Every new Tesla order starts with a one-time order fee, paid by credit card, that Tesla says is non-refundable. For a Model 3 or Model Y, that fee is commonly $250. Tesla also adds a separate, non-negotiable Destination Fee to every new-vehicle order, covering the cost of shipping the car from the factory to you — that fee applies regardless of whether you later cancel.
If you want out of an order, Tesla’s process is simple: open the Tesla app, go to Vehicle Details, tap Manage, then Request to cancel, pick a reason, and confirm. What Tesla’s own support page does not spell out is a refund timeline or a list of exceptions for new orders — it documents the cancellation steps, not what happens to your $250 afterward. Treat the order fee as money you won’t see again once you’ve paid it, regardless of the reason for canceling.
Buying pre-owned through Tesla works differently, and its refund terms are actually published. A pre-owned order requires a $500 Order Deposit, and Tesla lists two specific situations where you get it back: if you applied for Tesla Financing and weren’t approved, or if you switch to a new-vehicle order instead and work with a Tesla Advisor to move the deposit over while the pre-owned order is still active. Outside those two cases, Tesla states the deposit “is non-refundable after the order is placed.”
The practical takeaway: don’t place an order, new or pre-owned, as a way to “hold” pricing or a build slot while you’re still deciding. Get financing pre-approved and any trade-in appraised first if either could change your mind, since neither the new-order fee nor most pre-owned deposit scenarios give you a way back once you’ve paid.
Photo by Gustavo Fring.
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