If you have a damaged skid plate on your Tesla you may wonder how much it costs to get it replaced. You have 2 options: you can either schedule an appointment with your Tesla Service Center or a second-party repair shop.
Or you can do the repair yourself. Whatever you choose, below I will be going over what you can do when you have a damaged skid plate on your Tesla.
How Much is a Tesla Skid Plate Replacement?
First off try checking your warranty to see if you can get the skid plate on your Tesla replaced for free. With that being said if you do not want to replace the Tesla skid plate on your own then you can schedule an appointment with your nearest Tesla Service Center to have it replaced.
Based on what other Tesla drivers stated they have been quoted anywhere between $428 USD to $650 USD, this is not including tax and fees. The pricing is due to what Model of Tesla you own and what type of skid plate you are getting. Drivers have stated that the aluminum is the best for your Tesla, while the OEM skid plates are like cardboard.
If you plan on replacing your Tesla skid plate on your own there are going to be a few things you will need to purchase:
- Aluminum slide plate set. For the Tesla Model 3, this will cost about $550 USD, not including tax and fees.
- Tesla Jack Pads (4 Pack). This will cost around $29 USD, not including tax and fees.
Note, there are also going to be tools you will need to do the skid plate replacement. You will need a car jack (any is fine as long as it can lift your Tesla) or lift, a 15mm ratchet, a 10mm ratchet, and a T40 Hex bit. You should also use a light to help light up the bottom of your Tesla so it makes it easier for you to see. Try using a headlight so it will keep your hands free.
How Often Does A Tesla Skid Plate Need Replacing?
The Tesla driver stated that when having the OEM skid plate on the Tesla it was almost every year that the skid plate needed to be replaced.
Which is not good, the last thing you want is to have to replace the skid plate every year. Tesla drivers have also stated that once they switched to the aluminum skid plate they only had to replace it when it was damaged.
Now, how often you need to replace your Tesla skid plate depends on, one how you are driving your Tesla, and two the elements your Tesla is exposed to. If you have the OEM skid plate on your Tesla if your Tesla is exposed to a lot of water and dirt this can deteriorate the skid plate causing you to have to replace it.
If you have an aluminum skid plate it can handle water and physical damage better. If you are scraping the bottom of your Tesla often or hitting curbs this can cause damage to your Tesla skid plate. The more damage the skid plate relieves the more often you will need to replace the skid plate.
How to Know If Tesla Skid Plate Needs Replacing
There are a few ways you can tell if you need to replace the skid plate on your Tesla. Obviously if there is any noticeable damage like pieces that came off of it then it is time to replace the skid plate on your Tesla.
If your Tesla skid plate is dragging on the ground, that is definitely a sign that it is time to replace it. Another thing to consider is if you are hearing noises while you are driving your Tesla, this could be a dragging sound to even just a rattling sound. This is a sign that your Tesla skid plate is damaged and you need to get it replaced.
Doing a look over on your Tesla should be a regular thing that you do before your drive. Make it a habit to check your vehicle over before you drive.
This is where you will notice things like flat tires, leaks, or damage to your Tesla, and to see if there is any damage on your Tesla skid plate.
If you notice that your skid plate is barely holding on, or there is a lot of damage like scraps and pieces off the skid plate. This is how you can tell if your Tesla skid plate needs to be replaced.
Are Tesla Skid Plates Hard to Replace?
No, it is a fairly simple fix, especially if you have prior experience in replacing a skid plate. Even if you do not have experience in replacing a skid plate, doing this fix can be simple. You can purchase the pads and skid plate from the Tesla website.
You will need a jack or lift so you are able to get under your vehicle. It is easy to take off the old skid plate and only a few steps to put the new skid plate on your Tesla. Do consider getting the aluminum skid plate since it is stronger than the OEM ones.
Getting the aluminum skid plate can also prevent you from having to replace your skid plate as often. But it is not hard to replace the Tesla skid plate on your own.
With that being said, if you are not comfortable at doing this fix yourself you can schedule an appointment with your nearest Tesla Service Center. You can also see if a second-party body shop will do this fix for you. However, do consider the cost when it comes to making an appointment to fix your Tesla skid plates. Call around and get a quote.
How to Get the Skid Plate Replacement For As Cheap As Possible
The first thing you should do is check your warranty to see if this replacement can be covered under the warranty, this will cost you nothing. However, if that is not an option, one of the cheapest ways to get your skid plate released is by doing it yourself.
You can purchase the Tesla skid plate on the Tesla website. But if you want to look for ones that are cheaper than $550 USD, then consider looking at other websites. Check on the different Tesla forms in your area, other drivers are always selling used parts.
You can also check eBay as well to see if you can find a cheap Tesla skid plate that is like new. If you do decide to use a website other than Tesla make sure you avoid getting scammed. And triple-check that you are getting the correct skid plate for your electric vehicle.
If you decide to not do the skid plate replacement for your Tesla yourself. You can schedule an appointment with your nearest Tesla Service Center. Before you do that get a quote on how much this will cost you.
Call around at different body shops and get quotes from these shops as well. Compare the quotes and go for the cheapest one, you will be surprised by the cost difference between these shops.
You may want to consider going to a shop to get your Tesla skid plate replaced if you are not capable of doing it yourself. There could be physical or health issues that may prevent you from fixing the skid plate yourself.
And that is okay, do not risk it to replace the Tesla skid plate yourself. This is why there are body shops and professionals to do these fixes so you can have peace of mind and not possibly hurt yourself.
My Final Thoughts
In conclusion, replacing your Tesla skid plate is fairly easy to do yourself with the right equipment and tools. You can also go to your nearest Tesla Service Center or a body shop to get your Tesla skid plate replaced by a professional.
Either way, the cost for you to get your Tesla skid plate replaced can vary depending on one or two things. Where you purchase your parts and skid plate, and if you do the replacement yourself or go to a shop.
Remember to consider getting the aluminum skid plate since it is a lot more durable than the OEM skid plate that Tesla puts on their electric vehicles.
You will notice that your Tesla skid plate needs to be replaced if you see any physical damage, part of the skid plate falling apart, or the skid plate is barely holding on. Also, do not ignore the noises you hear while driving this could also be signs that you need to replace your Tesla skid plate.