I bought a brand-new Tesla Model X in 2023, fully loaded, and added my husband as an additional driver during the purchase process. However, when the title arrived, his name was listed as an owner, even though I was the one who purchased it. This caused endless problems.
After our divorce, the car was legally awarded to me in the settlement. Unfortunately, my ex-husband passed away, and Tesla Insurance refuses to issue the $52,000 settlement check for my totaled vehicle because his name is still on the title. They are demanding a death certificate, but I’m unable to obtain it since I’m no longer legally his spouse.
On top of this, I discovered after my accident—caused by Autopilot—that I wasn’t covered as the owner and driver. Tesla Insurance has been nothing but a nightmare. I’ve been fighting for 10 months to resolve this, and it’s clear Tesla Insurance doesn’t care about its customers. I will never use Tesla Insurance again.
Something about this story feels off. How could the title issue have gone unnoticed for so long? Also, most states allow anyone to request a death certificate for legal purposes. Sorry for your troubles, but this is a lot to unpack.
This situation seems more like a paperwork issue than Tesla Insurance’s fault. Titles need to be updated post-divorce to reflect ownership. If this wasn’t done, legally the car isn’t solely yours, which complicates claims. Sorry to hear about the accident, but blaming Autopilot sounds questionable.
I’m confused about the coverage part. You said you weren’t insured as a driver but also that Tesla will issue a check if you provide the death certificate. If this is about liability versus personal coverage, it sounds like an issue with the policy you selected. Definitely frustrating, but maybe not unique to Tesla.
Lesson learned: after a divorce, make sure to update all legal documents, including titles. It sounds like the car is still considered jointly owned because the title wasn’t updated. This isn’t Tesla’s fault but rather an unfortunate oversight. Best of luck resolving this—it’s a tough situation.
This whole thing highlights why relying on a system like Tesla Insurance, which scores drivers using tech, can be a bad idea. That said, this seems like an unusual situation that could happen with any insurance provider.