- First Name
- The Tesla Ref
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2025
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- 2
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- 8
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- 9
- Location
- Austin, Texas
- Website
- theteslaref.com
- Vehicles
- Cybertruck
- Occupation
- Get your Tesla Referrals
- Thread starter
- #1
Many Foundation Series Cybertruck owners are reporting high trade-in estimates from Tesla, with several reporting high 60k's and low 70k's depending on mileage and location. It's a great chance to step into a new truck (or other Tesla) with a new warranty and the latest build quality.
If you're trading your Cybertruck (or any other of your Tesla fleet) for a new Tesla purchase, consider these tips prior to your transaction.
Tip 1: Maximize your Referral Credits
The first thing to do is to reduce the new Tesla purchase price with Tesla referral credits. As of this writing, Tesla is offering $250 in Tesla credits for every new buyer that you refer, up to 10 referrals. That's $2500 in credits that you can apply to reduce the purchase price of your new Tesla!
Don't have 10 friends ready to buy their first Tesla? We've built a solution to automatically get your Tesla Referrals filled. Sign up now at https://theteslaref.com, and we'll start helping you earn your credits. You can also use the credits for service, supercharging, and official Tesla accessories.
It's a no brainer. We've helped many on this forum and elsewhere successfully get their credits. Don't let the referrals go to someone else!
Learn more about how our program works at this prior post on the forum
Tip 2: Get the latest estimate. It often goes up.
Has it been a few weeks or more since your last trade-in estimate from Tesla? Make sure to update your estimate. In many cases, your estimate may actually go UP!
Besides, it's always best to have the most updated number to base this important decision.
Note: The rest of these tips are for AFTER you decide to move forward with your trade-in with Tesla.
Tip 3: Remove third party parts. That includes your wrap.
Tesla's estimates are based on a stock vehicle. Remove any third party parts or modifications prior to taking photos of your vehicle.
That includes your cool Cybertruck wrap. Tesla doesn't want to see it, so pull it off if you don't want to risk any deductions on your trade value estimate.
Tip 4: Get your truck decently clean, make minor repairs, and take good photos
As part of the process, which takes place entirely in the app, you will take 5 photos of the truck. You'll take one from the front, back, left, and right sides. You will also take one of the front row seats and dash (as one photo).
Obviously, you want to make your vehicle look good to not risk a reduced trade estimate. So make sure your truck is decently clean, inside and out.
Got a broken exterior part? Consider fixing it prior to taking the photos. Tesla might notice and reduce your trade estimate.
And of course, take the photos in a well-lit area.
Tip 5: Strip removeable items prior to going to the delivery center
Once you submit your photos, Tesla will confirm your trade value within a few days. Once you agree and finalize the payment, Tesla really doesn't check anything more about the vehicle when you turn it in. No further inspections! The deal is basically done!
This means you can strip basic accessories and removable parts. Remove items such as:
Tip 6: Consider swapping tires with a friend before trade-in
This one is a bit tricky, so think through this... If you have good wheels or tires on your truck that you don't want to let go (like new Duratracs or the all-terrains), swap them with another local Cybertruck friend who has the core wheels and tires. The more used your friend's tires, the better, because they'll get new ones!
Trade the truck into Tesla with your friend's core wheels/tires. You get your new truck with NEW cores and tires, which are cheaper than the Cyber wheels. Once you take delivery, go back to your friend and swap back your tires. Your friend gets NEW cores/tires, and you get your Cybers/tires back.
Not a bad deal, right?
Tip 7: Make sure to apply your Tesla Referral Credits at purchase
Coming full circle to our first tip, make sure to apply your referral credits at the final payment step. The option is available in the app to reduce the purchase price by the amount of credits you have available.
And don't forget, we can help you get those referrals! Go to https://theteslaref.com and sign up now. We made a more detailed post on the forum explaining how it all works, click here to view it.
Got some tips of your own? Share them in your replies!
If you're trading your Cybertruck (or any other of your Tesla fleet) for a new Tesla purchase, consider these tips prior to your transaction.
Tip 1: Maximize your Referral Credits
The first thing to do is to reduce the new Tesla purchase price with Tesla referral credits. As of this writing, Tesla is offering $250 in Tesla credits for every new buyer that you refer, up to 10 referrals. That's $2500 in credits that you can apply to reduce the purchase price of your new Tesla!
Don't have 10 friends ready to buy their first Tesla? We've built a solution to automatically get your Tesla Referrals filled. Sign up now at https://theteslaref.com, and we'll start helping you earn your credits. You can also use the credits for service, supercharging, and official Tesla accessories.
It's a no brainer. We've helped many on this forum and elsewhere successfully get their credits. Don't let the referrals go to someone else!
Learn more about how our program works at this prior post on the forum
Tip 2: Get the latest estimate. It often goes up.
Has it been a few weeks or more since your last trade-in estimate from Tesla? Make sure to update your estimate. In many cases, your estimate may actually go UP!
Besides, it's always best to have the most updated number to base this important decision.
Note: The rest of these tips are for AFTER you decide to move forward with your trade-in with Tesla.
Tip 3: Remove third party parts. That includes your wrap.
Tesla's estimates are based on a stock vehicle. Remove any third party parts or modifications prior to taking photos of your vehicle.
That includes your cool Cybertruck wrap. Tesla doesn't want to see it, so pull it off if you don't want to risk any deductions on your trade value estimate.
Tip 4: Get your truck decently clean, make minor repairs, and take good photos
As part of the process, which takes place entirely in the app, you will take 5 photos of the truck. You'll take one from the front, back, left, and right sides. You will also take one of the front row seats and dash (as one photo).
Obviously, you want to make your vehicle look good to not risk a reduced trade estimate. So make sure your truck is decently clean, inside and out.
Got a broken exterior part? Consider fixing it prior to taking the photos. Tesla might notice and reduce your trade estimate.
And of course, take the photos in a well-lit area.
Tip 5: Strip removeable items prior to going to the delivery center
Once you submit your photos, Tesla will confirm your trade value within a few days. Once you agree and finalize the payment, Tesla really doesn't check anything more about the vehicle when you turn it in. No further inspections! The deal is basically done!
This means you can strip basic accessories and removable parts. Remove items such as:
- Floor mats
- Sun shades
- Wheel fairings (yes, in case you break them on the new truck, you have a replacement!)
- Vault bed D rings
- Bottle opener (Foundation owners)
- The center console rubber tray (don't miss this from your Foundation truck!)
- Wheel aero covers
- Smuggler's bay divider covers (a Foundation only feature)
- Mobile charger
Tip 6: Consider swapping tires with a friend before trade-in
This one is a bit tricky, so think through this... If you have good wheels or tires on your truck that you don't want to let go (like new Duratracs or the all-terrains), swap them with another local Cybertruck friend who has the core wheels and tires. The more used your friend's tires, the better, because they'll get new ones!
Trade the truck into Tesla with your friend's core wheels/tires. You get your new truck with NEW cores and tires, which are cheaper than the Cyber wheels. Once you take delivery, go back to your friend and swap back your tires. Your friend gets NEW cores/tires, and you get your Cybers/tires back.
Not a bad deal, right?
Tip 7: Make sure to apply your Tesla Referral Credits at purchase
Coming full circle to our first tip, make sure to apply your referral credits at the final payment step. The option is available in the app to reduce the purchase price by the amount of credits you have available.
And don't forget, we can help you get those referrals! Go to https://theteslaref.com and sign up now. We made a more detailed post on the forum explaining how it all works, click here to view it.
Got some tips of your own? Share them in your replies!
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