Tesla Hate Is Making Insurance More Expensive for Owners

Article’s Claim vs Insurance Reality

• Many argue the article doesn’t support its headline: Tesla premiums rose before the recent wave of anti-Tesla sentiment, so “hate” can’t explain past increases.
• Commenters attribute higher premiums mainly to vehicle price, repair cost, parts scarcity, long repair times, and higher incidence of total losses, not recent vandalism.
• One user’s comparison: same profile, 2024 Nissan Leaf ~$94/month vs Tesla Model 3 ~$140/month.

Repairability, Parts, and Total Losses

• Multiple anecdotes of relatively minor collisions (backing into a pole, hitting a garage column) leading to vehicles being totaled, or year-long repair delays.
• Explanations: complex sensors/electronics, limited repair centers, and uncertain parts availability make Teslas costly to fix.
• Some say Teslas are “poorly built” and “not very repairable”; others insist they are excellent, low-maintenance cars but acknowledge service bottlenecks.

Vandalism, “Domestic Terrorism,” and Law Enforcement

• Debate over whether vandalizing Teslas is “domestic terrorism” or just vandalism.
• Some use the textbook “violence/intimidation for political ends” definition to argue it qualifies; others say property damage alone, especially without clear political coordination, doesn’t meet that bar.
• Discussion of federal vs local jurisdiction and whether federal labeling as “terrorism” would change policing or insurance treatment.

Politics, Musk, and Ethical Consumption

• Large subthread on Musk’s far-right associations, Nazi-symbol controversies, and broader extremist rhetoric; many see Tesla boycotts as a response to that, not blind “hate.”
• Others argue that attacking companies over leaders’ politics is unsustainable and inconsistent: most firms have executives with objectionable views.
• Some owners say Teslas are the best cars they’ve had yet refuse to buy more while Musk runs the company.

Effectiveness and Morality of Anti-Tesla Actions

• Vandalism is framed by some as targeted pressure on new buyers and Musk’s wealth (via Tesla stock); others call it straightforward criminality that harms random owners, often former green/left buyers.
• Concern that classifying such acts as terrorism could expand surveillance or online identity enforcement.

Individual Dilemmas

• Tesla owners conflicted between climate impact (embodied carbon of replacing an EV) and fear of being targeted.
• Some opt for non-Tesla EVs or ICE cars; others refuse boycotts, prioritizing personal utility over political alignment.