Importing a 2nd-hand CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) Tesla from the UK

Can you give any details regarding the car/spec you got?
Well wear BTW!

Just finished the import process for a 2015 Model S 85D, many thanks to everyone on the thread (and forum) for great info and advice.

Unfortunately, there were no CPO cars available around a month ago when I wanted to get the car, so got it from a dealer in the UK, just south of Birmingham. Drove back (autopilot is definitely a must have for long distance driving!) and got it into Tesla Dublin for a service. The rear suspension bushing and control arm was replaced but everything else was perfect. Dealer is covering the service and the 3-pin charging cable (UMC) which wasn't present with the car.

It's an Oct 2015 Model S 85D, midnight silver, with 19" wheels, sunroof, AP1, tech pack, dual chargers, premium interior, high fidelity sound and subzero pack. No air suspension or 7 seats but pretty well equipped!

Planning a trip to Poland with the kids in the summer, so should be an adventure!

Cost of car was just under £49k and VRT (paid last night) was €4,905. Insurance with FBD and no problem switching UK plates etc, but was roughly €500 increase (per annum) increase.

Thanks, it really is a dream to drive and as the others have said, you have a big smile on your face every time you get into it!

Now, the warranty was the one issue I had. As it's Oct 2015, I assumed it was covered until Oct 2019. Then I noticed the warranty also depends on mileage and this had exceeded the 50k miles. A not very nice surprise to get after I had paid deposit and booked flights/ferry, etc. I was ready to cancel it all given the horror stories and how expensive the cars seem to be to fix out of warranty. Plus I felt like an idiot as I had seriously researched this yet this major thing slipped through.

First thing I did was contact the dealer and he checked with Tesla that there had been no issues with the car, which was a relief. Then I negotiated with him and he agreed to extend the standard 3 month warranty he was offering to October and he'd pay for a full Tesla service. The alternative was cancel everything and lose money on the travel. I checked against other similar cars of the same price and all things considered the car was working out a few grand below other similar cars, which would have had warranties into 2019.

So a calculated risk with the warranty reduced by a year (from what I had thought) but no issues with the car except for the suspension, which was replaced during the service and covered by dealer warranty, total around €450. Keith and Tom in Tesla Dublin gave it a very thorough going over so I'm happy enough for now.

I was planning on a CPO like Umbauk and Giotto and paying more than from a dealer, purely for the warranty and peace of mind, but that just wasn't an option last month. If I had copped the mileage exceeded warranty then I probably wouldn't have considered the car. Given the spec and condition of the car having bought it, driven it and had it checked by Tesla, I'm happy enough I went for it.

Check with me next year to see if it has paid off, or if I have to sell my remaining kidney to maintain the car

On the battery health, I don't know if there's a Leafspy equivalent, I'm afraid. The battery and drive train still has the 8 year warranty and it gives 410km range on the display after a full charge. It's probably around right, maybe closer to 380km depending.

Looking at bringing in a Tesla from the UK in the next few months if I can get my finances in order.

Ideally I’d get something just over 6 months and just over 6,000kms, however the selection of used vehicles from Tesla is quite poor so would consider buying a new one from the inventory available. This would then be a new car and would be liable to VAT in Ireland, anyone know if I can avoid paying the UK VAT and just pay the VAT here? Or do I have to buy through a business to do that?

Did anyone notice the terms change on the Tesla website? It says the vehicle is sold locally only and cannot be exported (or at least they won't help export it).

Text reads:
"Domestic Sale Only

You acknowledge and agree that the Vehicle is sold to you locally in the country of delivery and that you shall not involve us in any export procedures and/or submit any related export documentation on our behalf. We reserve the right to cancel your order should you violate any of these obligations."

It appears to be on all websites in europe so not sure if it's intended to disrupt the UK-ireland export. Hope not as I'm seriously considering one...

I read that as "don't be exporting Model 3's"

It’s only appearing on used cars. No such message on new inventory.

They don't know. They will charge you VAT regardless of whether you have paid it in UK or not.

VAT will not be applied if older than 6 months and over 6000 kms.

hatrack wrote: »

It’s only appearing on used cars. No such message on new inventory.

Did anyone else get confirmation if this is preventing cpo cars from being sold to Ireland? I called tesla Dublin and they did not know, called a tesla store in the UK and they did not know. I'm sick of trying to get through to the cpo number it never answers and they seem to not call back either.... new car sales do pickup, just cpo do not.

agentblue wrote: »

I was in the Tesla showroom in Dublin yesterday. One of the guys, Cillian was very helpful. He confirmed that Tesla Ireland WILL NOT honor the 4 year extended warranty that is offered on CPO cars in the UK. They will only honor the original warranty which starts on the date of first registration.
This means that for anyone who was looking at a CPO car from the UK, including myself, it might no longer make sense to pay the premium that is on the CPO cars for a warranty that will not be honored.
Hope this helps.

I suggest you get this double checked with Tesla Europe HQ in Tilburg or ask to get it in writing off Dublin as I believe Cillian to be incorrect here. Tesla honour warranties across the European Economic Area. For example a CPO Tesla bought in say France will have it's warranty honoured in Germany. The same should apply UK to Ireland at least until the UK leaves the EU.

Edit: Tesla Europe CPO warranty document here confirming warranty honoured across European Economic Area.

https://www.tesla.com/sites/default/files/Tesla_Pre-Owned_Warranty-EU.pdf

aliveandkicking wrote: »

- snip-

Edit: Tesla Europe CPO warranty document here confirming warranty honoured across European Economic Area.

https://www.tesla.com/sites/default/files/Tesla_Pre-Owned_Warranty-EU.pdf

Page 2 of that document seems to say that they will honour the warranty provided you bring it back to the country of original cpo purchase.
Transport of a non driving model s back to the UK would be costly I would imagine!!
Still worth a phone call though.

unkel wrote: »

Last time I looked Northern Ireland was still part of the UK

Is there a service centre in Norn Iron

When I looked online the Manchester Tesla website states warranties are only valid for domestic sales.