Tesla finally rolls out five-year warranty in Australia

Tesla has officially upgraded its vehicle warranty in Australia, bringing it in line with mainstream expectations after years of trailing rivals. From January 1, 2026, all new Tesla vehicles delivered for private use now come with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty. The move also includes five years of roadside assistance, addressing a long-standing gap in the ownership proposition.

Until now, Tesla’s warranty in Australia was four years or 80,000 kilometres, one of the shortest among the Top 20 car brands. The new policy restores coverage closer to the eight-year protection previously offered on select Tesla models in 2018, albeit at a slightly reduced term.

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What’s included in the new warranty

The updated warranty goes beyond just the drivetrain. Tesla has confirmed that critical vehicle components such as the multimedia and infotainment system, corrosion protection, and exterior paint are all now covered.

Commercial vehicles—including those used for ride-sharing, delivery, or rental—receive a slightly different arrangement: five years or 150,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.

Key points of Tesla’s 2026 warranty in Australia:

• Five years unlimited-kilometre coverage for private vehicles
• Five-year roadside assistance included
• Multimedia system and critical components covered
• Commercial use vehicles limited to five years or 150,000km
• No requirement to service exclusively at Tesla dealerships

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Battery warranties remain unchanged

Tesla’s battery coverage continues to mirror industry standards for EVs, which already aligns with most competitors. Coverage differs by model:

• Model 3 and Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive: eight years or 160,000km
• Model 3 and Model Y Long Range and Performance: eight years or 192,000km
• Tesla guarantees a minimum 70% battery capacity retention over the warranty term

The unchanged battery warranty ensures buyers retain confidence in Tesla’s core EV technology while the vehicle warranty brings other systems into line with expectations.

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How Tesla compares to other brands

By introducing this five-year warranty, Tesla becomes the last Top 20 brand in Australia to match or exceed five years, joining brands like Toyota and Ford. However, some rivals continue to offer more extensive protection:

• BYD: six-year coverage
• Kia: seven-year coverage
• Jaecoo: eight years unlimited kilometres
• Nissan: up to 10 years or 300,000km with conditional extensions

Prestige and low-volume marques—including Bentley, Aston Martin, Porsche, Ferrari, and niche models like Ram pick-ups and the Chevrolet Corvette—still offer less than five years.

Tesla’s warranty also differs from some competitors in that there is no option to extend coverage beyond five years, similar to MG, Mitsubishi, and Nissan’s base warranty structures.

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What it means for Australian buyers

The update is more than a marketing move. Tesla remains Australia’s largest EV brand despite only offering two models locally after the retirement of the Model S and Model X, and with the Cybertruck still unavailable in right-hand drive.

However, Tesla has faced increasing competition. BYD, which now rivals Tesla both globally and locally, has been gaining market share, with Tesla sales in Australia declining by 24.8 percent last year.

With the Model Y still Australia’s best-selling EV and the Model 3 holding steady as the most popular electric passenger car, the five-year warranty may help remove one longstanding barrier to ownership while reinforcing Tesla’s value proposition.