What You Need to Know
- Time Limit: Approximately 30–60 minutes
- Showroom Locations by State: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
- Requirements: Driver’s license
Getting behind the wheel of a Tesla requires booking an appointment on the company’s website. The automaker offers two such choices to consumers: a more traditional option that involves going to a Tesla showroom and speaking with a company representative or a novel “self-serve” one, which is what we tried out. Doing this required downloading the Tesla app to our smartphone, which we then used to upload photos of our driver’s license. From there, we used the app to locate and unlock the Tesla Model Y SUV we opted to take out for a spin. Don’t bother showing up early, either, because as we discovered, the app won’t let you into the vehicle even a second before your booked time. Booking a self-serve test drive also opens up the opportunity to avoid having to go to a Tesla store, as the automaker often uses its Supercharger stations or service centers as pick-up and drop-off points.
Tesla encourages drivers to familiarize themselves with the vehicle and its Supercharger network by first suggesting a 10-minute stop for a quick zap of electricity. Need assistance with anything? Then there’s always the option to get on the line with a company rep.
Despite rejecting the typical dealership model (Tesla strictly sells its vehicles directly to consumers) and rejiggering the test drive, the EV automaker seems unwilling to shake the aggressive follow-up tactics often associated with car dealers. If your experience ends up anything like ours, then prepare for Tesla to inundate you with follow-up calls, emails, and text messages aimed at securing a sale.
