2018 Tesla 3 Electricity · AE67 HZG

As an electric vehicle, this Tesla Model 3 avoids fuel costs but still carries tax, insurance, and maintenance overheads. Road tax is currently £0 for zero-emission vehicles, although this is subject to change — verify the current rate at the point of purchase. Insurance typically sits in a mid-to-high group for the Model 3, so quotes should be obtained before committing; expect premiums in line with executive saloons of similar performance. Energy costs will depend heavily on home charging versus public rapid charging; home charging at typical UK rates is markedly cheaper per mile than petrol equivalents.

Typical maintenance is lower than a comparable ICE vehicle — no oil changes, fewer consumables — but tyres, brakes (less often, due to regen), suspension components, and the 12V battery still require attention. The aggregate MOT data shows suspension arm and tyre items among the top failure reasons for the Model 3, which aligns with the vehicle's weight and instant torque. Allow a sensible budget for tyres, given the heavy chassis and rapid acceleration that accelerates wear on the driven axle.

The recorded MOT history is clean, with no advisories or failures on either test, so there are no specific defect patterns to chase from that data alone. However, the aggregate failure list for the Model 3 highlights direction indicator colour, suspension arms, and tyres — these are worth close physical inspection regardless. Check all indicator lenses for discolouration, examine the front suspension arms and bushes for play on a ramp, and inspect all four tyres for even wear, as the Model 3 is known for rear-tyre wear under hard acceleration.

Beyond the MOT scope, any used EV demands battery-specific checks. Request a battery health diagnostic, either from Tesla directly or via a specialist with EV tooling, and look for any imbalance between modules. Inspect the charging port pins for scorching, test both AC and DC rapid charging if possible, and verify the touchscreen responds promptly without reboots, as the Model 3 relies heavily on the central screen. Finally, confirm the VIN, build date, and software version match what the seller claims, and check for any outstanding recalls via the Tesla recall lookup.