This is a post I didn’t think I would be writing. Back in 2021, I bought my first ever EV, a Tesla 2021 Model Y (also known as MY). The buying and delivery process was decent, which I documented on this post You’re ready to buy a Tesla, right?.Then the EV market went crazy and I sold it. But I always wanted to get another one. How has the buying and delivery process changed in 2025, is it any better, did it get worse? Lets jump right into it and see what it is like buying a Tesla in 2025.
Story Time
Truth be told, I didn’t want to sell my original Tesla. When prices shot up about 45% to what I paid for the car (55K vs 89K). I looked and saw what I could get for it. I did make a decent amount of money. The by-product of that was me getting into a car that I didn’t really want. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy it. Once you drive a Tesla, there is really no going back to a regular car. After about 2.5 years with the Jeep, it was time to go back to a Tesla and with the new Model Y refresh and hardware 4, it was time.
The Ordering Process
This was about the same as my first Tesla with the exception that now I had a trade-in. I made an appointment at the Jacksonville Tesla delivery center, mostly to ask my questions. I really didn’t want to drive it, especially since I had one already. My questions were answered fairly quickly and I test drove one. Yeah, I said I didn’t want to, but we started talking about the changes. Truth be told, I didn’t believe him. Boy was I wrong, and I am glad I was wrong. It drives like a completely different car and its so quiet on the inside. Nothing like the 2021 I had, where you felt every bump in the road and heard every noise on the outside.
There were many cars, but not one matching my exact configuration. I went home, got a friends referral code, and ordered the one I wanted. The “expected” delivery date was between 5/17 and 5/22.
The App is “key” to the ordering process
You don’t realize how important the Tesla app is in the ordering process until you order one. Everything, and I mean everything is done in the app. You cannot do anything on the Tesla website, even down to the trade-in. There are certain check-points in the app you have to get to before other checkpoints are unlocked. Also, certain check-points only unlock by date, and you can’t complete them until the date of delivery or a few days before.
From pictures of your trade-in to applying for financing, it is all done in the app. Believe it or not, it is seamless and I low key like this way better than actually dealing with a person. Yes, it takes out the haggling part, but it leaves you with a no BS approach to the purchasing process.
I get an alert that I have a delivery date, May 31st. When I realized I have something personal coming up, I don’t want to risk missing paying the downpayment. When I chat with a local advisor via the app (again, see how its key to this whole process). That is when he tells me the good news that the car just got there and I can pick it up on Friday May 23rd.
Was the pickup process the same as 2021?
One would hope that the pickup process did change from 2021 to 2025. One thing I can say is still the same. You have 3 days from the time the delivery center tells you that your car is there to get it. As someone who travels a lot for work, the local guys did tell me there was flexibility in that but I was skeptical. I think if you can show them proof that you are unable to get it in 3 days they should work with you. I get to the delivery center, which is also our local service center. There is no where to park. It is a pretty big service center and I was surprised I could not find a place to park.
You walk in, tell them you are here for a new car delivery and you go into a different room. There were a few people there already. A Tesla worker comes in and says they will take us to our cars once we watch a delivery video. Um, ok…. Dunno why but sure. When the video is done they bring us into the delivery part of the service center. They say to find your car, and stand by it and wait for them. Mine had paperwork on the windshield for the trade I was doing. While I was waiting, I went over the car and I can say; the build quality from Austin vs Fremont is night and day. At least when comparing my 2021 to the 2026.
The employee walks over. She tells me she is going to go to my trade-in and get the mileage and plate off for me. While I am doing that I can accept delivery in the app and start to setup things. Once she gets back, she puts my plate on the car and says “enjoy your new Tesla!”. Say hello to StorMY
So, to wrap it up. The journey from my 2021 Tesla experience to getting StorMY, my new Model Y, has been truly night and day. The entire process felt significantly more streamlined and organized this time around. The build quality on this Austin-made beauty is genuinely top-notch – I couldn’t find a single flaw. I can’t wait for the adventures StorMY and I will have.. If you are in the market for a Tesla, use my referral code! Thanks for reading!