Insurance
$2,965/yr
Insurance, not maintenance, is this vehicle's dominant running cost: $2,965 a year on a national average against $920 for upkeep. ACI estimate anchored to AAA's 2025 national average ($1,694/yr full coverage).
Tesla Model S Maintenance Cost (2016–2026)
Report ACI-TES-MODELS · Updated July 2026 · Figures are ACI model estimates
The Tesla Model S costs about $920 a year to maintain — $625 in year one rising to $1,390 by year ten, or $9,200 across a decade. That ranks #38 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-MODELS
Tesla Model S
ev · luxury sedan · MY 2016–2026
- Avg annual cost
- $920
- 10-year total
- $9,200
- Cost rank
- #38 of 52 vehicles
- Major-repair chance, 5 yr
- 20%
Average Annual Cost $920
$77per month
7.7¢per mile
Assumes 12,000 mi/yr · independent shop · 10-year average · ACI model estimate
The Tesla Model S ranks #38 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 | $80 | 24,000 mi |
| Brake fluid check/exchange | $130 | 48,000 mi |
| Tires (set of 4) | $1,300 | 40,000 mi |
| Wiper blades (pair) | $35 | 15,000 mi |
Your numbers
Table recalculates with the settings panel| Vehicle age | Annual cost | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Age 1 | $625 | $625 |
| Age 2 | $640 | $1,265 |
| Age 3 | $685 | $1,950 |
| Age 4 | $745 | $2,695 |
| Age 5 | $820 | $3,515 |
| 5-year total | $3,515 | $3,515 |
Ownership context
National averages · beyond the maintenance billCost rank
#38 of 52
The Tesla Model S ranks #38 of 52 vehicles we track — mid-pack for annual maintenance cost. One documented pattern: Touchscreen (MCU) failures on 2016–2018 cars, subject of a recall and extended coverage. Verify open recalls for any vehicle at NHTSA.gov.
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 S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model SThis page | $920 | $9,200 | — |
| Tesla Model 3 | $688 | $6,880 | −$232/yr |
| Tesla Model X | $1,033 | $10,330 | +$113/yr |
| BMW X5 | $1,458 | $14,575 | +$538/yr |
Questions people ask
Is the Tesla Model S expensive to maintain?
It is about average. The Model S averages $920 a year in maintenance and typical repairs, ranking #38 of 52 vehicles on AutoCostIndex. That is mid-pack among vehicles we track.
What does a Tesla Model S cost to maintain per year?
$920 a year averaged over the first ten years — about $77 a month. Year 1 runs roughly $625; by year 10 the annual figure reaches $1390. Ten-year total: $9,200.
What are the most common Model S services?
The routine items are tire rotation (~$50), cabin air filter (~$80), brake fluid check/exchange (~$130). Intervals and full pricing for every service are in the table on this page.
Does the Model S need oil changes?
No. The Model S 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 $2,965 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