How do I insure a Tesla before delivery?

What this page covers

You ordered a Tesla and need to arrange insurance before the day. This page is for the United States and uses what Tesla says on its own support pages. Insurance rules differ by state and by insurer, and the Tesla pages we read do not cover them, so we do not either.

What Tesla asks, and when

Tesla’s pages say three things:

• Once you receive a VIN, you upload proof of insurance in the Tesla app (Taking Delivery, in its list of how to prepare).
• Before your delivery appointment, you must submit your insurance details, final payment and necessary documents in the Tesla app (Delivery Day).
• The documents required at the appointment may include final payment, your driver’s license, auto insurance and trade-in ownership documents (Delivery Day).

So Tesla ties the insurance step to the VIN, not to the date you ordered. If you do not have a VIN yet, there is nothing to upload yet. If you got your VIN, see what happens next after you get your VIN.

What you ask your insurer

Tesla does not tell you how insurers handle a car they cannot see yet. Our suggestion for the call:

1. “I have ordered a Tesla and have the VIN. What do you need from me?”
2. “From which date can cover start, and does it have to start on the delivery date?”
3. “Will you give me the proof of insurance in a format I can upload to the Tesla app?”
4. “What does the policy include, and what is excluded?”

Ask for the answers in writing and keep them with your order.

A short list

Our suggestion, in order:

1. Wait for the VIN, or ask your insurer what they can do before you have it.
2. Call at least two insurers, and give each the same details so the quotes are comparable.
3. Choose the start date with your appointment in mind, and ask what happens if the date moves. Tesla says estimates are subject to change, so your appointment may shift.
4. Upload the proof in the Tesla app as soon as you have it, and save a copy on your phone.
5. On the day, carry the policy details with your driver’s license and any other document Tesla listed for your purchase.

If your appointment moves, tell your insurer, and check that the proof you uploaded still matches the new date.

Tesla Insurance

Tesla has a support page for Tesla Insurance, which describes its insurance products and tools and has articles by state. The page does not say in which states Tesla Insurance is available, so we cannot tell you whether you can get it. Check it for your state, and compare any quote with other insurers on what is covered.

Why it is easy to get wrong

Insurance is one of several tasks that must be done before the appointment: payment, documents, agreements, insurance. When one is missing the day is delayed, and you find out when you least want to.

TSL Check is the iPhone app we make for the day itself. It does not handle insurance, and it does not replace Tesla’s app. Its delivery checklist takes you around the car area by area, with a photo and a note on whatever you find (how it works). Doing the paperwork early leaves your attention free for the car.

For the UK, where Tesla’s delivery page does not list insurance and GOV.UK sets the legal rule, see insuring a Tesla in the UK before delivery. If you are also waiting for a date, see why the Tesla delivery date keeps changing.

Whatever you find on the day, ask the delivery advisor to record it before you sign, and read your order paperwork for what you can do next.