Buying a Used Tesla Model Y (2022-2025): Which Version, Range, Warranty & What to Check

The Tesla Model Y is plentiful among used cars. Asking prices begin around £20,000 for Rear-Wheel Drive versions, rising beyond £30,000 for a late Performance example. This guide covers the original Model Y sold in the UK from early 2022 until its facelift replacement arrived in 2025. It explains the versions, realistic driving range, warranty, owner experiences, likely prices and checks to make. There’s a print-out checklist at the end.

Which Model Y are you looking at?

All 2022–2025 Model Ys share the same body, heat pump, 11 kW AC charging, front boot and large hatchback luggage area. Battery and motors distinguish the versions. UK listings generally identify these by name; look for “RWD”, “Long Range” or “Performance” (both latter versions have “Dual Motor” four-wheel drive). A “Long Range RWD” is the rare late version.

Tesla’s quoted ranges use 19-inch wheels where available. Choosing 20-inch wheels reduces range by around 6%, taking Rear-Wheel Drive from 283 to 267 miles. Performance always sits lower on 21-inch wheels. Tesla UK introduced Rear-Wheel Drive in late 2022, so almost every 2022 example is Long Range or Performance. Long Range RWD replaced it in autumn 2024, before the facelift Model Y arrived in 2025. Either version can therefore have a 2025 registration: the current Model Y page covers the newer version, with a side-by-side comparison on the old vs new compare page. Find full specifications for the earlier version on the 2022–2025 Model Y page.

Space

This is a major Model Y attraction. Tesla quotes 854 litres behind the rear seats, measured up to the roof and including the deep underfloor compartment, making direct comparisons with other brands inappropriate. In practice, boot space is considerable relative to the car’s dimensions, supplemented by a 117-litre front boot. Width is the compromise: 2.13 metres across the mirrors, which owners notice in multi-storey car parks and on narrow lanes.

Warranty: check what’s left

These examples originally came with a basic warranty lasting 4 years or 50,000 miles, meaning 2022 examples have now passed it, while a 2024 car reaches expiry in 2028. The battery and drive unit are covered for 8 years, with at least 70% of the battery capacity guaranteed:

• Registered 2022: basic warranty to 2026 (or 50,000 miles); battery and motors to 2030, or 100,000 miles on a Rear-Wheel Drive and 120,000 miles on a Long Range or Performance.
• Registered 2023: basic warranty to 2027 (or 50,000 miles); battery and motors to 2031, or 100,000 miles on a Rear-Wheel Drive and 120,000 miles on a Long Range or Performance.
• Registered 2024: basic warranty to 2028 (or 50,000 miles); battery and motors to 2032, or 100,000 miles on a Rear-Wheel Drive and 120,000 miles on a Long Range or Performance.

Tesla says the warranty follows the car to the new owner when the ownership transfer is done through Tesla, so make sure it is, and that the seller has removed the car from their Tesla account. Mileages are moderate so far: the typical 2022–2023 Long Range in our snapshot shows just under 40,000 miles.

Realistic range

Our estimate for a typical car of each age, from the same battery-ageing model as the rest of EVcarsguide:

They assume a battery that has aged as a typical car’s would. The Model Y is efficient for its size and every one has a heat pump, so owners often report more in mild weather, but winter and fast motorway driving cut it hard. Owners of the Rear-Wheel Drive point out that its gap to the Long Range is smaller than the brochure suggests, because the LFP battery is meant to be charged to 100% while the Long Range is usually kept at 80–90% day to day.

Charging, and looking after the battery

Every version takes up to 11 kW AC, allowing a normal 7 kW home wallbox to fill it overnight. Rear-Wheel Drive peaks on a Tesla Supercharger at 170 kW, while Long Range, Performance and Long Range RWD accept up to 250 kW. Tesla’s owner’s manual points you to the car’s own charging screen for the recommended daily limit, and that differs by battery:

• LFP (Rear-Wheel Drive): the recommendation is to keep the limit at 100%.
• Lithium-ion (Long Range, Performance, Long Range RWD): a lower daily limit (the manual’s example is 80%), saving 100% for long trips.
• Either: the manual warns it loses roughly 1% a day parked and unplugged, that running it down to 0% can damage components, and that you should keep it plugged in when you can.

One home-charging quirk came up in owner threads: a 2023 car repeatedly tripping the RCD in an older 32 A wallbox. The owner’s workaround was to set the car to draw 31 A. If the car you’re buying will charge on an older unit, get an electrician to check it.

What owners report going wrong

These themes appear repeatedly in owner discussions of the 2022–2025 version. Most owners speak highly of the car, repeatedly praising its space, efficiency and access to the Supercharger network.

• A firm ride. The most common complaint by far: the suspension is stiff on broken UK roads, worst on the Performance and on 20- or 21-inch wheels. Owners also report cars delivered with tyres above the pressure on the door label, which makes it worse. Drive it on a rough road before you commit.
• Headlights. Several owners report dipped beams aimed too high, dazzling other drivers, and that software updates can reset the aim. Ask whether they have been adjusted.
• Insurance. Owners repeatedly describe premiums substantially above comparable electric SUVs. Obtain an insurance quote for the specific example before buying.
• Size and turning circle. A 12.1-metre turning circle combined with substantial width makes confined parking more difficult than in many rivals.
• Build quality. Rattles and squeaks from the rear seats and boot area, thin carpets and occasional cracked glass roofs. Listen during the test drive and inspect every panel along its length in daylight.
• Parking sensors. Owners note that later examples have no ultrasonic parking sensors and use cameras alone. They consider the camera-only system less dependable, particularly in bright sunlight or at close range. Cars that are equipped with sensors have small round sensors visible within their bumpers.
• Software gripes. Automatic wipers and high beam can misjudge UK conditions, Autopilot can misread speed limits, phone keys sometimes unlock slowly, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are absent.
• No spare wheel. Neither a spare wheel nor repair kit is provided. Owners say the tyre sizes may mean waiting for replacements following a puncture.

