TL;DR
A new Tesla costs more to insure than the average car. Insurance.com's 2026 quote data puts full coverage at $3,836 a year for a Model Y, $3,871 for a Model 3 and $4,415 for a Cybertruck, against $3,037 for the average vehicle. Your state and your carrier move that number far more than the model does: a Model Y averages $1,992 in Hawaii and $6,247 in Louisiana. Get at least five quotes before you order.
How much does Tesla insurance cost? For a typical driver, roughly $320 to $370 a month for full coverage, but the range around that average is wide. This guide shows what owners of each current model pay, why it runs higher than for many gas cars, and what changes your own price. It is general information, not insurance advice. Only a quote from an insurer is a real price.
What do Tesla owners pay on average?
Insurance.com worked with Quadrant Information Services to collect average rates in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The figures below come from its pages for the Model Y (updated April 8, 2026), the Model 3 (updated April 10, 2026) and the Cybertruck (updated April 30, 2026). They assume a 40-year-old driver with good credit and a clean record, $500 deductibles, liability limits of 100/300/100 (that means $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for injuries, and $100,000 for property damage), and 10,000 miles a year.
| Model | Full coverage, per year | Full coverage, per month | Liability only, per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model Y | $3,836 | $320 | $1,139 |
| Model 3 | $3,871 | $322 | $1,127 |
| Cybertruck | $4,415 | $368 | $1,130 |
Full coverage here means liability plus collision and comprehensive, the parts that pay to fix or replace your own car. Collision and comprehensive are required if you have a loan or lease, according to insurance.com. Liability-only costs about the same on every model, because it covers damage to other people and their property, not your car.
Why does a Tesla cost more to insure than a gas car?
Insurance.com's sample gas car, a Honda Accord LX, averages $2,513 a year for the same coverage, and the average across all vehicles is $3,037. A Model Y at $3,836 is $1,323 a year above the Accord and $799 above the all-vehicle average.
The insurance.com Model Y page says the gap comes from the higher purchase price and from repair costs, since electric cars need specialized parts and labor. It quotes an insurance agent, Lauren McKenzie, who says driver-assistance sensors and cameras "likely need calibration, repair or replacement after an accident, which adds to the cost." For the Cybertruck, insurance.com adds that insurers have little claims history to price from and that the stainless steel body panels are costly to replace.
Insurance has also become a bigger line in the budget. Insurance.com's yearly averages for 2021 and 2025 show the Model Y going from $2,210 to $3,836, about 74% higher, and the Model 3 from $2,250 to $3,871, about 72% higher. For the whole ownership picture, see the real five-year cost of owning a Tesla and whether a Tesla is cheaper to own than a gas car.
How much does your state change the price?
Location is the biggest swing in the data. Insurance.com's state table for the Model Y shows:
- Hawaii, the lowest: $1,992 a year, or $166 a month.
- Virginia: $3,515 a year, or $293 a month.
- Louisiana, the highest: $6,247 a year, or $521 a month.
The same pattern holds for the Model 3, which averages $2,201 in Hawaii and $6,879 in Louisiana. Insurance.com says the state differences reflect each state's overall insurance market, so a cheap state is cheap for any car.
A worked example: a Model Y in Virginia
Take a Model Y in Virginia at the survey's 10,000 miles a year. The state average of $3,515 is $321 less than the national Model Y average of $3,836 (3,836 minus 3,515). Divided by 12 months it is about $293 a month. Divided by 10,000 miles it is about 35 cents a mile (3,515 divided by 10,000). The same car and mileage would be about 62 cents a mile in Louisiana (6,247 divided by 10,000) and about 20 cents in Hawaii (1,992 divided by 10,000). Add your state's charging cost from our Model Y fuel cost by state guide to see the full running cost per mile.
How much does the insurer matter?
For the same car, the carrier matters a great deal. In the insurance.com company table, a Model Y Long Range averages $2,233 a year at American Family and $6,482 at Auto Club Enterprises (AAA), a gap of $4,249. The Performance trim is only a little higher at American Family, $2,349 against $2,233, a difference of $116. These are averages, so your own quotes will differ, but the spread is the reason to compare.
Age also changes the price at the same carrier. In the same Model Y data, State Farm averages $4,852 at age 25, $3,137 at age 40 and $2,812 at age 65. For a household adding a young driver, our guide to adding a teen driver to your Tesla covers what that does to a policy.
What else sets your Tesla insurance price?
Insurance.com lists these standard factors for a Tesla:
- Where you live and park.
- Your driving record.
- Your age and gender, where a state allows them to be used.
- Your credit history, where a state allows it.
- The car's safety features and theft risk.
Tesla also sells its own insurance in some states, and it prices differently from other insurers, using driving data from the car. How that works is in our guide to how Tesla's Safety Score changes your insurance bill. Check that it is offered in your state before counting on it.
How can you lower the bill?
Insurance.com's advice for Tesla owners is consistent across its Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck pages:
- Compare quotes. McKenzie recommends "at least five" quotes for a Tesla, because affordable coverage is harder to find than for a standard vehicle.
- Ask about discounts. Examples listed include bundling home and auto, paying in full, shopping early, a safe-driving course and usage-based programs.
- Consider a higher deductible. A higher deductible lowers the premium, but you pay more yourself in a claim. Insurance.com suggests choosing the highest one you can afford.
Tesla insurance cost FAQ
Is a Model Y cheaper to insure than a Model 3? Slightly, on average. Insurance.com puts the Model Y at $3,836 and the Model 3 at $3,871, a $35 difference, so your state and carrier will matter more than the model.
When should I shop for insurance? Before delivery day, so the policy is ready when the car is. Our guide to lining up your insurance before delivery day walks through it.
Will my premium match these averages? Probably not exactly. The averages use one driver profile. Credit, ZIP code, claims history and the carrier all move the result.
What to do
- Pick the trim you plan to order, then collect at least five insurance quotes for that exact car before your delivery date.
- Ask each insurer for the same coverage limits and deductible, so the quotes compare fairly.
- Put your state, age and driving record into the insurance calculator to see an estimate built on these same insurance.com averages.
- Add the result to your monthly budget with charging and maintenance, and review your policy once a year.
