Driver made switch from gas to EV and used California state and federal incentives to reduce price of Tesla Model 3 by $15,000

Labeling it ‘quite a deal’, one driver took advantage of state and federal cost incentives in the state of California, US, ahead of making the switch from gas to EV and buying a Tesla Model 3.

Sharing the money-saving tip to Reddit, the car owner explained that they had been spending $300 a month on gas in their old Volkswagen Jetta.

They claim that the deals reduced the cost of the Tesla by $15,000.

It brought the cost to around $21,000 plus fees.

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Savings on Tesla Model 3

The Redditor and car buyer, who has since deleted their account, posted to the r/electricvehicles subreddit after their ‘old Jetta wasn’t pushing it anymore’.

“I’ve been looking to upgrade for a long time,” they said.

They continued: “Was spending $300 a month on gas on old VW. Decided to make the switch to EV! After all tax discounts, she came out to be around $21,000 + fees!”

They claim to have heard about a $7,500 rebate on the Tesla Model 3 in addition to a $7,50 federal tax incentive on TikTok.

“After quadruple checking my eligibility for both I pulled the trigger on a $36,000 model 3! My first EV and my first ‘luxury’ car.

“Had it less than a week and so far I love it! All the “smart features”, quiet acceleration, and of course much cheaper fuel costs compared to ICE. Super excited to join the EV movement!”

Cost incentives to switch from gas to EV

According to the State of California’s website, potential incentives for making the eco-friendly switch from a car to an electric vehicle could total as much as $61,348.

The switch will, of course, not only cut down costs but also the carbon pollution contributing to climate change when compared to gas cars.

Those living in the area must enter their ZIP code to estimate what they can apply for as electric vehicles tend to cost more than their gas-guzzling equivalent.

However: “Conditions apply for each incentive that may affect eligibility and amounts,” it informs.

And the savings don’t stop when you drive the car off the forecourt, of course.

Electric cars cost about 5 cents per mile to run – that’s roughly a third of the cost of gas-powered cars.

It totals an average saving of $1,350 per year on fuel – however, it was recently revealed that plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivers can face hidden costs.

Other US States, including Colorado, offer even more generous incentives of up to $26,500.