Tesla Model 3 Cost to Own

By CarWhere Research · Updated

Over 5 years and 75,000 miles, a Tesla Model 3 uses about $3,592 of electricity ($718 a year at EPA's rated efficiency and EIA's national price), and insurance at the national average adds $6,410. CarWhere's depreciation study doesn't have a reliable 5-year figure for the Model 3 yet, so we don't publish a total.

5-year total

—

not enough sourced data

Depreciation

—

not in study

Electricity

$3,592

$718/yr

Insurance

$6,410

national average

5-year cost-to-own breakdown

Assumptions: 5 years, 15,000 miles a year (75,000 total), bought new. Every line shows its formula and source.

Tesla Model 3: 5-year cost lines
Line5 yearsPer yearHow it’s calculatedSource
Depreciation——Model is not in the CarWhere depreciation study.CarWhere depreciation study
Electricity$3,592$71875,000 mi × 26.4 kWh/100 mi × 18.16¢/kWh (median of 5 EPA versions)EPA × EIA August 2026
Insurance$6,410$1,282U.S. average expenditure per insured car (2023) × 5 years. Not specific to the Model 3.NAIC, by state
Scheduled maintenanceNot priced—Intervals and items from the Tesla schedule below. No manufacturer-published service prices.Tesla schedule
Registration and feesVaries by state—State registration plus any annual EV fee.EV fees by state
Total——No total: a required line is missing.

Electricity

The EPA rates the 2026 Model 3 at 128 MPGe combined (26.4 kWh/100 mi; 111–139 MPGe across 5 EPA-listed versions). At 18.16¢/kWh residential electricity (EIA, August 2026), 75,000 miles cost about $3,592, or $718 a year. For each state’s home rate, see EV charging cost by state.

EPA versions included: Model 3 Performance, Model 3 Performance AWD, Model 3 Premium AWD, Model 3 Premium RWD, Model 3 Standard RWD.

Insurance

Insurance varies by driver, location and coverage. Across all insured cars, U.S. drivers spent an average of $1,282 a year in 2023 (NAIC); see car insurance cost by state for your state’s average.

Is the Model 3 expensive to maintain?

Tesla's service-interval pages list no oil change; the cars are battery-electric. For the Model 3: tire rotation every 6,250 miles. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Tesla doesn't publish service prices.

Tesla scheduled maintenance (manufacturer schedule; items paraphrased)
IntervalItemsSource
Every 6,250 miles (or 2/32 in tread-depth difference)
  • Rotate tires
Model 3 Do It Yourself — Vehicle Service Intervals (service.tesla.com)
Every year
  • Replace wiper blades
  • Clean and lubricate brake calipers every year or 12,500 miles, in areas where roads are salted in winter
Model 3 Do It Yourself — Vehicle Service Intervals (service.tesla.com)
Every 2 years
  • Replace cabin air filter (Model 3, Model Y)
Model 3 Do It Yourself — Vehicle Service Intervals (service.tesla.com)
Every 3 years
  • Replace cabin air filter (Model S)
  • Replace HEPA filter(s) where equipped (Model S, Model Y; Model Y carbon filters too)
Model S Do It Yourself — Vehicle Service Intervals (service.tesla.com)
Every 4 years
  • Brake fluid health check, replace if needed (sooner with towing, mountain descents or performance driving, especially in hot/humid climates)
Model 3 Do It Yourself — Vehicle Service Intervals (service.tesla.com)
Every 6 years (older Model 3 only)
  • Replace A/C desiccant bag on Model 3 built before about 2021
Model 3 Do It Yourself — Vehicle Service Intervals (service.tesla.com)

Model 3-specific notes

  • Cabin filter every 2 years
  • A/C desiccant bag every 6 years on cars built before ~2021
  • Brake fluid health check every 4 years
  • Tire rotation every 6,250 miles

Source: Model 3 Do It Yourself — Vehicle Service Intervals (service.tesla.com)

More Model 3 research

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to own a Tesla Model 3?

Over 5 years and 75,000 miles, a Tesla Model 3 uses about $3,592 of electricity ($718 a year at EPA's rated efficiency and EIA's national price), and insurance at the national average adds $6,410. CarWhere's depreciation study doesn't have a reliable 5-year figure for the Model 3 yet, so we don't publish a total.

Is the Model 3 expensive to maintain?

Tesla's service-interval pages list no oil change; the cars are battery-electric. For the Model 3: tire rotation every 6,250 miles. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Tesla doesn't publish service prices.

Is the Model 3 expensive to insure?

Insurance varies by driver, location and coverage, and CarWhere doesn't publish model-specific premiums. Across all insured cars, U.S. drivers spent an average of $1,282 a year (NAIC, 2023), or $6,410 over 5 years; our state-by-state study shows the average where you live.

How much does a Model 3 cost to charge per year?

About $718 a year at 15,000 miles, based on the EPA rating of 128 MPGe combined (26.4 kWh/100 mi; 111–139 MPGe across 5 EPA-listed versions) and 18.16¢/kWh residential electricity (EIA, August 2026).

Sources and method

Formula: 5-year total = depreciation (median new price × % below new at age 5) + fuel (75,000 mi ÷ EPA combined MPG × EIA national price, or kWh/100 mi × EIA residential rate for EVs) + insurance (NAIC national average expenditure × 5). Lines without a citable source are left blank.

  1. Fuel economy data (vehicles.csv) — U.S. EPA / DOE, fueleconomy.gov
  2. Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A — U.S. Energy Information Administration (August 2026)
  3. Auto Insurance Database Report (average expenditure) — NAIC, via CarWhere state study (2023 data)
  4. Model 3 Do It Yourself — Vehicle Service Intervals (service.tesla.com) — Tesla (opened 2026-11-06)
  5. Model Y Do It Yourself — Vehicle Service Intervals (service.tesla.com) — Tesla (opened 2026-11-06)
  6. Model S Do It Yourself — Vehicle Service Intervals (service.tesla.com) — Tesla (opened 2026-11-06)