How do I file a claim with Tesla?

Filing a claim with Tesla Insurance is all done through its dedicated mobile app. After opening the app, navigate to your profile icon in the top right-hand corner, then tap "Account," "Insurance," and "Claims," in that order. From there, you’ll be able to submit necessary information like contact details and accident photos.

Is Tesla Insurance expensive?

Unfortunately, the average Tesla car insurance rates are not publically available. Since Tesla uses real-time driving habits to rate insurance policies in most states, Tesla policyholders may have more control over their insurance premiums than others do, which could be very good news for careful drivers. When shopping for car insurance online, getting quotes from Tesla, along with a few other insurance companies, may help you find the most affordable option.

Is Tesla Insurance a sustainable carrier?

On March 1, 2023, Tesla released its Master Plan Part 3 - Sustainable Energy for All of Earth, focusing on the possibility of a sustainable global energy economy. Tesla’s 2022 Impact Report gave an overview of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts made internally in the company over the past year. These reports highlight Tesla as a leader in the vehicle electrification process and note that Tesla offers all-electric models comparable in price to many other luxury vehicles.

Can I buy Tesla Insurance if I don't drive a Tesla?

California drivers can purchase Tesla car insurance even if they do not own a Tesla. Drivers in other states where Tesla car insurance is an option can add non-Tesla vehicles to their policies as long as they also insure a Tesla. Since other cars are not set up with the same type of telematics technology that a Tesla vehicle is, the rating and coverage options may be different.

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Tesla Insurance review 2023

Written by

Shannon Martin

Edited by

Amelia Buckley

Edited by

Amelia Buckley

Updated Sep 13, 2023

At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of . Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our .

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BANRKATE'S TAKE

Drivers who want nontraditional car insurance with coverage options tailored to the needs of an electric car owner may want to consider Tesla Insurance.

Tesla car insurance may be a good option for Tesla owners who want their insurance rates directly impacted by their driving habits instead of standard rating criteria.

Customer service: 1-844-34-TESLA (1-844-348-3752)
Claims: Claims are filed through Tesla’s mobile app. Questions about a claim can be directed to the claims adjuster assigned to that claim.
State availability: Tesla only writes car insurance for Tesla drivers in 12 states: AZ, *CA, CO, IL, MD, MN, NV, OH, OR, TX, UT and VA. Tesla does not offer real time driving behavior insurance rating in California at this time.

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What’s new with Tesla?

Tesla plans to offer car insurance in all 50 states soon. Minnesota, Maryland and Utah are the newest states with Tesla insurance availability as of 2022.

Tesla car insurance

Tesla Insurance is known for its telematics-based car insurance, meaning that real-time driving behavior plays an integral role in calculating car insurance rates. For this reason, Tesla Insurance may be a natural fit for drivers who want to have a direct influence on their car insurance, as the carrier does not use traditional car insurance rating factors like age, gender, claim history and driving record.

Instead, Tesla Insurance calculates a monthly Safety Score that grades five factors when you drive: hard braking, aggressive turning, unsafe following distance, forced autopilot disengagement and forward collision warnings. A higher Safety Score results in lower premiums, while a lower Safety Score could result in more expensive premiums. Other factors that go into Tesla Insurance premiums include which car you drive, where you live, how much you drive and your chosen coverage selections.

While Tesla Insurance offers standard coverage like bodily injury and property damage liability, as well as comprehensive and collision coverage, optional coverage will vary by state. Additionally, depending on state availability, Tesla Insurance may also offer an Autonomous Vehicle Protection Package that could cover expenses like electronic key replacement, loss or damages to the wall charger and incidents when the vehicle is being driven by autopilot.

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Pros and cons of Tesla car insurance

Tesla's unique car insurance has many benefits, but it's not without its shortcomings. Below is a summary of Tesla car insurance's pros and cons as identified by our insurance editorial team.

Pros

Designed for the needs of electric vehicle owners
Several optional coverage types available depending on the state
Tesla owners can also insure non-Tesla vehicles
Most states allow for real time driving behavior rating which allows drivers to have some control over their premium

Cons

Only available in 12 states
Only sells car insurance, so bundling is not available
Coverage is limited to Tesla owners in all states except California
Most contact with Tesla is done through the app, so it may be difficult to reach a live agent

Tesla Insurance car insurance cost

Average rates for Tesla car insurance are not available. When it comes to Tesla Insurance, your actual rate will vary depending on how safely you drive and could fluctuate over time. The national average cost of car insurance is $2,014 per year for full coverage, which is about $168 per month.

Tesla car insurance discounts

Similar to Tesla car insurance, the discount opportunities available to Tesla policyholders depend on the state they live in. Some unique savings options include:

Compare Tesla Insurance with other insurers?

