No, the Tesla Referral Program does not apply to the purchase of a used car from Tesla's official used inventory. The program's terms and conditions explicitly state that the referral credit is valid only for new Tesla vehicle orders placed through a owner's referral link. This is a common point of confusion, as the program is a significant perk for new car buyers, offering benefits like credits toward Supercharging, vehicle accessories, or even special software features like Full Self-Driving (FSD) capability.
The primary reason for this exclusion is that the referral program is a marketing tool designed to incentivize new customer acquisitions and boost sales of new vehicles. Used car sales, on the other hand, move existing inventory and have different profit margins, so they are not included in the promotional structure.
If you are considering a used Tesla, your best bet for savings is to look for existing inventory discounts that Tesla occasionally offers on its used and demo vehicles. These are separate from the referral program and can sometimes represent a better value. For absolute clarity, always review the latest terms on Tesla's official website, as the referral program's details and rewards can change.
| Purchase Type | Eligible for Referral Credit? | Common Alternative Savings |
|---|
| New Tesla Order | Yes | Referral credit (e.g., $500 off, Supercharging miles) |
| Used Tesla (from Tesla Inventory) | No | Existing inventory price reductions |
| Used Tesla (Private Party Sale) | No | Negotiated price with the seller |
| Demo/Showroom Vehicle | No | Marked-down price as a "demo" model |
