How much does a regular tesla cost

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Most car companies raise their prices with each new model year but keep pricing consistent otherwise. Tesla isn't like most car companies. 

For ages, the electric carmaker has regularly raised and lowered its prices to drive demand or account for rising costs. That's the beauty of selling cars direct-to-consumer and not through traditional dealers, who ultimately set their own prices. 

Sometimes Musk has fiddled with prices just for laughs. Like when he cut the Model S sedan's starting price to $69,420 to troll rival startup Lucid Motors. 

Lately, like everything from gasoline to beef, prices for Tesla's cars have trended sharply upward as the company has complained about increasing materials costs and supply-chain issues. 

A Model 3 sedan, Tesla's lowest-priced offering, now costs $10,000 more than it did in early 2020. Over the last 18 months or so, the cost of a Model S has surged from a knee-slapping $69,420 to a not-funny-at-all $104,990.

Options vary from model to model, but any Tesla can be optioned with the $12,000 Full Self-Driving driver-assistance package, which doesn't make cars autonomous.

We are incredibly excited to announce that the standard Model 3, with 220 miles of range, a top speed of 130 mph and 0-60 mph acceleration of 5.6 seconds is now available at $35,000! Although lower in cost, it is built to achieve the same perfect 5-star safety rating as the longer-ranged version, which has the lowest probability of injury of any car ever tested by the U.S. Government.

In addition, we are introducing the Model 3 Standard Range Plus, which offers 240 miles of range, a top speed of 140 mph, 0-60 mph acceleration of just 5.3 seconds and most premium interior features at $37,000 before incentives. For 6% more money, you get 9% more range, more power, and an upgraded interior.

To achieve these prices while remaining financially sustainable, Tesla is shifting sales worldwide to online only. You can now buy a Tesla in North America via your phone in about 1 minute, and that capability will soon be extended worldwide. We are also making it much easier to try out and return a Tesla, so that a test drive prior to purchase isn’t needed. You can now return a car within 7 days or 1,000 miles for a full refund. Quite literally, you could buy a Tesla, drive several hundred miles for a weekend road trip with friends and then return it for free. With the highest consumer satisfaction score of any car on the road, we are confident you will want to keep your Tesla.

Shifting all sales online, combined with other ongoing cost efficiencies, will enable us to lower all vehicle prices by about 6% on average, allowing us to achieve the $35,000 Model 3 price point earlier than we expected. Over the next few months, we will be winding down many of our stores, with a small number of stores in high-traffic locations remaining as galleries, showcases and Tesla information centers. The important thing for customers in the United States to understand is that, with online sales, anyone in any state can quickly and easily buy a Tesla.

At the same time, we will be increasing our investment in the Tesla service system, with the goal of same-day, if not same-hour service, and with most service done by us coming to you, rather than you coming to us. Moreover, we guarantee service availability anywhere in any country in which we operate.

We’re also excited to announce that we’re implementing a number of firmware upgrades for both new and existing customers. These upgrades will increase the range of the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive Model 3 to 325 miles, increase the top speed of Model 3 Performance to 162 mph, and add an average of approximately 5% peak power to all Model 3 vehicles.

Tesla is committed to making not just the best electric cars, but the best cars, period. And our products are the reason we continue to be featured in Consumer Reports owner satisfaction survey and have every single year since Tesla was first eligible to be included in 2013. Both Model 3 Standard and Standard Plus are available starting today at Tesla.com.

Electrically powered and automatically driven, Teslas are some of the most sought after cars on the market today. Tesla's four models — the Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y — range significantly in cost, both when you buy and over time. Here's what you need to know before you purchase a Tesla.

  • Cost of owning a Tesla
  • Cost of leasing a Tesla
  • How much it costs to insure a Tesla
  • What it costs to charge a Tesla
  • Tax rebates and incentives

How much does it cost to own a Tesla?

Teslas are expensive vehicles. The most basic model currently available, the Model 3, starts at $46,990, while the Model X's price can run as high as $138,990 — even before extras. In comparison, a new Toyota Camry has a sticker price of about $26,000.

Model

Variant

Price

Model 3Base$46,990Model 3Performance$62,990Model YLong range$65,990Model YPerformance$69,990Model SBase$104,990Model SPlaid$135,990Model XBase$120,990Model XPlaid$138,990

Like any carmaker, Tesla also offers extra add-ons that improve your vehicle, but adding upgrades increases the cost when you buy. Current upgrade options include:

Upgrade

Cost

Paint$1,000-$2,000Sport wheels$1,500Black and white interior$1,000Enhanced Autopilot$6,000Full Self-Driving$15,000

Current upgrade options available for the Model 3. Pricing and availability may differ by model.

What are Autopilot and Full Self-Driving?

Autopilot, Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) are levels of automation software that you can choose to add to your Tesla.

  • Standard Autopilot comes with every new Tesla and limits you to traffic-aware cruise control and automatic steering/lane-keeping.
  • Enhanced Autopilot also includes highway navigation, automatic parking and Smart Summon, which calls your car to you in a garage or parking lot.
  • Full Self-Driving is currently in beta and will drive your car all the way from your origin to its destination with no input from you.

