Driving a Tesla means no more oil changes and frequent upkeep.
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Some Tesla owners say they’ve gone years without bringing their EV into a repair shop.
For comparison, internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles need to have their oil changed every few months, or between every 7,500 to 10,000 miles. And older ICE cars require oil changes every 3,000 miles.
ICE vehicle owners also need to replace their brake pads about every 10,000 to 20,000 miles.
Meanwhile, an electric car will never need an oil change, new fuel filter, spark plugs, or emission checks. Similarly, Teslas use regenerative braking, which means the brake pads very rarely need to be replaced, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Consumer Reports found that Teslas were the cheapest cars to own when it comes to costs of repairs and maintenance for the first five years of ownership.
Many Tesla owners said the only times they visited service centers were for issues that were covered by the carmaker’s warranty or for collisions.
“I’ve spent about $800 in seven years of owning my Tesla,” Robbie Mack, a former Tesla salesman and owner of a Model S, said. “One of the fixes was my fault because I went over a curb.”