How Much Does Tesla Car Insurance Cost?

Car insurance for a Tesla Model 3 costs about $2,221 per year, or $185 a month.

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The high cost of a Tesla doesn’t stop at its sticker price. Insurance costs for Teslas tend to be significantly more expensive than those of other popular cars, despite Tesla’s high safety ratings.
Still, insurance costs can vary dramatically, even among different Tesla models. Below are the average insurance rates by Tesla model, ranked from cheapest to most expensive:
Tesla model
Annual average rate
Monthly average rate
Model 3
$2,221
$185
Model Y
$2,438
$203
Model S
$3,215
$268
Model X
$3,831
$319
For comparison purposes, the average cost of car insurance for a 2023 Toyota Camry LE is $2,324. These rates are for full coverage insurance for good drivers with good credit. Keep in mind that your cost will differ based on variables like where you live and your insurance company.
NerdWallet analyzed full coverage insurance rates from the nation’s largest auto insurers in every state for the Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X. Here’s what we found.
Did you know...
Tesla sells its own car insurance. If you’re here to learn more about that, skip to our section on Tesla insurance below.

How much does Tesla insurance cost in my state?

Because car insurance prices fluctuate based on where you live, we created this U.S. map to show you average monthly rates across the country for the Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Model X and Model S.
As you can see, Tesla car insurance costs can change a lot depending on where you live. That’s because each state has different car insurance regulations, and every city has different rates of car thefts, accidents, population density and more.
But that doesn’t mean your wallet has to suffer if you live in a high-cost area. You can save by shopping around to find the cheapest Tesla car insurance. Our analysis found that comparing costs could save you anywhere from around $35 to more than $300 depending on your state.
Click on your Tesla model below to find cheapest median rates in each state.
Cheapest Tesla car insurance rates by state for a Model 3
State
Cheapest monthly rate
Cheapest insurance company
$132
Country Financial
$141
Progressive
$106
QBE
$136
Cameron Mutual
$108
CIG
$100
American National
$112
Nationwide
$136
Travelers
$179
Travelers
$105
Central Insurance
$125
Progressive
$95
American National
$91
Hastings Mutual
$75
Hastings Mutual
$74
Hastings Mutual
$132
Progressive
$159
Encova
$189
Southern Farm Bureau
$76
Vermont Mutual
$150
Kemper
$79
Vermont Mutual
$109
Hastings Mutual
$96
Farm Bureau Financial Services
$144
Mississippi Farm Bureau
$140
Travelers
$100
QBE
$76
American National
$75
Progressive
$59
The Hanover
$139
Selective
$162
Nationwide
$90
NYCM
$92
Progressive
$78
Nationwide
$67
Hastings Mutual
$151
American Farmers & Ranchers
$86
QBE
$92
Travelers
$170
Quincy Mutual
$61
American National
$80
Kemper
$107
Tennessee Farm Bureau
$122
Texas Farm Bureau
$86
Nationwide
$80
Nationwide
$71
Virginia Farm Bureau
$70
CIG
$125
Erie
$135
Encova
$88
Hastings Mutual
$76
American National
Cheapest Tesla car insurance rates by state for a Model Y
State
Cheapest monthly rate
Cheapest insurance company
$147
Country Financial
$141
Progressive
$119
QBE
$147
Cameron Mutual
$111
CIG
$93
American National
$114
Nationwide
$154
Travelers
$186
State Farm
$118
Central Insurance
$128
Progressive
$79
American National
$91
Hastings Mutual
$75
Hastings Mutual
$76
Hastings Mutual
$173
Nationwide
$168
Encova
$201
Southern Farm Bureau
$87
Vermont Mutual
$162
Kemper
$88
Vermont Mutual
$109
Hastings Mutual
$113
Farm Bureau Financial Services
$157
Mississippi Farm Bureau
$174
Electric Insurance
$117
QBE
$68
American National
$75
Progressive
$63
The Hanover
$145
Penn National
$165
Nationwide
$98
NYCM
$103
Progressive
$87
Nationwide
$67
Hastings Mutual
$179
American Farmers & Ranchers
$96
QBE
$112
American National
$190
Quincy Mutual
$52
American National
$85
Kemper
$103
Tennessee Farm Bureau
$132
Texas Farm Bureau
$88
Nationwide
$74
Union Mutual
$81
Virginia Farm Bureau
$76
CIG
$141
Erie
$145
Encova
$88
Hastings Mutual
$67
American National
Cheapest Tesla car insurance rates by state for a Model S
State
Cheapest monthly rate
Cheapest insurance company
$169
Country Financial
$175
Progressive
$142
QBE
$152
Cameron Mutual
$118
CIG
$152
American National
$161
Kemper
$189
Travelers
$219
State Farm
$141
Central Insurance
$161
Progressive
$140
Travelers
$114
Hastings Mutual
$93
Hastings Mutual
$96
Hastings Mutual
$132
Progressive
$172
Progressive
$233
Southern Farm Bureau
$117
Vermont Mutual
$205
Penn National
$109
Vermont Mutual
$140
Hastings Mutual
$125
Farm Bureau Financial Services
$187
Direct Auto
$191
Electric Insurance
$146
QBE
$123
American National
$114
Progressive
$73
The Hanover
$147
Penn National
$277
Nationwide
$122
NYCM
$118
Progressive
$167
Nationwide
$81
Hastings Mutual
$115
Mercury
$105
CIG
$134
Travelers
$247
Quincy Mutual
$95
American National
$93
Kemper
$162
Penn National
$138
Texas Farm Bureau
$132
QBE
$103
Union Mutual
$90
Virginia Farm Bureau
$98
CIG
$151
Erie
$158
Encova
$106
Auto Club Group
$123
American National
Cheapest Tesla car insurance rates by state for a Model X
State
Cheapest monthly rate
Cheapest insurance company
$193
Country Financial
$141
Progressive
$178
QBE
$134
Cameron Mutual
$103
CIG
$158
American National
$190
Progressive
$254
State Farm
$195
State Farm
$171
Central Insurance
$128
Progressive
$167
American National
$93
Erie
$93
Hastings Mutual
$97
Hastings Mutual
$132
Progressive
$97
Kentucky Farm Bureau
$283
Southern Farm Bureau
$119
Countryway
$168
Progressive
$144
Vermont Mutual
$165
Michigan Farm Bureau
$164
QBE
$80
Direct Auto
$151
Electric Insurance
$189
State Farm
$130
American National
$75
Progressive
$85
The Hanover
$132
Penn National
$235
Geico
$125
Erie
$145
Progressive
$171
Progressive
$81
Hastings Mutual
$238
Mercury
$112
CIG
$136
Travelers
$300
Progressive
$103
American National
$112
Kemper
$59
Erie
$118
Texas Farm Bureau
$165
QBE
$105
Progressive
$110
Virginia Farm Bureau
$97
Bristol West
$80
Erie
$156
Encova
$106
Auto Club Group
$129
American National

