Minnesota’s state EV rebate is gone. Here’s what still helps if you’re buying a Tesla.

Minnesota’s state EV rebate has run out of money. The Minnesota Department of Commerce says on its own incentives page that “all funds for the State of Minnesota EV rebate program have been claimed” and that the state is “no longer taking new applications” — so a Tesla bought in Minnesota today doesn’t qualify, regardless of price or income.

What the program used to pay

Since launching in February 2024, the program paid up to $2,500 toward a new EV with an MSRP of $55,000 or less, or up to $600 toward a used EV priced under $25,000, on a first-come, first-served basis. Every current Model 3 and Model Y configuration falls under that $55,000 cap; some Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck trims don’t.

What still helps a Minnesota Tesla buyer

The federal EV tax credit expired for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, so that’s off the table too. What’s left is utility-level rebates: Otter Tail Power Company offers up to $3,000 toward a new EV, several smaller electric cooperatives pay $500 to $1,250, and many utilities statewide separately offer $150 to $800 toward installing a home Level 2 charger. Which of these apply to you depends on who supplies your electricity, not where in the state you live.

Check your own utility’s website directly, and search the state’s incentive listings at Drive Electric Minnesota before assuming nothing is available — coverage varies by provider and changes as individual funding pools reset.

The takeaway

If you were counting on Minnesota’s $2,500 state rebate to make a Tesla fit your budget, plan without it — as of this writing, the program has no funds left and no announced refill date. A utility rebate like Otter Tail Power’s $3,000 offer can end up worth more than the state program was, but only if your provider offers one, so it’s worth five minutes to check before you buy.

Photo by Reinhard Bruckner.