Tesla Case Study: Loss of Use Claim

⚡️Backstory

I bought a used Tesla. Smooth deal, clean ride — felt like I made it.

Until it wasn’t.

One afternoon, I was driving down US-16 outside St. Augustine. Nothing crazy, just a regular day. I turned a corner — and boom. A car slammed into me.

The damage wasn't catastrophic, but the battery system freaked out and the car shut down. Since Tesla runs on a closed repair loop, I had no choice but to get it towed directly to a Tesla service center. That’s just how they roll.

🕳 The Tesla Black Hole

Tesla’s app told me I’d have my car back in a week. Cool.

But then...
One week became two.
Two became “we’re still waiting on parts.”
Suddenly I was 21 days deep without my own car.

Thing is — I work in sales. I’m client-facing. I have to move, literally. So I did what I had to do:

• Rented cars.

• Sometimes used my rental points just to offset the cost.

• Even rented another Tesla just to keep the experience seamless for client meetings.

The insurance company covered the repair.
But no one was covering my life being disrupted.
I was bleeding money daily.

😤 The Breaking Point

One afternoon, I was venting in my co-working space — just telling someone how annoying the situation had been.

That convo changed everything.

“Wait… you didn’t file a Loss of Use claim?”

Cue: 🤯

🧠 The Game Changer: Loss of Use

I didn’t even know this was a thing. But it is.

Loss of Use = if your car is out of commission because of an accident (that’s not your fault), you can claim money for every day you didn’t have access to it.

I called Prestige. Told them what happened.
I gave them the receipts and timelines.
They reviewed the case and calculated:

→ 21 days
→ $60/day
→ $1,260 back in my pocket

Just like that.

🧩 Real Takeaway

The system isn’t always broken.
But it’s not always going to help you unless you know what to ask for.

If you’ve been in a situation where your car’s in the shop and you're forced to rent, don’t just eat that cost.

➡️ File a Loss of Use claim
➡️ Keep track of your rental receipts
➡️ Push back — especially when it wasn’t your fault

💡 What This Taught Me

I turned a super frustrating experience into a financial recovery and a piece of content that might help someone else.

If this hits home or you’ve been through something similar, reach out. I’ve been there. I get it. And if you’re unsure where to start, I recommend giving PrestigeVS A call