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Should I keep my Tesla Model S?
Keeping an 8-year-old (2018) Tesla Model S at typical mileage costs about $5,878 a year: $1,881 in value it loses, $1,974 insurance, $817 charging, $905 maintenance and repairs and $300 registration. A new one costs about $23,284 a year to own, mostly because new cars lose value faster.
By model year
What a Tesla Model S 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 | $58,976 | $11,745 | $7,760 | $448 | 32.5 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2024 | $49,680 | $9,145 | $5,269 | $462 | 31.5 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2023 | $43,078 | $7,457 | $3,651 | $553 | 28.2 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2022 | $38,245 | $6,617 | $2,833 | $575 | 29.2 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2021 | $34,349 | $6,698 | $2,748 | $737 | 32 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2020 | $30,653 | $5,913 | $1,999 | $788 | 30.8 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2019 | $27,795 | $5,908 | $1,939 | $853 | 32.6 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2018 | $25,080 | $5,878 | $1,881 | $905 | 33.7 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2017 | $22,503 | $5,846 | $1,825 | $985 | 33.5 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2016 | $20,058 | $6,053 | $2,006 | $1,049 | 34 kWh/100 mi | Fewer than average |
| 2015 | $17,511 | $5,923 | $1,751 | $1,186 | 35.5 kWh/100 mi | About average |
| 2014 | $15,287 | $5,785 | $1,529 | $1,255 | 38 kWh/100 mi | About average |
| 2013 | $13,345 | $5,602 | $1,335 | $1,356 | 36 kWh/100 mi | About average |
| 2012 | $11,650 | $5,517 | $1,165 | $1,431 | 38 kWh/100 mi | About average |
Should you keep it?
Keeping vs replacing your Tesla Model S
- Cheapest year to keep: 2012, at about $5,517 a year.
- Fewest repair-heavy complaints: 2023.
- Older isn't always cheaper: value lost shrinks as a car ages, but maintenance and repairs grow, from $448 a year for a 2025 to $1,431 for a 2012.
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 S against any replacement, including the costs of switching.
Questions
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a Tesla Model S per year?
For a 2018 model at typical mileage, about $5,878 a year in value lost, insurance, charging, maintenance, repairs and registration, not counting any loan. Years in the table range from $5,517 to $11,745.
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