Is a Tesla worth it?

Pick the reason you're buying. It's an honest answer from the people who grade every Elon deadline.

Your situation

Likely worth it.

Home charging is where an EV saves money. Keep it long and the 8-year battery warranty covers most of the ownership. Price your charger in the home charger chooser.

FSD optional: $99/mo subscription (purchase ended 14 Feb 2026)
First Tesla? · 3 months FSD

Our referral: first-time buyers get 3 months of FSD (Supervised) included. Costs nothing extra; we get a referral credit.

Checked 11 Oct 2026 · FSD price per Tesla Support via EvSeekers · tax credit per IRS

Tesla pros and cons

Pros

  • Cheap fuel if you charge at home overnight.Price it: /charging-cost/
  • 8-year battery and drive unit warranty (100k–150k miles by model).Tesla warranty
  • FSD is now opt-in: $99/mo, no $8,000 purchase up front.Tesla Support via EvSeekers, Sep 4 2026
  • Over-the-air software updates add features after purchase.Tesla
  • Supercharger network for road trips.Plan one: /road-trip/

Cons

  • No $7,500 federal credit for cars acquired after 30 Sep 2025.IRS
  • Home charger credit (30C) ended for property placed in service after 30 Jun 2026.IRS
  • FSD is supervised. You are still the driver.Tesla
  • Insurance can run higher than comparable gas cars.Check: /insurance/
  • Elon's resale and robotaxi-income pitches did not pan out.twoweeks.lol cards #68, #69

Elon's Tesla promises vs reality

Missed
Robotaxi $30k/year income for owners
No owner earns robotaxi income from their own car yet.
Missed
HW3 sufficient for FSD
HW3 was promised to be enough for FSD. It wasn't.
Missed
FSD price will keep increasing
FSD price was supposed to keep rising. Purchase was dropped for a subscription.
Missed
$25,000 fully autonomous Tesla in ~3 years (Battery Day)
The $25k fully autonomous Tesla never shipped.
Delivered late
$35,000 Model 3 ships 3–6 months after 5k/week
The $35k Model 3 came, later than promised.
Pending
Owner cars added to robotaxi network next year (2026)
Pending: owner cars on the robotaxi network in 2026.

Questions

Is a Tesla worth it?
For most buyers who can charge at home and keep the car several years, yes: low running costs, a long battery warranty and good software. It's a weaker buy if you rely on public charging or buy expecting full self-driving or appreciation.
What are the pros and cons of owning a Tesla?
Pros: cheap home charging, an 8-year battery warranty, OTA updates and the Supercharger network. Cons: no federal EV credit for cars acquired after 30 Sep 2025, insurance that can run high, FSD that still needs supervision, and resale promises that didn't hold.
Should I buy a Tesla for Full Self-Driving?
No. Buy it for what it does today. FSD (Supervised) is $99/mo, so you can try it without committing. The one-time purchase ended 14 Feb 2026. See FSD cost.
Is there still a tax credit on a Tesla?
Not federally for new or used cars acquired after 30 Sep 2025, per the IRS. State and utility rebates may still apply.
Is there a Tesla referral?
Yes. First-time buyers who order through our link get 3 months of FSD (Supervised) included.
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Independent fan project. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Tesla, Inc. Figures are estimates for planning only, not a quote or a substitute for a service diagnosis.

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