- Tesla has started renting out EVs.
- The American company charges between $60 and 90$ per day, depending on the model.
- For the rental duration, customers get free Supercharging, Full Self-Driving (Supervised) and access to the Tesla app.
Tesla has started a pilot program where it will rent cars directly to customers who are looking to buy a new electric vehicle, as spotted by EV enthusiast Sawyer Merritt. It’s an interesting approach to try and boost sales, as the first month without the $7,500 federal tax credit for new EVs revealed most automakers had significant drops in sales.
Despite being the biggest player in the industry, Tesla is not immune to the effects caused by the tax credit’s cancellation. While sales in the United States went up 7.5% in the third quarter, Tesla’s year-to-date figures are less rosy, with a 4.3% drop in deliveries, according to data from Cox Automotive.
A screenshot of Tesla’s website detailing the rental policy.
Photo by: Tesla
So, with the tax credit out of the picture, the Elon Musk-led company is trying to reel in buyers by renting out vehicles that they may be interested in, at very attractive rates. For as low as $60 per day, clients who rent an EV directly from Tesla will get unlimited mileage, free charging at the company’s Superchargers, the so-called Full Self-Driving (Supervised) advanced driver assistance suite, and access to the Tesla smartphone app.
That $60/day rate applies to the Model Y and Model 3, but customers can also rent a Cybertruck for $75/day or a Model S or Model X for $90/day.
There are, however, some restrictions. Only the Premium trims are available to rent, so those who want to check out the base-spec Standard or the high-performance Performance or Plaid versions will have to schedule a regular test drive. Then, there’s the rental duration.
The minimum rental duration is three days, and the first 48 hours are free, but the maximum duration is seven days. And while each rental comes with unlimited mileage, customers are not allowed to take the vehicle out of the state of California. That’s because the rental program is currently only being offered by two Tesla stores there, one in San Diego and one in Costa Mesa.
That being said, if you happen to enjoy the rented Tesla and wish to buy one, the company will give you a $250 credit if you order within seven days of the rental. At the same time, if you return the rental with less than 50% charge, Tesla will charge you $30.
The offer is valid until the end of 2025 for people who are at least 21 years old and have a valid U.S. driver’s license, a valid credit card and proof of insurance.
