Some car shoppers may look at a high-mileage Tesla Model 3 and think it’s a ticking time bomb. After all, Tesla has only been around for a couple of decades or so, and who knows how long a Model 3 can last? Other shoppers may look at that same Model 3 and think it’s well worth its depreciated price and the miles are nothing to worry about. So is buying a high-mileage Tesla a good idea?

Buying a high-mileage Tesla comes with a few caveats

From what we can find, buying a high-mileage Tesla Model 3 (or any other model) is a good idea if you get it inspected first. Just like with any other high-mileage vehicle, a Tesla’s tires, brakes, and suspension can wear out over time. So it’s important to have a professional check on those things before committing to any Tesla with plenty of miles on the clock.

Another factor to look into is how the battery degraded over time. It doesn’t take an electrical engineer to know that batteries in any appliance degrade over time. Fortunately, you won’t have to worry about that too much in a Tesla, especially those with a longer electric range.

According to Inside EVs, “Research suggests that many EV battery packs, especially on longer-range models, are likely to continue providing sufficient range even after the vehicle itself is wearing out and nearing the end of its life.” If you’re planning to buy a high-mileage Tesla, it’s worth it to check if there is any battery warranty left.

Depending on which model you’re buying, the battery warranty could last up to 8 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. In that case, if you’re kicking around the idea of buying a 2019 Tesla Model 3 with a little over 100,000 miles on it, you may want to think about the warranty expiring soon.

One Tesla Model 3 owner’s YouTube videos show how well it can last

In case you need more proof that a Tesla Model 3 can withstand the test (and miles) of time, we point you in the direction of Kyle Connor. Connor posted a series of videos on his YouTube channel, Out of Spec Reviews, detailing his experience with a Model 3 with over 100,000 miles on it.

In his first video, he does a short walkaround of the car and points out the rock chips and other minor cosmetic issues the car has incurred over the years. He even talks about its white interior and how to get stains out of the seats. For the most part, although the Model 3 looks well used, Connor does a great job of showing how well it holds up.

In another video, Connor details the battery degradation the Model 3 has suffered over the past couple of years. After showing loads of charging data, including the fact that he charged the car using the Tesla Supercharger more than half the time, he ran a mileage test. After driving for over 225 miles, which proved the battery pack delivered around 67 kWh, Connor concluded it had only lost around 10-11% of its capacity.

That’s impressive, considering the car racked up over 100,000 miles in only two years (as of the video’s publishing date).

Is it a good idea to buy a used Tesla Model 3 with over 100,000 miles?

Yes, it’s a good idea considering depreciation will allow more buyers to get into used Teslas. Especially higher-end models like the Model 3 Performance. Connor’s testing, in addition to the longevity other owners have experienced, is a testament to the Model 3’s overall reliability.

If anything, just remember to get the car check out beforehand.