How much does a Tesla Model Y cost per month in California?
Defaults: new Model Y Standard RWD ($41,630 with fees), $4,163 down, 6.5% APR, 72 months, 12,000 miles a year, 80% home charging. Change anything and every number recalculates for California.
Leaves your account each month
$1,173/mo
Down payment due up front $4,163
Model Y Standard RWD · California
- Loan payment$63054%
- Insurance (estimate)$31727%Typical range for Model Y owners in California: $240–$394/mo
- Charging$898%
- Taxes & fees$1049%
- Maintenance$333%
Not a monthly bill, but real money. Estimated over 5 years and not included in the total above.
Insurance is your biggest cost after the loan in California ($317/mo). 80% of your charging happens at home, and more home charging is your cheapest lever.
Incentives
- Federal EV tax credit: $0. The new and used credits ended for vehicles bought after Sep 30, 2025.
Estimates only, not quotes. Insurance, taxes, and electricity rates vary by individual circumstances. Insurance is a typical range for Model Y owners in your state, not your premium. Sales tax uses the state's average local rate; your county or city rate may differ. How we calculate this
The breakdown in California
| Line item | Per month | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Loan payment | $630 | 54% |
| Insurance (estimate) | $317 | 27% |
| Charging | $89 | 8% |
| Taxes & fees | $104 | 9% |
| Maintenance | $33 | 3% |
| Out of pocket | $1,173 | 100% |
| Down payment (up front) | $4,163 | – |
| Value the car loses (not added above) | $382 | – |
Charging in California
Residential electricity averages 33.6¢/kWh, above the US average of 18.3¢ (EIA, July 2026). July runs higher than the yearly average, so this leans slightly high.
Insurance in California
The range runs from MoneyGeek's average (low end) to Insure.com's (high end). We don't ask about credit, which can move your premium a lot.
Taxes and fees in California
California's state rate is 7.25%, plus an average local rate of 1.78%. On a $41,630 Model Y that's about $3,759.
Zero-emission vehicles from model year 2020 on pay a $121 Road Improvement Fee each year (2026 amount, adjusted for inflation annually).
California also charges every vehicle a license fee of 0.65% of its value each year, about $271 in year one on a $41,630 car. It shrinks as the car ages; we use the first-year amount.
Incentives last checked 2026-10-18.
FAQ
How much does a Tesla Model Y cost per month in California?
About $1,173 a month out of pocket for a new Model Y Standard RWD with the default loan above, plus about $382 a month in lost value.
Is there an EV registration fee in California?
Yes, $121 a year for EVs. California also charges a yearly tax based on the car's value.
How much is Model Y insurance in California?
About $2,880–$4,728 a year for full coverage, based on published averages for a 40-year-old driver with good credit and a clean record.
How much does it cost to charge a Model Y in California?
About $84 per 1,000 miles charging at home, or $109 at Superchargers.
Are there EV incentives in California?
No statewide incentive open to most buyers as of 2026-10-18, and the federal credit has ended.