Well, let's see the Facebook post that gives us the story:
Got my new red Y. Very different from my 2022 Y. Just love it but takes a bit of relearning a few things.
Quote from dealer tech doing my inspection.
How do you turn this thing on?
How does it go forward?
For some reason Tesla dealers can’t inspect their own cars for state inspection. And why does a new car need an inspection anyway? Without an exhaust, do they just check the lights?
Great service - they changed my delivery date a few times and I was away when it was ready. They offered to deliver the car to my house since I live 2 hours away. There is a service center near my house but can’t deliver cars.
Love the color. Red in the sun, maroon in the garage. Looking forward to my first long drive from MA to Delaware Bethany Beach.
Too bad Tesla was pushed out of Jersey Turnpike rest stops. Good thing I have more range on this one. Bye bye to my white 2022 that served me well for 4 years and 110 miles. For those trading in an old Tesla, I was thrilled that they paid me almost 10k more that Carvana offered.
So, reading the post, it appears that the customer had to put their freshly-bought used 2022 Tesla Model Y through a state inspection, the dealer tech (it's unclear if it was a Tesla dealer or not) was a bit confused on how to operate the vehicle, and the customer was happy overall with the service and delivery.
One note -- the customer says Tesla apparently can't inspect its own cars for a state inspection. I take this to mean that, if true in this state -- it appears the customer lives in Massachusetts -- Tesla either can't or won't inspect the cars until they're sold. That's odd. A bit of Googling suggests that it is true, though, because Tesla, which sells only EVs, doesn't have emissions equipment handy.
Obviously, a third party wouldn't inspect a non-existent exhaust system, and there are other items that need inspection -- tires, brakes, rotors. Still, it's odd that Tesla doesn't inspect the other items.
Torque News Says It's State By State
Inspections, whether for mechanical/safety issues or emissions issues, aren't something required in every state. Even within a state, inspections can vary -- here in Illinois, rural counties tend to be exempt from emissions inspections.
And that is what some others said in reply to the first Facebook post.
No State should require an Inspection for a new vehicle. By law, if the vehicles are being delivered to a State for resale, they must comply with those States’ requirements. State Inspections are just a money-grab pyramid scheme for the Gov. Congrats on the new Y.
And:
Tesla can’t inspect their vehicles in Pennsylvania either. If I recall from last year, the PA state government refused to let them because they consider Tesla a tech company, not a car company so they cannot obtain inspection certifications. Because of this too, they are not allowed to be referred to as “dealerships” and can only be called “service centers” or “delivery centers”. I could be wrong on why, but that is what I remember from last year
That, of course, is another reason why an inspection might not be done at a Tesla service center.
Navigating the world of state inspections can be confusing for car owners and used-car buyers. All one can really do is search via Google or speak to a trusted technician. Your state should have a Web site with instructions and requirements.
Torque News Says Some Tesla Buyers Are Happy With Their Rides
The other takeaway from this customer's Facebook post is that at least some Tesla buyers love their cars. This is even considering reliability issues and the controversial politics of head honcho Elon Musk.
It's not hard to see why. While Teslas, like all cars, have flaws, their styling has aged well and some of the features are desirable. Not to mention that going EV makes financial sense for some folks, and Tesla's Supercharging network makes long-distance driving more convenient (and, in some cases, possible) than with other electric vehicles.
You can see the happy campers chiming in under the original author's post.
One says:
Really elegant, great choice!!!
Another:
Wow, it's great to hear of such a wonderful payout for trade in with Tesla! Beautiful car! I have test driven the Juniper and love it! We want to trade my 2022 white MY for a Juniper.
And finally:
Very beautiful!
Tesla hasn't made major styling changes in its vehicles in a long time, so it speaks to the designers' ability that the look has aged so well.
At the end of the day, there are two separate takeaways here. One is that when it coms to state inspections, any one buying a used car should check around to see what their state, city, and county require.
The second is that at least some Tesla owners are happy -- and happy to stay in the Tesla brand ecosystem. And it also appears that Tesla personnel, at least in this customer's region, treat customers well.
None of that is meant as a defense of Tesla against some very reasonable, fair, and factual complaints. It's simply that even a brand that's occasionally beset by controversy, as Tesla is, can have happy and loyal customers. Indeed, Tesla has lasted in business nearly 20 years, so the experience can't be all bad for all customers.
Return tomorrow, or check our Torque News Home Page for more interesting automotive news articles.
About The Author
Tim Healey is an experienced automotive writer and editor from Chicago. He has covered automotive news at Consumer Guide Automotive, Web2Carz, AutoGuide, and was the managing editor at The Truth About Cars. Tim is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association. You can find him on Facebook, X/Twitter, and on LinkedIn.
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