Home › Cars › Models › Tesla Model 3
Cars · Tesla
Should I keep my Tesla Model 3?
Keeping an 8-year-old (2018) Tesla Model 3 at typical mileage costs about $4,250 a year: $940 in value it loses, $1,425 insurance, $684 charging, $901 maintenance and repairs and $300 registration. A new one costs about $12,777 a year to own, mostly because new cars lose value faster.
By model year
What a Tesla Model 3 costs to keep, by year
Next 12 months for a paid-off car at 12,000 miles a year, average insurance costs, $3.30 gas. Click a year to run your own numbers in Keep or Switch.
| Year | Value today | Cost to keep next year | Value lost | Maintenance and repairs | Efficiency | Repair complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,488 | $6,960 | $3,880 | $445 | 26 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2024 | $24,840 | $5,666 | $2,635 | $462 | 25.8 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2023 | $21,539 | $4,901 | $1,825 | $554 | 25.8 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2022 | $19,122 | $4,469 | $1,416 | $571 | 25.8 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2021 | $17,175 | $4,539 | $1,374 | $737 | 25.1 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2020 | $15,327 | $4,230 | $1,000 | $773 | 27.7 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2019 | $13,897 | $4,208 | $970 | $837 | 26.7 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2018 | $12,540 | $4,250 | $940 | $901 | 28.2 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2017 | $11,251 | $4,202 | $912 | $944 | 26.8 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
Should you keep it?
Keeping vs replacing your Tesla Model 3
- Cheapest year to keep: 2017, at about $4,202 a year.
- Fewest repair-heavy complaints: 2020.
- Older isn't always cheaper: value lost shrinks as a car ages, but maintenance and repairs grow, from $445 a year for a 2025 to $944 for a 2017.
A paid-off car is usually the cheapest car you can drive, even with repairs: a replacement starts losing value the day you buy it and comes with tax, fees and often a loan. Switching tends to pay only when repairs get large and frequent, or a much more efficient car cuts fuel costs enough. Keep or Switch compares your Tesla Model 3 against any replacement, including the costs of switching.
Questions
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a Tesla Model 3 per year?
For a 2018 model at typical mileage, about $4,250 a year in value lost, insurance, charging, maintenance, repairs and registration, not counting any loan. Years in the table range from $4,202 to $6,960.
More models
Other sedans and hatchbacks
Audi A4BMW 3 SeriesChevrolet Bolt EVChevrolet MalibuFord FocusFord FusionHonda AccordHonda Accord HybridHonda CivicHonda HR-VHyundai ElantraHyundai Sonata