‘I Get My Money’s Worth’: Tesla Driver Reveals What It Costs Him To Drive Monthly. He Says He Has Only One True Cost
'That's really it.'
Tesla Model 3 owner George Robinson (@thetrumooguru) uploaded a viral TikTok detailing how much he spends on his car each month.
In the recent clip, Robinson states he first purchased his car 10 months prior. Following this, he gets right into the thesis of his clip, detailing what his Model 3’s biggest monthly expense is: Insurance. Indeed, there are some folks who claim that their coverage premiums were lowered upon purchasing a Tesla. However, others state that this is the exception and not the rule. According to Compare, folks who insure offerings from the luxury electric carmaker will pay an average of 59% to keep their rides covered.
Although Robinson does state that he thinks his rate of $145/month “is still really good for full coverage on an electric vehicle.” Moreover, he stated that his at-home charging habits have, in fact, caused his utility expenditures to increase. Depending on how much he’s juiced up at his abode, Robinson pays anywhere from $86-$100 more per month. For comparison, J.D. Power wrote that the average internal combustion engine driver shelled out approximately $204 every month for gasoline in 2023.
The TikToker went on to state that he expects his energy bill to subside a bit after he stops working overtime at his job so consistently. Additionally, he remarked his car requires more energy due to his DoorDash and Uber side gigs.
Other Tesla Monthly Costs
At this point in the video, Robinson takes a second to muse over what else he spends on his vehicle month in, month out. “That’s really it,” he tells viewers, before erupting into laughter. However, it turns out that this was a bait and switch, while also adding that the following monthly costs aren’t exactly necessary.
Robinson pays for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving package at $100 per month as he uses the functionality “daily,” including the software’s auto park feature. “I get my money’s worth,” he says, before rattling off the other elective expense. Lastly, he states that the “smallest” monthly cost his Tesla comes with is its connectivity package. Because he paid for it all at once, the EV owner says his car’s internet capabilities amount to around $8 each and every month.
Toward the end of his clip, Robinson adds all of these charges together, which amounts to $353 per month. But that doesn’t tell the whole story, however. Because his extracurricular hustles rake in anywhere from “$1,200 to $1,500 a month,” he tells viewers.
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“So, it’s all covered, it’s not even coming out my regular budget,” he adds.
In a caption for the post, Robinson gushed over his positive Tesla experience. “This car has completely exceeded any expectations I had for it!”
Tesla Honeymoon Syndrome
There have been numerous stories from folks online who were first smitten upon receiving their EV…only to be left frustrated, confused, and sometimes, regretful. One Reddit user said that the 10-month mark was when they became tired of their Model Y. Citing software update issues, finicky UI glitches, “minor issues with the seat sensor” and malfunctioning phone keys, they weren’t very impressed. “We are both firmly in the ‘not buying another Tesla’ camp all of a sudden,” the social media user wrote.
Another user on the application who replied to the aforementioned post had soured on the EV manufacturer as well. They marked they were “so glad to see the back of my Tesla Model 3 LR” as it was being carted away on a trailer. For them, their honeymoon phase lasted half a year, before its features “became more annoying than interesting,” they said. However, “the final nail in the coffin” was their awful service center experiences.
Moreover, Edmunds’ long-term review of a Model Y Juniper was a mixed bag. The outlet said that while it appreciated the peppy performance and instant torque of the EV, its “overly stiff ride” and “persistent…build quality” qualms brought the electric crossover down a notch.
Commenters Sound Off
One person who replied to Robinson’s video wrote that their electricity hikes were a fraction of what the TikToker paid. “Not bad. my light bill went up about $20-$25 per month but I don't drive that much. You just cannot lose with owning an EV,” they wrote.
Another shared that their own insurance costs were significantly higher than Robinson’s. “My insurance is $247 a month for my EV. I’m jealous,” they said.
Which was echoed by another user on the app who penned, “Who are you insured with?! $145 is so good. I’m paying $370.”
And then there was this user on the app who said purchasing a Tesla ultimately ended up being a smart financial decision. “You Gotta Love It. My Tesla Saved me so much Money Too Bro Bro. Great Investment For ‘Daily Drivers,’” they wrote.
InsideEVs has reached out to Robinson via TikTok comment for further information.
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