A collision is stressful in any car. In a Tesla, there is an extra layer of worry, because you know it is not a vehicle you can just drop at the nearest corner body shop. If your heart is still pounding and you are not sure what to do first, take a breath. This is a straightforward walk-through of the steps that actually matter in the hours after a Tesla collision, in the order they matter, so you can protect yourself, protect your car, and get it into the right hands.
First, Make Sure Everyone Is Safe
Before anything else, check on yourself and anyone else involved, and call 911 if there are any injuries. If the cars are drivable and you are in a dangerous spot, like a live lane on Pacific Highway or I-5, move to a safe shoulder if you can do so safely. Turn on your hazards. Everything else on this list can wait a few minutes. Your safety cannot.
Your Tesla Probably Recorded the Whole Thing
This is the step most drivers forget, and it is one of the biggest advantages you have. If you have Dashcam and Sentry Mode enabled, your Tesla has almost certainly saved video of the collision to the USB drive in the car. That footage can show exactly what happened, from multiple angles, and it is often the single clearest piece of evidence for an insurance claim, especially if the other driver's story does not match yours. Before the car gets towed, moved, or worked on, save the relevant clips off the drive to your phone or a computer so they are not overwritten later. Even if you are shaken, this two-minute step can save you a great deal of hassle down the line.
Document the Scene
Take photos of everything: all the vehicles involved, the damage from several angles, the license plates, the position of the cars, and the surrounding area. Exchange names, insurance information, and phone numbers with the other driver. If there are witnesses, ask for their contact information too. You do not need to admit fault or argue about what happened. Just gather the facts. The photos plus your Tesla's footage give you a complete record.
Don't Drive It If Anything Feels Off
Teslas are tough, but they are also full of sensors and a large battery pack, and driving after a collision is not always safe. If you see any warning message on the screen, notice any fluid or debris under the car, feel or hear anything wrong when the car moves, or have damage anywhere near a wheel or the underside of the car, do not drive it. Have it towed. One Tesla-specific detail worth knowing: Teslas should be moved on a flatbed, not dragged on their wheels behind a standard tow truck, because towing them incorrectly can cause further damage. If you are not sure whether it is safe to drive, treat that uncertainty as a no and call for a flatbed.
You Choose the Shop, Not Your Insurance
Here is something a lot of drivers do not realize in the moment. Washington State law gives you the right to choose your own repair shop. Your insurance company may recommend one from their network, and that is fine as a suggestion, but the decision is yours. For a Tesla, that decision matters more than it does for an ordinary car. You want a Tesla Approved Collision Center that uses genuine Tesla parts, follows factory repair procedures, and performs ADAS calibration in-house, so the cameras and sensors that run your safety features work correctly again. A shop that simply says it can “work on” Teslas is not the same thing as a certified one.
What Happens When You Bring It to Us
Our Port Orchard shop is a Tesla Approved Collision Center. When you bring your Tesla in, we inspect it thoroughly, document the damage, and walk you through exactly what it needs in plain language. We use genuine Tesla parts, follow Tesla's repair procedures, recalibrate the ADAS sensors as part of the repair, and back the work with a limited lifetime warranty. We work with every insurance carrier and will coordinate directly with your insurance so you are not stuck playing middleman during an already stressful week. If you have been in a collision anywhere around the Puget Sound, you can call us or bring the car by, no appointment required, and we will tell you honestly where things stand.
Common Questions After a Tesla Collision
If there is any warning on the screen, any fluid or debris under the car, damage near a wheel, or damage anywhere close to the battery, do not drive it. Have it flat-bed towed instead. Teslas should be transported on a flatbed rather than dragged on their wheels, and driving with damaged sensors or structure can turn a repairable car into a bigger problem.
Your Tesla saves Dashcam and Sentry Mode clips to the USB drive in the car. Before anything gets moved or wiped, save the relevant clips off the drive to a phone or computer. That footage can show exactly what happened and is often the clearest evidence for your insurance claim.
No. Washington State law gives you the right to choose your own repair shop. Your insurer may suggest one from their network, but the choice is yours, and for a Tesla it is worth choosing a Tesla-certified shop that uses genuine parts and does ADAS calibration in-house.
Make sure everyone is safe and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Then, if it is safe, photograph the scene and all the vehicles, exchange information, save your Tesla's camera footage, and decide whether the car is safe to drive or needs a tow. After that you can start your insurance claim and choose a certified shop.
You do not have to route the repair through Tesla. A Tesla Approved Collision Center handles the certified repair directly, using genuine Tesla parts and factory procedures. Bring the car to a certified shop and they can take it from there, including coordinating your insurance claim.