Insurance
$2,455/yr
Insurance, not maintenance, is this vehicle's dominant running cost: $2,455 a year on a national average against $688 for upkeep. ACI estimate anchored to AAA's 2025 national average ($1,694/yr full coverage).
Tesla Model 3 Maintenance Cost (2017–2026)
Report ACI-TES-MODEL3 · Updated July 2026 · Figures are ACI model estimates
The Tesla Model 3 costs about $688 a year to maintain — $500 in year one rising to $990 by year ten, or $6,880 across a decade. That ranks #9 of 52 vehicles tracked by AutoCostIndex. Figures are modeled estimates at 12,000 miles a year with independent-shop labor, covering scheduled maintenance and expected repairs but not fuel, insurance, or depreciation.
Maintenance Cost Report ACI-TES-MODEL3
Tesla Model 3
ev · midsize car · MY 2017–2026
- Avg annual cost
- $688
- 10-year total
- $6,880
- Cost rank
- #9 of 52 vehicles
- Major-repair chance, 5 yr
- 15%
Average Annual Cost $688
$57per month
5.7¢per mile
Assumes 12,000 mi/yr · independent shop · 10-year average · ACI model estimate
The Tesla Model 3 ranks #9 of 52 vehicles we track — mid-pack for annual maintenance cost.
What it costs as it ages
Annual cost by vehicle age · ACI modelVehicle age, years · figures at 12,000 mi/yr, independent shop
No oil changes or transmission service; spending concentrates in tires, cabin filters, and brake fluid.
Common services
Typical U.S. pricing · independent shop| Service | Typical cost | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| Tire rotation | $50 | 6,250 mi |
| Cabin air filter | $75 | 24,000 mi |
| Brake fluid check/exchange | $130 | 48,000 mi |
| Tires (set of 4) | $1,000 | 45,000 mi |
| Wiper blades (pair) | $35 | 15,000 mi |
Your numbers
Table recalculates with the settings panel| Vehicle age | Annual cost | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Age 1 | $500 | $500 |
| Age 2 | $510 | $1,010 |
| Age 3 | $535 | $1,545 |
| Age 4 | $575 | $2,120 |
| Age 5 | $625 | $2,745 |
| 5-year total | $2,745 | $2,745 |
Ownership context
National averages · beyond the maintenance billCost rank
#9 of 52
The Tesla Model 3 ranks #9 of 52 vehicles we track — mid-pack for annual maintenance cost.
EV service profile
No oil, ever
No oil changes, spark plugs, or transmission service. Costs concentrate in tires — EV torque and weight wear them faster — plus cabin filters and periodic brake-fluid checks.
Against its rivals
Average annual maintenance · ACI model| Vehicle | Avg annual | 10-yr total | vs. Model 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3This page | $688 | $6,880 | — |
| Toyota Camry | $594 | $5,935 | −$94/yr |
| Honda Civic | $654 | $6,540 | −$34/yr |
| Honda Accord | $733 | $7,330 | +$45/yr |
| Tesla Model Y | $781 | $7,805 | +$93/yr |
Questions people ask
Is the Tesla Model 3 expensive to maintain?
It is about average. The Model 3 averages $688 a year in maintenance and typical repairs, ranking #9 of 52 vehicles on AutoCostIndex. That is mid-pack among vehicles we track.
What does a Tesla Model 3 cost to maintain per year?
$688 a year averaged over the first ten years — about $57 a month. Year 1 runs roughly $500; by year 10 the annual figure reaches $990. Ten-year total: $6,880.
What are the most common Model 3 services?
The routine items are tire rotation (~$50), cabin air filter (~$75), brake fluid check/exchange (~$130). Intervals and full pricing for every service are in the table on this page.
Does the Model 3 need oil changes?
No. The Model 3 has no engine oil, spark plugs, or transmission fluid to service. Scheduled care is limited to tire rotation, cabin filters, brake-fluid checks, and wiper blades — which is why its routine costs sit below comparable gas vehicles.
What's not included in this estimate?
Fuel or charging, insurance (about $2,455 a year nationally for this vehicle), collision damage, parking, tolls, taxes, and registration. The figure covers scheduled maintenance plus typical age-related repairs, modeled per our methodology.
Keep exploring
More Tesla models
Similar running costs
How we calculate this
Every figure on this page is a modeled estimate from the ACI maintenance model: each routine service is amortized per mile from its manufacturer-schedule interval, priced at independent-shop labor rates, with an age-based repair expectation on top. The method is open — the exact formula, its calibration against AAA's published ownership-cost study, and its limitations are on the methodology page. Your invoices will differ; the model sets expectations, it doesn't predict a single car.
REFERENCES: AAA — Your Driving Costs 2025 (fact sheet) · AAA — Average mechanic labor rates by state (2026) · NHTSA — Safety recalls lookup · Tesla — recommended maintenance schedule · Updated 2026-07-19