There are many reasons why you may be excited to explore different ways to test drive a Tesla. Maybe you’ve noticed many models on the road and seen how much Tesla’s market cap has soared and wonder what the hype is all about. Or you’re considering going green and want first to try out driving an electric car. How do you actually go about test driving a Tesla?
There are different ways to test drive a Tesla, including going to a showroom, borrowing one from a friend, or renting one. And what’s even better is, Tesla has modified test drive processes to ensure social distancing is maintained to ensure safety. Read on to learn more ways to get behind the wheel of a Tesla….
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How to Test Drive a Tesla
Today, there are a couple of options on where to test drive a Tesla and enjoy the overall Tesla experience. Below are four easy ways to test drive a Tesla:
1. Schedule an Appointment at a Tesla Showroom
Test drives are available from Tesla themselves, and the effort they’ve put in to minimize contact and ensure customer safety is remarkable. Here’s how the process works:
- First, settle on the model you want to test drive, then schedule an appointment, which you can now do online on Tesla’s website. A representative will ask you to fill in some information, such as your name, phone number, and email, then the model you want to test drive. Currently, there are only four models you can choose from.
- The next step is to choose a Tesla test drive near me. The website will use your location to determine the closest showroom. If you want, you can also check beforehand the showroom that’s closest to you using Tesla’s interactive map. After you choose your location, pick a date and time. Tesla will assign an advisor who will then reach out to you to confirm your appointment and answer any questions you may have.
- Attend your test drive. Tesla recommends you arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled time. Upon arrival, reach out to your Tesla advisor to notify them of your arrival.
Remember, you’ll need a valid driving license to take a test drive. And because you can sign and do all the paperwork digitally, you need not even enter the showroom. Your Tesla advisor will guide you to your car, and when you find it, they’ll unlock it for you remotely. At that point:
- Enter the car and check out the interior offerings. View on the touchscreen the instructions and tutorial videos on various functions before you depart.
- You have 30 minutes to drive and experience all your chosen model has to offer. When your time is up, you’ll return the car, park it, and someone will follow up with you about your experience and answer any questions.
- You’ll then probably be feeling an overwhelming urge to get a Tesla of your very own. In that case, it’s wise to start asking questions such as: how long does it take to buy a car?
But what if there’s no showroom near you?
Don’t worry. Tesla frequently holds events in areas with no showrooms. During these events, customers get an opportunity to test drive. Head over to Tesla’s events page to learn when the next event will be held in your area.
2. Rent One Using the Turo App
Renting a Tesla using the Turo app provides another alternative way to test drive.
Turo is a car-sharing company that allows private car owners to earn extra cash or cover their monthly car payments by renting out their vehicle via a mobile and online interface any time they’re not using it. It’s based in San Francisco and is available in about 56 countries.
To rent a Tesla using the Turo app, you get on the app and select the model you want, then arrange to either pick it up or have it delivered at a place convenient for you. What’s great about Turo is that customer service is available 24/7, and if you run into any issues, roadside assistance is available.
And just in case you feel reluctant about dealing with someone outside of Tesla, you can rest assured that all Turo vehicle owners undergo screening.
With Turo’s vast community, you need not worry about not finding your preferred model of choice as there’s a wide variety of vehicles to choose from.
Sometimes half an hour is not enough. Renting on Turo gives you more time to get a more comprehensive experience of the car. For example, you can test out battery charging at stations, at your workplace, or at home.
3. Rent One at a Major Rental Car Agency in Major Cities
Some time back, you could only rent a Tesla from Enterprise and Hertz. But today, there are many more major rental car agencies, including Avis, Sixt, and National.
Although there are now several rental car companies where you can rent a Tesla, the major ones include Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis.
Hertz and Avis have even introduced Tesla car rental services near airports like Denver and Los Angeles international airports. Hertz has also availed Tesla car rental at two California airports.
Two very important things to keep in mind:
- Renting a Tesla is not cheap. Rates of $300 a day are typical, and at airports, rental prices start at $500. With an MSRP (manufacturer suggested retail price) of over $100,000, it’s no wonder it costs more to rent one.
- Your personal auto insurance often can’t cover a Tesla, which is typically classified as an exceptionally expensive or exotic vehicle, meaning it may be necessary to purchase some insurance coverage.
4. Rent One at a Regular (Local) Rental Car Company
Besides the major rental car agencies, there are also local companies like Tesloop.
Tesloop, located in southern California, has been a testbed for Tesla, with a fleet traveling 17,000 to 20,000 miles every month. Tesloop is by far the highest mileage for Tesla cars worldwide. One reason for their popularity is, on the San Diego to Los Angeles loop, Tesloop rates are the cheapest.
They provide the option to be driven or drive yourself, so if you’re not up to driving, you can opt to be driven by a Tesloop employee.
5. Borrow One From a Friend in California
Borrowing a friend’s car is another way you get to test drive a Tesla. It’s an easy method because there are so many Teslas in California. I know this because I live in San Diego, and they are everywhere.
- Perhaps one of the reasons why they’re so common in California is that Tesla’s main production factory is in Fremont, Calif. Therefore (just maybe) those in California feel like they are buying “local” when buying a Tesla? I don’t know. Just a hunch.
- Another significant reason is that unlike people from other states with no factories, Californians don’t have to pay any costly shipping taxes as the vehicles are locally available. Generally, purchasing a Tesla is much easier in California than in any other state.
Tesla has won the hearts of many who feel inclined to drive a car that doesn’t rely on fossil fuels and generates clean energy.
Teslas are preferred over gasoline cars because they may end up being cheaper in the long run. After all, you don’t have to spend money on gas. They’re also more manageable, more exciting, and safer to drive and offer a smoother driving experience when compared to just about any other car in the market.
Interestingly, a Tesla can increase speed by a whopping 60mph in under 2.5 seconds, which is much faster than any other vehicle. It also has a state-of-the-art auto-piloting function, and after experiencing it for the first time, you will probably end up asking yourself how to afford a Tesla of your own. It’s that good.
All of these factors contribute to why Teslas have won people over, especially in California. So if you have a friend or two from California (like your boy Scott from DriveAndReview.com), you’ll no doubt find that at least one of them has a Tesla – and you could finally cash in that favor they owed you.
