results go on a numbered battery certificate with a public verification link. The test is read-only, so nothing is written to the car.
EV/Hybrid Battery Test add-on
Heavy EVs and Performance models can be hard on tyres, so measured tread and remaining life matter. Cold-start assessment does not apply to an electric car.
Checks require safe, permitted access. Cold starts are Elite-only and require the seller to leave the engine cold. Paint readings require suitable accessible surfaces. Road-test routes and manoeuvres depend on permission, traffic, safety and legal speeds. History checks use available records and do not certify complete ownership or recall-repair history. Repair costs and the Elite five-year forecast are estimates, not promises.
Which inspection package should you choose for a Tesla?
Comprehensive ($329) + EV/Hybrid Battery Test (+$199) = $528. Recommended minimum. Full inspection, PPSR, on-site report and an independent battery result.
Comprehensive
with code SAVE10
EV/Hybrid Battery Test add-on
Elite Buyers' Protection ($449) + battery test = $648. Best protection. Adds a senior inspector, paint readings on every suitable panel, on-site negotiation and up to $3,000 cover for 30 days or 1,000 km, whichever comes first, from inspection (Terms apply).
Elite Buyers' Protection
Essential ($199) + battery test = $398. A budget screen only, with no PPSR or repaint assessment.
Essential
About the battery result: we report what the test finds on the day and can't promise a result before testing. The range figure is a calculated guide, and the test doesn't establish a warranty entitlement. Coverage is confirmed when you book.
Compare all packages on our pricing page.
Popular Tesla models we inspect
Model 3 (RWD, Long Range, Performance), Model Y (RWD, Long Range, Performance), Model S and Model X. Confirm the exact model and diagnostic coverage when booking.
- Used Tesla Model 3 buyer's checklist (Sydney)
- Used Tesla Model Y buyer's guide
- EV battery inspection Sydney
Buying a Tesla from Tesla, a dealer or a private seller?
- Licensed dealer. Eligible licensed NSW dealer-sold used cars under 10 years old and under 160,000 km have a statutory guarantee for 3 months or 5,000 km, whichever comes first, subject to exclusions (NSW Government). That doesn't tell you the battery's health. Ask for the original delivery date (the warranty clock starts then) and the service records.
- Private sale. No statutory dealer guarantee. Make sure the transfer goes through Tesla so the warranty follows the car (Tesla AU), and that the seller removes the car from their account. Don't pay extra for subscriptions, because they belong to the account. Run a PPSR check before committing to payment.
Inspection limits
- We do not dismantle the engine, remove the gearbox or pull interior trim, so faults only visible during disassembly can't be ruled out. On Comprehensive and Elite, the engine undertray is removed where fitted, safely accessible and permitted.
- We work at the vehicle's location, not on a hoist. Underbody checks are done on portable ramps where safe and permitted; seized fasteners, unsafe access or seller refusal are recorded as inspection limitations.
- On Elite only, a cold-start assessment is possible if the seller leaves the engine untouched before we arrive. If the car has been warmed up, we record that in the report.
- The road test runs on public roads at legal speeds, so it can't reproduce every intermittent fault or a fault that only appears under load or after long distances.
- A PPSR check reports what is registered against the VIN on the day. It cannot show unreported damage or work done off the books.
- The report describes the vehicle's condition on the day of inspection. It is not a warranty and not a valuation guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
Comprehensive is $329 and Elite is $449. The EV/Hybrid Battery Test is a +$199 add-on that isn't included in any package, so Comprehensive plus the battery test is $528 and Elite plus the battery test is $648. Afterpay is available. No travel charges, the quoted price is the price, in every region we cover. Comprehensive: up to $1,000 / 14 days or 1,000 km, whichever comes first; Elite: up to $3,000 / 30 days or 1,000 km, whichever comes first, from inspection (Terms apply). The inspection doesn't stop at handover, so you drive away with repair cover behind you. Details on the Complimentary Cover page. Current SAVE10 pricing and four interest-free Afterpay instalments are shown alongside package prices.
Comprehensive
with code SAVE10
Elite Buyers' Protection
EV/Hybrid Battery Test add-on
Yes, with the EV/Hybrid Battery Test add-on (+$199). It gives a calculated test-time State of Health estimate and, where the car makes them available, usable energy now vs new, cell voltage spread, pack temperature readings and a high-voltage fault scan, recorded on a numbered certificate. We report what we find and can't promise a result before testing. Coverage is confirmed when you book.
EV/Hybrid Battery Test add-on
According to Tesla Australia, the warranty follows the car when ownership is transferred through Tesla. The battery and drive unit cover is 8 years with a 160,000 km or 192,000 km limit depending on variant, and 70% minimum retention. Check the original delivery date and variant, because coverage varies. Our battery test doesn't establish a warranty entitlement.
Suspension noise, tyre wear, panel fit and accessible paint and body-repair indicators (Elite adds paint thickness readings on every suitable panel), and whether recall software updates have been applied. The Tesla recalls cited on this page specify software remedies, so we note the displayed software version and you should search the VIN on vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Yes. We're mobile and come to the seller's home, a dealer or an auction yard, 7 days, across Greater Sydney, Newcastle (including Maitland), the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains and Wollongong/Illawarra, subject to permission and safe access. The battery test is read-only and runs on site.
Know the battery before you buy the Tesla
Comprehensive ($329) plus the EV/Hybrid Battery Test (+$199), $528 together, gives you the full inspection, PPSR and an independent State of Health estimate. Go Elite ($449) plus the battery test, $648 together, for a senior inspector, paint readings on every suitable panel, on-site negotiation and up to $3,000 cover for 30 days or 1,000 km, whichever comes first, from inspection (Terms apply).
Comprehensive
with code SAVE10
EV/Hybrid Battery Test add-on
Elite Buyers' Protection
Comprehensive
with code SAVE10
up to $1,000 / 14 days or 1,000 km, whichever comes first from inspection (Terms apply)
Elite Buyers' Protection
up to $3,000 / 30 days or 1,000 km, whichever comes first from inspection (Terms apply)
Comprehensive: up to $1,000 / 14 days or 1,000 km, whichever comes first; Elite: up to $3,000 / 30 days or 1,000 km, whichever comes first, from inspection (Terms apply). The inspection doesn't stop at handover, so you drive away with repair cover behind you. Details on the Complimentary Cover page. Read the cover terms.
Mobile, 7 days. No travel charges, the quoted price is the price, in every region we cover. Afterpay available.
Sources
- Tesla Australia, Vehicle warranty
- CarExpert, Tesla increases its warranty coverage in Australia
- WhichCar, 2022 Tesla Model Y review
- Not a Tesla App, Tesla Battery Health Test
- Vehicle Recalls, REC-006042
- Vehicle Recalls, REC-005571
- Vehicle Recalls, REC-005875
- Vehicle Recalls, REC-006300
- NSW Government, Dealer guarantees and warranties
- PPSR
- Aussie Auto Care package pages: