Choosing the right color for your new Tesla is an important decision. The color is likely the first thing people will notice about your car and it can significantly impact your enjoyment of driving it. However, sometimes after placing your Tesla order, you may start to have second thoughts about the color you chose. So can you change the color if you change your mind?
The short answer is yes, it is possible to change the color after ordering in some cases, but there are limitations. In this article, we’ll walk through the details on whether and how you can modify the exterior color on your Tesla after placing your order.
Order Process and Customization
When you place an order for a new Tesla online or at a store, you are able to fully customize the color and other options to your preferences. You can browse the full palette of available exterior colors and select the one you want.
Tesla’s online design studio allows you to visualize different color configurations on the Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y. You can also select the interior color, wheel style, and other options.
Once you place your order by clicking “Order Now”, your selections are locked in. The order page in your Tesla Account will summarize your color choice and other customizations.
At this point, your order is considered “placed” but not finalized. There is still an opportunity to make changes if needed.
Time Limit to Modify Order
If you need to change the exterior color on your Tesla order, it’s important to act quickly. You typically only have a short window of about 24-48 hours after ordering to make modifications before the order is sent to the factory.
The exact cut-off timing depends on several factors:
- When you placed your order (e.g. weekday, weekend, holiday)
- The Tesla sales advisor assisting with your order
- Current vehicle demand and production schedule
As a rule of thumb, if you need to alter the color choice, aim to contact Tesla within 1 business day of ordering. This gives you the best chance of being able to revise it.
If you wait longer than that, the order may get locked in and sent to the production queue. At that point, changing the color becomes difficult or impossible.
Contact Tesla Support
To request a change to the exterior color on your Tesla order, you will need to contact Tesla Support.
You can reach out to them via:
- Phone – call the support line for your region
- Email – send a message to Tesla Support in your Tesla Account
- Mobile app – use in-app messaging to contact support
- Online chat – reach out via chat on Tesla’s website
Provide them with your order number, current color, and the new color you would like. The earlier you make this request after ordering, the better.
A Tesla representative will then review your order and provide guidance on whether they can update the color selection.
Color Change Cut-Off
Tesla has a strict cut-off on when color changes can be accommodated on existing orders.
If your car has already been built at the factory with the original color, it becomes nearly impossible to change it. Repainting assembled vehicles would be extremely challenging logistically.
Tesla advisers report that the cut-off is typically when the order is assigned a production date and VIN. This means the order has been scheduled on the assembly line and the specific vehicle has been allocated.
At that point, the color is locked in. Any changes could delay production and aren’t guaranteed.
New Orders
If your order has passed the cut-off for color changes, there are a couple options:
- Cancel and Re-Order – You can cancel your existing order and place a new one with your preferred color. Just be aware you will lose your place in line and go to the back of the queue.
- Edit After Delivery – Take delivery of the originally colored vehicle, then wrap or repaint the car after purchase. This incurs extra cost of course.
Neither option is ideal, so select your color carefully upfront if possible.
Color Availability
One other factor to consider is color availability. Tesla sometimes retires certain exterior color options or introduces new ones. The only colors you will be able to choose from are those currently being offered at the time of ordering.
So if you decided 6 months after ordering that you wanted a different color, it’s possible that particular color may no longer be available. This is another reason to consider color selection carefully upfront.
| Model | Standard Color Options |
|---|---|
| Model S | Solid Black, Midnight Silver Metallic, Deep Blue Metallic, Pearl White Multi-Coat |
| Model 3 | Solid Black, Midnight Silver Metallic, Deep Blue Metallic, Pearl White Multi-Coat, Red Multi-Coat |
| Model X | Solid Black, Midnight Silver Metallic, Deep Blue Metallic, Pearl White Multi-Coat |
| Model Y | Solid Black, Midnight Silver Metallic, Deep Blue Metallic, Pearl White Multi-Coat, Red Multi-Coat |
Additional Color Options
Beyond the standard color palette, Tesla also offers a selection of premium paint choices at extra cost. These vary over time but can include:
- Multi-coat Red
- Blue with Grey accents
- Midnight Silver with black accents
- Deep Blue with silver accents
- Pearl White with black accents
- Solid Black with white accents
There are also limited edition colors that come and go, like the recently available Quicksilver.
If you decide after ordering that you’d rather switch to a premium paint color, be aware of the additional cost. Multi-coat red for example costs $2,500 more than the standard color options.
You may also be limited by colors that aren’t currently being offered at the time of your request.
Wrapping Your Tesla
If you are set on changing your Tesla’s color after delivery, the most practical option is usually to wrap the vehicle. Quality wraps can cost $2,000-$5,000 depending on complexity and technician skill.
Advantages of wrapping include:
- Much wider range of colors and finishes
- Can achieve matte, satin, chrome, or high gloss looks
- Fully reversible and removable
- Helps protect original paint
Wrapping is unlikely to perfectly match the smoothness and depth of the factory paint job. But the technology and materials continue to improve. For many owners, wraps present the easiest path to dramatically changing the car’s look post-purchase.
Repainting Your Tesla
The other option is to fully repaint your Tesla. This is a much more complex process requiring disassembly and expert paint matching. Costs typically start around $5,000 and can go much higher depending on factors like:
- Overall condition of the original paint
- Color being changed to
- Scope of work required
- Location and shop rates
While repainting can yield excellent results in the right hands, there are more risks involved:
- Entire panels need to be repainted
- Original paint can be damaged in the process
- Difficult to exactly match factory colors and orange peel texture
- Voids exterior warranty coverage
For these reasons, most owners lean towards wraps if they want to revise the appearance after delivery. But professional repainting is an option if you have your heart set on a total color makeover.
Conclusion
Changing the exterior color after ordering your Tesla is possible in some situations if you act quickly. Contact Tesla support within 1 day of ordering to request a color change.
The order details can usually be updated as long as the vehicle has not been assigned a production date. Once scheduled for manufacture, the color is locked in.
If you miss the window to modify on an existing order, you can cancel and re-order or change the color down the road via wrapping or repainting. But selecting your preferred color upfront is always the best approach if you have flexibility.
Carefully consider all the standard and premium color options when building your Tesla. View different configurations online and in person. This gives you the greatest chance of choosing a color you’ll be happy with for years to come.
Summary
- Act fast if you want to change exterior color after ordering Tesla
- Contact Tesla support within 1 day to request color change
- Only possible before order is scheduled for production with VIN
- After production, can wrap, repaint, cancel order, or place new order
- Select preferred color carefully upfront if possible