What company has the cheapest Tesla car insurance?

Of the nation’s largest insurers, Travelers has the cheapest rates on average for Tesla Model 3 owners. USAA would have beat out Travelers, but it was not included in our analysis because it is offered only to military members, veterans and their families. In addition, although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.
To find the cheapest Tesla car insurance, make sure to check smaller regional insurance companies as well. They may have better prices than the bigger players you see advertised on TV.
Note: Rates for Tesla’s own insurance, Tesla Insurance, weren’t available. Read more about Tesla Insurance below.

Tesla Model 3 insurance: cheapest companies

Company
Median monthly rate
$149
$164
$165
$202
$203
$210
$274
$332
$138
*USAA isn't ranked because it is available only to active military, veterans and their families.

Tesla Model Y insurance: cheapest companies

Company
Median monthly rate
$171
$190
$203
$211
$218
$234
$322
$379
$133
*USAA isn't ranked because it is available only to active military, veterans and their families.

Tesla Model S insurance: cheapest companies

Company
Median monthly rate
$216
$265
$277
$281
$313
$389
$465
$516
$219
*USAA isn't ranked because it is available only to active military, veterans and their families.

Tesla Model X insurance: cheapest companies

Company
Median monthly rate
$231
$276
$287
$317
$368
$374
$466
$478
$373
*USAA isn't ranked because it is available only to active military, veterans and their families.

What about Tesla Insurance?

Rates for Tesla’s own insurance, Tesla Insurance, weren’t available. That said, we can explain what it is and how it works.

What is Tesla Insurance?

Tesla launched its own car insurance option in 2019 to try to ease the financial burden Tesla owners faced when insuring their electric vehicles. In the past, the company has claimed Tesla Insurance can save drivers about 20% when compared with other carriers.
Tesla insurance is currently available to Tesla owners in the following states:
  • Arizona.
  • California.
  • Colorado.
  • Illinois.
  • Maryland.
  • Minnesota. 
  • Nevada.
  • Ohio. 
  • Oregon. 
  • Texas. 
  • Utah. 
  • Virginia. 
Tesla insurance is available for new and current Tesla owners, and their non-Tesla vehicles may qualify for coverage, too. And if you live in California, you can even get Tesla insurance without owning a Tesla.

