Tesla used car prices are cratering

As public distaste for Tesla grows, the automaker’s used cars get more affordable.

By 

Matthews Martins

 on March 10, 2025

Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

It’s a complicated time for car shoppers. President Donald Trump’s tariffs threaten to increase new car prices, and the used car prices are expected to rise in turn. That is, of course, unless you’re shopping for Teslas, which are getting more affordable versus the rest of the car market. 

Forbes reports that a used Model Y has dropped $6,000 on average over the last year. In March 2024, a Model Y with decent mileage would’ve gone for around $36,000. That price has dropped to $30,000, with a steady decrease coming since the U.S. elections in November. Forbes notes that it’s not particularly difficult to find a Tesla Model Y with under 20,000 miles for under $30,000.

This trend also affects Tesla’s other models. The Model X has dropped from around $45,000 to $41,500. Per CarGurus, Tesla vehicles, on average, have gone from $32,000 to about $29,000 over the last year. However, none of Tesla’s models were hit as hard as the Cybertruck. Just eight months ago, a used Cybertruck had a $120,000 price tag. Today, those same Cybertrucks are going for a hair over $90,000, a reduction of approximately 25 percent. 

Mashable Light Speed

Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories?

Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter.

By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

For context, Tesla’s 10 percent drop in used car prices is much higher than most automakers. Kia, for instance, has mostly held steady over the last year, while Ford prices have gone up since 2025 started but are down around 4 percent since last March. Most automakers are around that same range. Edmunds noted last month that used car supplies are beginning to dry up, which may lead to higher used car prices later in 2025. Tesla seems to be bucking that trend for now. 

SEE ALSO:Tesla sales are reportedly falling globally. How bad it is and where.

There are numerous reasons why buyers might be hesitant to purchase a Tesla or current owners might want to ditch their cars. Some may not agree with Musk’s increasingly right-wing political views, while others may want to avoid having their cars vandalized. While there are plenty of anecdotal reports of people selling their Teslas, there isn’t much firm data to quantify exactly how many people have done so or why. After all, Tesla has also begun shipping out its new Model Y, which may be leading existing Model Y fans to trade in the old model for the new one. 

---

Related Stories

---

• Tesla stock gains since Election Day almost completely wiped out as plunge continues
• Tesla Cybertruck at New Orleans' Mardi Gras parade gets mercilessly booed
• Tesla tells Cybertruck owners to 'use tape' to fix panel gap issues
• Protesters decry 'fascist Elon Musk' at dozens of Tesla showrooms nationwide
• Stephen Colbert says Elon Musk is 'blowing up' the White House 'like a Tesla in Self Driving Mode'

Tesla’s misfortunes in the used car market are the latest in a long string of bad press. Profits have plummeted 70 percent over the last quarter, and it’s likely not going to get better anytime soon. There are already reports of new Tesla shipments dropping 50 percent in Europe, led by Germany, where sales of new Teslas have declined by 76 percent. Public sentiment isn’t ideal, and activists are protesting Musk in Tesla showrooms across the U.S. 

On the ever-so-tiny plus side, you can get a Tesla for an outstanding price if you can stomach all of the controversy.

Topics  Tesla Elon Musk