LA man went to buy a $15,000 Tesla Model 3 from Hertz and finds there's always more than meets the eye

In a bid to take advantage of tax credits and cheap high-mileage cars, this LA man went to buy a $15,000 Tesla Model 3 from Hertz, but quickly found out the harsh reality of buying second-hand EVs.

Buying a car is one of the most exciting times for any road user.

While it can be daunting to negotiate with the dealership, walking away with a new vehicle is a thrill.

However, one man had his joy cut short by Hertz, as he was just about to take advantage of a huge discount on a second-hand Tesla Model 3, only for it to be sold during his drive over to the store.

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LA man misses out on great Tesla Model 3 deal while en route to Hertz

Tesla has offered a number of incentives for people to buy their cars and get drivers turning towards EVs.

One being, for older vehicles, drivers could get over $4,000 off in a tax credit benefit.

This means that many second-hand vehicles come and go like there’s no tomorrow, and YouTube personality DennisCW found that out the hard way.

Despite having reserved a Tesla Model 3 from Hertz, the company actually sold his car as he was driving to put his money on the table.

“I called about 45 minutes ago at this exact Hertz location. They said that the vehicle was available, they were going to have it ready for me,” he explained in an upload on his channel.

“But about 20 minutes into my drive, they just texted and said that the one I was interested in, of course, the cheapest and best deal, was actually sold.”

“So FYI, if you’re going to be booking an appointment, I guess triple-confirm that the vehicle is going to be there before driving however far you’re going to go,” he said.

However, not all is lost, as he found an alternative ready to go.

Having taken this 2023 Model 3 out for a spin, the man was ‘impressed’ by the second-hand vehicle, despite its high mileage.

Still, with the tax credit on these cars only applying to 2022 plates and older, this newer car was too expensive.

Should the credit line get rolled back for 2023 models, it would become much more attractive.

A new ‘affordable’ age is coming, but at what cost?

This all comes in the aftermath of the EV tax credits coming to an end.

While some brands like GM and Ford have found loopholes in order to extend these lines of credit to make their cars more affordable, most EVs are now feeling the effects of the road being pulled from beneath their wheels.

Still, Tesla is combating this in its own way with the launch of the ‘Standard’ range for the Model 3 and Y.

While it strips back some eccentricities, the base cars are now much more accessible and can serve as great entry points into the EV world.

Still, the lack of tax credit is sure to hurt the industry, and just as this LA man did, many people took advantage of it before time ran out.

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