Tesla's autopilot capabilities have been improving over time, but they've also become increasingly expensive. When Full Self-Driving was first announced, it cost $8,000 total to "preorder" Full Self-Driving; that price has nearly doubled. And it's not clear when, if ever, Full Self-Driving will be cleared for use by the general public.

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How much does it cost to lease a Tesla?

Whether you own the hatchback Model S or crossover SUV Model X or are waiting anxiously for the Model 3, you are going to need to spend a good deal of money to lease a Tesla. Even if you lease, we found you will need at least a few thousand dollars at signing due to sales taxes and delivery fees.

Model

Variant

Monthly lease payment

Model 3Base$544Model 3Performance$811Model YLong range$851Model YPerformance$905Model SBase$1,580Model SPlaid$2,036Model XBase$1,849Model XPlaid$2,196

All leases are 36 months long. Model 3 and Y have $4,500 down payments, while Model S and X have $7,500 down payments.

Cost of insuring a Tesla

On average, we found that insuring a new Tesla costs $3,947 per year. But as you'd expect, the pricier (and faster) models cost more to insure.

How much does a regular tesla cost

The Model Y is the least expensive Tesla to insure, with a typical price of $3,057 per year. And the Model X costs the most, at $4,956 annually.

The cheapest insurer we found for a Tesla is Tesla Insurance, run by the car manufacturer itself. However, it's only available in 11 states. For Tesla drivers in other states, we recommend State Farm, USAA or Nationwide.

Where is Tesla brand insurance available?

Tesla currently sells insurance in 11 states:

  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Illinois
  • Maryland
  • Nevada

  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Virginia

Every state except California uses Tesla's Safety Score in order to set rates, which we found will reduce the prices of coverage even more — if you score well.

Cost of charging a Tesla and gas savings

Being an electric-powered car, a Tesla allows you to get around without buying gas. That being said, charging your Tesla isn't free — it requires a good deal of electricity. So how much will you save on gas with an electric vehicle (EV)?

On average, a Tesla Model 3 will get about 3.75 miles per kilowatt hour (kWh), depending on how fast you drive and the weather, among other factors. Electricity in the U.S. costs an average of 15.42 cents per kWh. Gas-powered luxury cars that are comparable to a Tesla get around 25 miles per gallon. The table below assumes an average gas price of $2.93 per gallon.

Annual mileage

Cost for gasoline car

Cost for Tesla Model 3

Savings

5,000$586$208$37812,000$1,406$500$90720,000$2,344$833$1,511

Typical gas price is based on the average over the last 36 months.

Heavy drivers actually stand to save the most by switching to a Tesla or another electric car, as they will be paying much less in fuel costs.

Keep in mind that the cost of electricity varies by location, time of year and even time of day in some places: You may be able to bring your bill down even more by opting for "time of use" electricity and charging your car when demand is lowest — usually late at night.

You'll also likely pay more to charge your Tesla at a Supercharger or another commercial fast charging facility. You're most likely to find the best prices by charging at home.

Savings from tax rebates

Finally, you may also be able to save some money through rebates and tax incentives since Teslas are electric cars.

Starting in 2023, some Tesla models will potentially again qualify for a $7,500 credit as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

The EV credit included in the IRA only applies to cars and SUVs that meet the following requirements:

  • Car priced below $55,000 or SUV priced below $80,000
  • Assembled in North America
  • Certain portion of battery from U.S. or free-trade country (minimum gradually increases to 90%+ in 2029)

Starting in January, the Model 3 and Model Y will likely qualify, while the Model S and Model X will not.

Additionally, only people who make less than a certain amount of money will qualify: $150,000 per year for single earners, $225,00 for heads of household and $300,000 for couples filing jointly.

However, the new tax credit will be paid as part of a discount when you buy the car instead of on your taxes, meaning you'll get the savings right away.

Some states give additional benefits, as well. Be aware, though, if you lease the vehicle, that only California, Colorado and Massachusetts offer incentives that apply to leasing.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Tesla car cost?

The cost of a Tesla ranges from $46,990 for a base-level Model 3 to $138,990 for the most powerful Model X.

How much is insurance for a Tesla?

Full coverage car insurance for a Tesla costs $3,947 per year on average, depending on which model you have, where you live, your driving history and which insurer you choose.

How much does it cost to charge a Tesla?

The average driver will spend about $500 per year to charge their Tesla Model 3. That's a bit more than one-third of the cost of gas for the same total distance.

Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.

How much is the cheapest Tesla car?

How Much Does a Tesla Car Cost? The Tesla lineup for 2022 (Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y) ranges in cost from $46,990 – $138,990 before taxes, incentives, and specific options. The least expensive Tesla is the Model 3 Standard Range Plus which has a base price of $46,990 before options, taxes, incentives.

What is the cost of a basic Tesla?

Teslas are expensive vehicles. The most basic model currently available, the Model 3, starts at $46,990, while the Model X's price can run as high as $138,990 — even before extras.

How much does it cost to buy a Tesla today?

How much does a Tesla cost? Model 3, Model S, Model X, and Model Y.

Is a Tesla really expensive?

Tesla is a beloved brand for its cutting-edge technology, sleek styling, and stunning performance. It's also a brand that can get pretty expensive. We've found the most costly examples of each of Tesla's five models to date, ranging from a little under $80,000 to $200,000.