What to do when a Tesla Finance account holder dies
Report the death to Tesla Finance at 1-844-837-5285
When an account holder at Tesla Finance dies, the executor contacts Tesla Finance to report the death and request the balance as of the date of death. The balance is a claim against the estate: it is paid from estate assets, in the order the state sets, before anything reaches the heirs.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting Tesla Finance.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Tesla Finance:
Filing a claim
- Payments and payoff go to the financier named on the contract, and Tesla has no access to payment history on third-party financing
- Tesla's financing page lists customer service numbers for its financing partners
What happens to each kind of account2
- Loan
A loan arranged through Tesla is held either by Tesla Finance LLC, paid in the Tesla app, or by one of Tesla's indirect partners, paid to the financier named on the contract.1
There are no prepayment penalties. Payoff details and remittance instructions come from the financier named on the contract.1
On a Tesla Finance LLC loan, an early payoff amount is good for 10 days from the date of request. It includes the principal balance and any finance charges incurred (minimum of $75) through the date of request.2
- Vehicle lease
A Tesla lease is with Tesla Lease Trust or a third-party lessor. Lease transfers are not available after November 27, 2024.3
A Tesla Lease Trust lease can be ended early while one or more payments remain. With less than three months left, the remaining lease balance plus any end-of-term charges is paid; with three or more, the difference between the adjusted lease balance and the vehicle's current market value.4
An early termination quote on a Tesla Lease Trust lease is good until the day before the next payment due date and is subject to change pending an inspection and the return date.4
After a Tesla Lease Trust vehicle is returned, the account is billed for any remaining charges to meet the lease obligations.5
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- Tesla Lease Return team
Return of a vehicle leased through Tesla Lease Trust5
Phone: 1-844-837-5285 (option 1, then option 1, then option 5)
Email: leasereturns@tesla.com
Not in Tesla Finance's published guidance5
- A procedure for reporting a death
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- A list of required documents
- How long a claim takes
- A mailing address for claim documents
Sources
Data sourced from Tesla Finance primary sources (8 pages reviewed). How we research.
Tesla Finance death claims support
Tesla Finance Customer Service
Death notifications go through general customer service.
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Tesla Finance accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
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