How Tesla Insurance works

Tesla uses real-time driving behavior to determine your car insurance premium. It's available for the Model 3, Y, S and X in all states that sell Tesla Insurance except California. California drivers can still buy Tesla Insurance, but the cost won't be based on your driving habits.
Tesla is able to collect data on your driving habits through your Tesla car without using an additional app or plug-in device.
Driving behaviors tracked include:
  • Number of forward-collision warnings.
  • Hard braking.
  • Aggressive turning.
  • Excessive speeding.
  • Driving unbuckled.
  • Inattentive driving that forces disengagement from its autopilot system.
  • How close you are to the car in front of you.
  • How often you drive late at night.
Based on this data, Tesla gives you a Safety Score from 0 to 100, where a higher score represents safer driving. Your safety score updates daily whenever you take your Tesla for a spin. New policyowners are given a score of 90.
Unlike traditional insurers, the company does not take into account your marital status, age, gender or credit history. It also doesn’t use your accident or traffic violation history as a factor to determine your initial or future auto insurance premium.
Instead, Tesla uses the following factors to determine cost:
  • Your vehicle’s Safety Score.
  • Miles driven.
  • Where you live.
  • Vehicle make and model.
  • Coverage purchased.
  • Number of vehicles insured.

Is Tesla Insurance worth it?

Tesla Insurance is worth a look if you live in one of the states where policies are sold. The company offers a mix of standard coverage options you’d expect from a typical insurance company (such as liability, comprehensive and collision). Tesla also offers rental coverage and roadside assistance.
Additional coverage types and discounts are available on a state-by-state basis, which you can check out here.
Even if you qualify for one or more Tesla insurance discounts, this doesn’t automatically mean Tesla will have the cheapest rate for you. Be sure to compare car insurance companies to find the most affordable coverage.

Why insuring a Tesla is so expensive

The more your car costs, the more expensive it is to insure. If your Tesla gets damaged, it’ll cost your insurance company more to replace or repair it than a less-expensive vehicle. Because of that, insurers will charge you more for Tesla car insurance, specifically, comprehensive and collision insurance.

How much is a Tesla?

Teslas are priced similarly to luxury cars and other electric vehicles, making them relatively expensive. However, Tesla has recently lowered the price on its models amidst shrinking car sales and other company challenges .
Below is the approximate starting price for a Tesla base trim by model at the time of this publication:
Tesla model
Base trim price
Model 3
$38,990
Model Y
$44,990
Model S
$74,990
Model X
$79,990
Upgrading beyond the basic model can send your Tesla cost skyrocketing. For example, you’ll pay $8,000 to add full self-driving capability, and any paint color other than the default color will set you back an extra $1,000 to $2,000 for the Model 3. And the more features you add to your Tesla, the more it will cost to insure.

Tesla repair costs

Teslas are made with expensive parts, contributing to their base cost. For starters, replacing a Model 3 battery module could cost nearly $13,000.
Tesla repair costs are also higher due to the cars’ aluminum bodies, which are more expensive than those made with traditional materials. If you damage a plastic or steel part on your 2012 sedan, an auto body shop can fix it for relatively little cost. The same isn’t true of aluminum. And if you do get in an accident, you’ll have to take your car to a Tesla service center or Tesla-approved collision center.
All of those potential repair costs come back to owners in the form of higher Tesla car insurance prices.

Auto insurance buying guide

When shopping for car insurance for your Tesla, take note of these tips:
  • Collect basic information. This includes the driving history of everyone who will be on the policy, as well as facts about your car, such as safety features and annual mileage driven.
  • Determine your coverage needs. For example, do you want only the bare minimum insurance that your state requires, or do you need more extensive coverage, such as gap insurance or rideshare coverage? Check that each company you’re considering has the options you want.
  • Compare apples to apples. When comparing rates among insurers, make sure each is offering the same or similar coverage limits and deductibles. 
  • Don’t fixate on price alone. Look at how many consumer complaints each company has, as a high number of complaints could be a red flag about the quality of service you'll receive.
Depending on which company you choose, you may be able to buy insurance online, over the phone or through an agent. For more guidance, see how to get car insurance.

Why you can trust NerdWallet

Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our writing and data analyses. You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which includes rates from every locale in the country where coverage is offered and data is available.
When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing. Read our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Tesla?
A brand-new Tesla costs anywhere from about $38,990 to more than $110,000, depending on which model and trim you choose. Adding self-driving capability, upgrading the paint color and other customizations can increase the sticker price.
Are Tesla cars expensive to insure?
The cheapest Tesla to insure on average is the Tesla Model 3 at $2,221 per year. Even so, this premium is nearly 30% higher than the median national cost of car insurance, according to NerdWallet’s July 2024 analysis of drivers with a three-year-old Toyota Camry LE. Tesla says its own insurance can save drivers about 20%, but policies are currently available only in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Virginia. If you live elsewhere, compare auto insurance rates to find the best company for you.
What does Tesla Insurance include?
Tesla Insurance includes the typical types of car insurance you’d expect from other insurance companies. But you may be able to get additional types of coverages and be eligible for discounts, depending on where they live.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
Methodology
NerdWallet looked at median insurance estimates from insurers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., for the base 2024 Tesla Model 3, Y, S and X.
Rates were for 35-year-old male and female drivers with good credit, no tickets or violations, and with the following coverage limits:
  • $100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.
  • $300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.
  • $100,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.
  • $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.
  • $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.
  • Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.
  • Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.
In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. Some policies include additional coverages at the insurer’s discretion. These are sample rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.