Owning a Tesla: the real costs of maintenance, insurance, and daily driving

Tesla is one of the giants of the EV world, producing some of the most popular electric cars currently on the market.

Yet many might not be fully aware of how much it costs to own one and maintain the EV compared to a gasoline-powered car.

Well, Supercar Blondie is here to help. This feature will discuss some of the costs involved, including maintenance and insurance, and how much you will pay to drive one daily.

If you are considering buying a Tesla, this article can be of some assistance.

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Tesla Maintenance

Working out how much it costs to maintain an EV isn’t the easiest, partially because of how long they’ve been on the road compared to other brands.

There are also some wildly differing estimates.

For example, Car Edge says it will cost $587 a year to maintain one of the vehicles.

However, RepairPal suggests you could pay up to $832 a year to look after your EV.

While there are fewer mechanical components to look after, other items on the cars will need attention or replacement.

Brakes and servicing costs tend to be low, at around $250.

However, the EVs seem to be heavy on tires due to the weight of their batteries.

You could be paying up to $3,000 for a full replacement set of tires.

Tesla Insurance

Insurance can often be a deal breaker when we are looking at buying a new car.

It can easily dictate whether we actually make the purchase, and this is no exception when it comes to a Tesla.

Insurance for the American EVs can be very low.

However, crash repair damage is where costs could rise, with EVs more expensive to repair if they are involved in a collision.

Insurance rates also depend on the company you use.

For example, GEICO might offer a cheaper rate than say, Tesla Insurance or AAA.

Insurance.com states you could pay an average of $2,914 a year annually on insuring one of the electric cars.

Daily driving and fuel

It is daily driving and recharging a Tesla that will save you the most money.

Recharging one of the EVs, whether a Model 3, a Model Y, or a Cybertruck, doesn’t need to be expensive.

One Model 3 owner in the UK recharged his electric car over a period covering 60,000 miles.

Of those, 10,000 were on a Supercharger, and 50,000 were from home.

The British YouTuber spent $2,140 charging the Model 3, while using gas over the same period would have cost him $9,600.

That proves there are significant savings to be had when it comes to owning a Tesla, making it potentially much cheaper than an ICE.

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