Driver made switch from gas to EV and used California state and federal incentives to reduce price of Tesla Model 3 by $15,000
- A man took advantage of some government help to make the switch to EV
- He took California and federal incentives and got a Tesla Model 3 for $15k less
- He then shared his top tips for switching over on Reddit
Published on Jan 27, 2025 at 7:46 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jan 28, 2025 at 10:02 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
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.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
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.
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