Bankrate’s Tesla Insurance review provides a comprehensive look at this carrier, but if you’re looking for the best car insurance for your Tesla, it can help to compare other options. Here are some of the best car insurance competitors to think about asking for a car insurance quote:

Tesla Insurance vs. Lemonade

Tesla drivers who want Tesla’s digital-first platform and specialized EV car insurance may want to check out Lemonade. The carrier provides special coverage and discounts specific to EVs and hybrids, and offers emergency charging if your battery drains while on the road and coverage for your wall or portable charger if it breaks. Currently, Lemonade car insurance is only available in Illinois, Ohio Oregon, Texas and Tennessee.

Learn more: Lemonade Insurance review

Tesla Insurance vs. Root

Drivers who want features like Tesla’s telematics-based car insurance could consider Root car insurance. The carrier has a strict sign-up process — interested drivers must first pass a test drive before receiving a coverage offer and quote. Similar to Tesla, Root is not available in every state.

Learn more: Root Insurance review

Tesla Insurance vs. Travelers

Travelers offers a specific discount for those who own or lease an electric vehicle. Additionally, the carrier’s IntelliDrive program tracks real-time driving behavior, with potential savings opportunities of between 22 and 40 percent for safe driving. While Travelers car insurance isn’t entirely based on the telematic IntelliDrive program, it is a nationally available insurance carrier.

Learn more: Travelers Insurance review

Is Tesla Insurance a good insurance company?

Tesla Insurance is a relatively new car insurance company, but could fill a need for Tesla drivers who want a different option for car insurance. Tesla drivers may already be using the Tesla app to manage their vehicle and submit service requests, so being able to manage their car insurance through the app as well could be another convenience. Tesla Insurance also doesn’t factor in usual car insurance rating factors like driving history and credit history, instead giving drivers a chance to be rated based on their real-time driving performance (in most states).

However, because Tesla Insurance tracks real-time driving behavior, it is also possible for premiums to increase just as much as they could decrease. Additionally, Tesla Insurance may be a better fit for those who are well-versed in car insurance, as the carrier has limited live agent support and no physical locations. Lastly, compared to national car insurance carriers, Tesla is not rated by third-party agencies for either financial strength or customer satisfaction.

Tesla Insurance customer satisfaction

Tesla car insurance is not rated by third-party agencies like J.D. Power for customer or claims satisfaction. It also has not received any financial strength ratings from financial ratings agencies like AM Best and Standard & Poor’s. Possibly due to its limited availability, Tesla has a 0.0 complaint index score with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). It could be helpful to reach out to existing Tesla car insurance policyholders to learn more about their customer service and claims experience with the carrier.

Other Tesla Insurance tools and benefits

Tesla's foray into insurance is focused solely on auto insurance. However, it does have additional products and features that may be particularly useful to the owners of electric vehicles.

Charging calculator: Tesla's charging calculator may help current and potential EV owners discover how much money they could save by switching from gas to electric vehicles.
Supercharger voting: Finding a location to charge your vehicle can be a challenge. However, every three months, Tesla has a voting cycle where Tesla owners can vote on where the next supercharger location should be. Owners can also suggest new sites and potentially host a supercharging station at their property.
Charging station options: Tesla offers many charging solutions, from installing residential charging stations to mobile connectors and adaptors. The company can even help you find a Tesla-certified installer for wall connectors or solar roof panels.

Frequently asked questions about Tesla Insurance

Filing a claim with Tesla Insurance is all done through its dedicated mobile app. After opening the app, navigate to your profile icon in the top right-hand corner, then tap "Account," "Insurance," and "Claims," in that order. From there, you’ll be able to submit necessary information like contact details and accident photos.
Unfortunately, the average Tesla car insurance rates are not publically available. Since Tesla uses real-time driving habits to rate insurance policies in most states, Tesla policyholders may have more control over their insurance premiums than others do, which could be very good news for careful drivers. When shopping for car insurance online, getting quotes from Tesla, along with a few other insurance companies, may help you find the most affordable option.
On March 1, 2023, Tesla released its Master Plan Part 3 - Sustainable Energy for All of Earth, focusing on the possibility of a sustainable global energy economy. Tesla’s 2022 Impact Report gave an overview of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts made internally in the company over the past year. These reports highlight Tesla as a leader in the vehicle electrification process and note that Tesla offers all-electric models comparable in price to many other luxury vehicles.
California drivers can purchase Tesla car insurance even if they do not own a Tesla. Drivers in other states where Tesla car insurance is an option can add non-Tesla vehicles to their policies as long as they also insure a Tesla. Since other cars are not set up with the same type of telematics technology that a Tesla vehicle is, the rating and coverage options may be different.

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