What's the cost of replacing the Tesla side panel?
Driving with a damaged Tesla's side panel isn't only unsightly but also puts you at high risk of incurring more damages or an accident.
Depending on the severity of your Tesla side panel damage, replacement is crucial to avoid potential harm.
Your vehicle needs to be in good condition for you to continue enjoying the premium driving experience Tesla offers.
Navigating Tesla's body repair cost in the automotive world can be a mystery. If you're trying to get your Tesla back to its shape as soon as you can while being mindful of cost and cautious of scams, this blog is for you.
This blog will provide you with essential information regarding the Tesla side body replacement to help you spend just the right amount for satisfactory service.
Tesla Body Construction
After receiving a repair quote, most Tesla owners complained about the expensive repair cost. Why is it expensive, though?
According to the Consumer Report, Tesla's average repair cost is $4,035, potentially increasing with time.
Most Teslas are constructed with aluminum and high-strength steel, this body structure enhances Tesla's durability, quality and speed. No wonder Tesla is lightweight, embodying high safety and performance.
While these qualities are beneficial to owners, Tesla's aluminum structures contribute to its complex repair and expensive cost. It costs 60-80% more to produce and repair aluminum-structured vehicles compared to gasoline-powered cars.
What are you paying to get your Tesla side panel replaced?
Let's break down the cost. Credible cost of Tesla's side panel replacement.
Breaking Down the Costs for Tesla side panel replacement
Any Tesla body replacement involves two essential components to achieve precision and satisfaction: Labor and Parts. Compatible and quality parts (OEM) are always secured by certified Tesla repair centers, where it often takes a long wait to arrive due to high demand and limited availability of these parts.
The cost of labor at a Tesla-a-certified body repair center can be justifiably expensive. Ranging between $100 and $200 per hour.
The total cost for replacing the side panel can generally be estimated starting at $2,000 to $3,000 or more for both labor and cost.
Why is Tesla side panel replacement expensive?
Labor-intensive:
Getting any Tesla body part replacement is labor-intensive. The procedures may involve removing and reassembling sensitive portions of the vehicle. This can be handled by trained technicians who understand the inside and outside of Tesla body-moving panels and are equipped with the necessary skills and resources to achieve results.
Painting and Finishing:
After getting the part replacement (side panel), necessary paint procedures are required to achieve a precise color blend between the vehicle and the parts. It can be quite expensive to achieve paint matching and blending, as it requires specialized skills and resources.
Factors influencing Tesla side panel cost
Body panel materials
Teslas are constructed with advanced materials, essentially aerospace-grade aluminum, to enhance safety, quality, and range efficiency. Aluminum panels, which are extremely strong and do not have memory properties like steel, often can't be reshaped. This means any damage might be reversible only by part replacement.
Genuine Parts Replacement
When you've resolved to replace the damaged side panel, the ideally replaced parts should be genuine parts (OEM) that are compatible and formidable. Curing such genuine Tesla parts can be way more expensive, especially compared with aftermarket parts.
Specialized repair equipment and technicians
As it is known, and if you're new to matters regarding Tesla, this is what you should care to know. Tesla repairs are exclusively handled by certified technicians and auto body repair centers that have both the knowledge and resources to fix any Tesla body part replacement. This special attention to Tesla's body repairs has continued to contribute to its expensive repair.
Severity of damage
If damage is minimal, your repair quote will be less expensive, while in severe damage situations, it costs way more.
Geographical location
Tesla body repair costs may vary in price levels due to different location estimates.
How to reduce Tesla side panel replacement expenses
Wise driving and parking habits
Car maintenance is not limited to oil changes, tire pressure, and the like. It extends to driving and parking habits. Drive responsibly, and keep your distance on the road. And avoiding cluttered parking lots.
Choose the right repair shop
While a certified Tesla body shop might adhere strictly to guidelines, an auto body shop with experience in Tesla repair can be less expensive and save you some money on repairs. Check Regal Repair. Additionally, get multiple quotes from multiple repair centers in order to compare and resolve the one that works with your budget and needs.
Repair vs. Replacement
If only a minor portion of the panel is damaged, apparently not so severe, as if there's room for partial repair instead of full replacement. There are competent independent Tesla body repair shops that can help you. This will significantly reduce repair expenses.
Leverage insurance coverage
In case your car is insured, be sure to double-check if insurance coverage covers body repairs because some don't. Make sure you're completely in the loop with the status of your insurance, as it can reduce your Tesla repair expenses.
In Conclusion
Driving and leaving a damaged Tesla side panel unreplaced is far more than the replacement cost. Fortunately for Tesla owners, this blog post provides practical guidelines to reduce Tesla side panel replacement costs and promote car performance.
