The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling car in the world at one point, so there are a lot of them available on the used market. With over a million Model Ys sold in the United States since its debut in 2020, you’re sure to find one that suits your budget.
It’s a great all-rounder, with plenty of space for passengers and their luggage. It’s also very efficient and quite reliable. However, even one of the world’s best-selling cars has its flaws, but we’re here to help. So, here’s what you need to know about buying a used Tesla Model Y.
How much should a used Tesla Model Y cost?
Depreciation is unavoidable in the used car world, and it hits EVs harder than gas-powered vehicles, whether you like it or not. For a new car buyer, that’s bad news. For used car buyers, though, it’s a nice bonus.
According to iSeeCars’s latest price data, Tesla had the biggest year-over-year price drop on the used car market in March 2025, with an average selling price of $31,421, down $3,541 from last year. Meanwhile, the Tesla Model Y had the fifth-largest drop in March, with an average selling price of $30,611.
In other words, this might be a great time to get a used Tesla. If your budget allows, you could get your hands on a relatively clean Model Y for around $33,000, but there are older cars out there with higher mileages that are priced around $25,000. Get one under $25,000 and you can be eligible for a $4,000 used EV federal tax credit.
Which Tesla Model Y trim do you want?
Tesla doesn’t do typical trim levels. Generally speaking, all Model Ys are the same on the inside—same screen, same seats (up to seven), same gizmos. It’s under the skin where things can be different, so it’s worth it to do your research before signing that contract.
Since its debut in 2020, the Model Y has been available with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and with a selection of several battery packs. Unlike traditional automakers, Tesla can change things from one year to another without saying anything to the public, so it can be tricky to know what you’re driving.
The majority of used Model Ys have lithium-ion nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) or nickel cobalt aluminum (NCA) batteries, which should only be regularly charged to 80%. However, there have been Model Ys with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) packs that have a lower energy density but can be regularly charged to 100% without worrying too much about degradation.
A quick way to find out what type of battery is powering a particular Tesla is through its touchscreen. The Vehicle Information page should say what type of battery is fitted. Additionally, if the charge limit page advises to regularly charge at less than 80%, it means it’s a NCM or NCA battery; if it advises to regularly charge at 100%, it’s an LFP battery.
What year Model Y should I choose?
The Model Y has only been on sale for five years, but there are some things you should be aware of because not all were created equal.
The first batch from early 2020 came with red turn signals in the taillights instead of amber, which is not a big deal. However, these cars also lack a heated steering wheel, auto-dimming side mirrors, and double-glazed front side windows, so it’s louder inside compared to later cars. All of these features were added in late 2020.
In 2022, Tesla removed the ultrasonic parking sensors, so later vehicles rely on a vision-based system to approximate the distance from an obstacle. Cars built between June and November 2021 are not compatible with CCS1 chargers, so if one needs to regularly use CCS fast chargers, a trip to a Tesla Service Center is needed to add the CCS compatibility.
A big change came in early 2022, when the Intel-based computer was upgraded to an AMD Ryzen unit, which is faster. Sometime in 2023, the suspension was changed for a slightly softer setup, but it’s not a huge difference compared to the older units.
The biggest upgrade, however, came in 2025 with the facelifted version, which comes with a more comfortable suspension setup and a quieter cabin. However, this model, known as “Juniper,” went on sale in the United States in March, so getting a used one for a good price is unlikely.
Does a used Tesla Model Y have Autopilot or Full Self-Driving?
In short, yes. All Tesla Model Ys have basic Autopilot functionality, which includes traffic-aware cruise control and Autosteer. For cars built before April 2024, those who ordered a new Model Y could buy an optional pack called Enhanced Autopilot, which includes more features like Auto Lane Change and Navigate on Autopilot. If it was bought when the car was new, Enhanced Autopilot stays with the car.
The same goes for the so-called Full Self-Driving (Supervised) advanced driver assistance system, which can steer, brake and accelerate on any type of roadway, not just multi-lane roadways like Navigate on Autopilot was designed to.
However, after April 2024, Enhanced Autopilot disappeared and its features were rolled into FSD. If a used Model Y does not have FSD, a new owner can either buy it for thousands of dollars or subscribe to the feature for $99 per month.
What known issues does the Tesla Model Y have?
The Model Y is relatively new to the market, so it’s still a little early to know what issues will pop up down the road. Having said that, it shares a lot of its components with the Model 3, which has been on sale for longer, so it’s to be expected that what goes wrong on the Model 3 will go wrong on the Model Y, as well.
The good news is that both the Model 3 and Model Y are some of the most reliable cars out there. However, they’re not perfect, so rattles and squeaks can sometimes be hard to ignore. Misaligned panel gaps have been Tesla’s Achilles' heel for the longest time, but not so much in the Model Y. The seat pad sensor on the driver’s side can sometimes go bad, but getting it replaced at Tesla should not cost more than a few hundred dollars—or better yet, it can be easily changed at home.
Moisture in the taillights can occur, and the fake leather on the steering wheel can start to flake. Additionally, there was a service bulletin to address an issue with water ingress in the trunk. Suspension bushes are also known to wear out relatively quickly, and cars fitted with 20-inch wheels have very little sidewall protection, so they’re very easy to curb.
Generally, though, the Model Y is a solid vehicle.
Gallery: 2021 Tesla Model Y
Will the battery be degraded in a used Tesla Model Y?
Yes. But that happens in all EVs and anything else that’s powered by lithium-ion batteries. Over time, the cells’ chemistry degrades, which leads to a dip in capacity and makes it harder for energy to flow. However, modern EV batteries like those fitted to the Model Y can comfortably go for ten years or more without needing to be replaced. That said, the driving range will drop as time goes on, so don’t expect to drive as many miles in a five-year-old Model Y as in a one-year-old equivalent.
Do used Tesla Model Ys have warranty coverage?
All Tesla Model Ys have a four-year or 50,000-mile manufacturer warranty since the first registration. This warranty is valid even if the car is sold to a new owner, and if you get a used Model Y from Tesla directly, you’ll get an extra year of warranty with a 10,000-mile limit. Additionally, there’s a five-year or 60,000-mile warranty for the Supplemental Restraint System.
Moreover, the Model Y gets an eight-year warranty for the battery and drive unit, with a 100,000-mile limit for the Rear-Wheel Drive version and 120,000 miles for all the other variants. If the battery fails or its state of health dips below 70% during the warranty, Tesla will replace it with a remanufactured pack.
