Tesla has announced it will soon be making a major update to its warranty offerings, revealing that starting in 2026, the company will introduce new extended coverage options for high-voltage batteries — extending protection beyond the standard 8-year warranty.
The upcoming change was hidden in an email sent to customers on Tuesday, and shows Tesla’s growing confidence in the long-term reliability of its electric vehicles, while giving owners more peace of mind as their vehicles age.
Current Battery and Vehicle Warranty Coverage
Every new Tesla currently comes with an 8-year Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty, varying slightly by model:
- Model S and Model X: 8 years or 240,000 km (150,000 miles), whichever comes first, with minimum 70% retention of battery capacity.
- Model 3 and Model Y Long Range and Performance: 8 years or 192,000 km (120,000 miles).
- Model 3 and Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive: 8 years or 160,000 km (100,000 miles).
- Cybertruck Dual and Tri-Motor variants: 8 years or 240,000 km.
These warranties are among the longest in the EV industry. Tesla notes that many owners have far exceeded those limits — collectively driving more than 4.28 billion miles on original battery packs that have already outlived their warranty periods, according to the email.
What the 2026 Battery Warranty Could Look Like
While Tesla hasn’t yet shared specifics about the new battery warranty, it’s likely to mirror the flexible subscription model of the Extended Service Agreement (ESA). Instead of a one-time payment, owners may be able to subscribe monthly to extend their high-voltage battery protection for one to four additional years.
Given Tesla’s track record with warranty pricing, the cost could range from $100 to $200 per month, depending on the model and battery size. The coverage could also offer multiple tiers — for example, one plan focused solely on degradation, and another including repairs or replacements for battery system failures.
Recent Warranty Expansions
This announcement follows Tesla’s earlier move in September 2025 to add a 7-year or 70,000-mile warranty on expensive propulsion-related parts for 2026 Model S, 3, X, and Y vehicles. That plan covers critical systems like the power conversion unit, inverter, and charging components — areas that can be costly to repair but fall outside the battery warranty.
Additionally, Tesla offers an Extended Service Agreement (ESA) that provides up to four more years of general vehicle coverage after the standard 4-year/50,000-mile warranty expires. The ESA is available both as a monthly subscription or as a lump-sum payment, with prices starting under $100 per month in both Canada and the U.S.
Tesla’s decision to expand its warranty coverage reflects strong reliability data across millions of vehicles. Many owners have reported minimal degradation even after years of heavy use, supporting Tesla’s claim that its batteries can “last much longer” than their warranties suggest.