Many drivers also describe used prices falling quickly while Tesla reduced new-car prices. This creates strong value today but reinforces the importance of buying at the right price, rather than relying on being able to sell well later.

Servicing

There is no annual service. Tesla’s manual lists: a brake fluid check every 4 years, a cabin air filter every 2 years, the HEPA and carbon filters every 3 years, wiper blades every year, a tyre rotation every 6,250 miles, and cleaning and lubricating the brake calipers every year or 12,500 miles where roads are salted in winter. That last one applies to most of the UK. Brakes that are hardly used because of regenerative braking can seize, so ask whether it has been done.

Recalls

Recalls are free to fix, but check they’ve been done. Most are over-the-air software updates. The UK recall records list these for Model Ys built before the facelift:

• Power steering software (built January 2022 to August 2023, around 66,600 examples): resolved through an over-the-air update.
• Tyre pressure warning software (built November 2021 to November 2024): over-the-air software update.
• Reversing camera display (built April to December 2024, around 5,000 examples): software update or car-computer replacement where required.
• Audio and eCall following loss of 12V power (built mid to late 2021, encompassing early UK deliveries): resolved with updated firmware.
• Front suspension lateral links (built 2020–2021, 127 cars): inspection.

Enter the registration on GOV.UK’s recall checker to see anything outstanding on the specific car.

Safety

The Model Y scored five stars from Euro NCAP in 2022, scoring 97% for adult protection and 98% for safety assist. The rating includes Rear-Wheel Drive, Long Range and Performance versions, remaining valid through the end of 2028.

Recovery, towing and tyres

• Recovery: the manual says it must be transported with all four wheels off the ground, on a flatbed. Never tow it with wheels turning.
• Towing: with Tesla’s tow package it can pull up to 1,600 kg braked or 750 kg unbraked, with 100 kg on the tow ball. Most cars don’t have the tow bar, so check if you need one.
• Tyres: 255/45 R19 or 255/40 R20; the Performance has 255/35 R21 at the front and 275/35 R21 at the rear, so its tyres can only be swapped side to side. The manual puts the pressure label on the door pillar, on the passenger side of UK cars.

What to pay

Almost two thirds of advertised used 2022–2024 Model Ys are Long Range, with just over a quarter Rear-Wheel Drive. Dealers sell nearly all examples, and only around 3% are private listings.

Treat these as asking prices rather than valuations. Three points stand out. A 2023 Long Range costs around £2,600 above a 2023 Rear-Wheel Drive, adding four-wheel drive and range but typically showing approximately 7,000 extra miles. A Performance costs £2,000–£3,000 above an equivalent-year Long Range, bringing higher mileage and a firmer ride. Year-to-year price differences are modest: a 2022 Long Range costs only £1,700 less than a 2023 one, so a newer car with more warranty left is often the better buy. About 1% of adverts are Cat S or N write-offs, so always run a history check.

Questions to ask the seller

1. Which version is it, and is it the 2022–2025 car or the facelift?
2. When was it first registered, and what is left of the warranty?
3. Can you show me the service history in your Tesla app, and are the recalls done?
4. Has it had suspension, glass roof, camera or screen repairs?
5. Have the headlights been re-aimed, and are the tyres at the label pressure?
6. Will you transfer ownership through Tesla and remove it from your account?
7. If the advert quotes a battery health figure, can I see the report?

The print-out checklist

Take this checklist along. It covers checks specific to the Model Y; our general used EV buyer’s guide covers the checks relevant to every used electric car.

Alternatives worth a look

• Tesla Model 3 (2019–2023): shared underpinnings in a saloon, less expensive used and slightly more efficient, though with a smaller boot opening. Compare the two, or read our used Model 3 guide.
• Tesla Model Y (2025 on): owners describe a softer ride and better cabin finish, at higher prices. Compare old and new.
• Skoda Enyaq: a spacious family SUV also shortlisted by many Model Y buyers. Enyaq vs Model Y.
• Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5: quicker charging and longer original warranties, including seven years for the Kia. EV6 vs Model Y, Ioniq 5 vs Model Y.
• VW ID.4 and Polestar 2: ID.4 vs Model Y, Polestar 2 vs Model Y, and our used Polestar 2 guide.

Unsure whether it meets your driving needs? The EV Matchmaker matches the car against your own week, while the Used EV Finder shows the alternatives available within your budget.

Sources & further reading

• Tesla – Model Y (2020–2024) owner’s manual
• Tesla UK – vehicle warranty
• Tesla UK – Model Y page, April 2024 (archived)
• Tesla UK – Model Y page, January 2025 (archived)
• Euro NCAP – Tesla Model Y (2022)
• GOV.UK – Check if a vehicle has been recalled