What your Tesla is worth right now
Here is what the used Model 3 and Model Y market is listed for at dealers in September 2026. For Model S and Model X owners, see the section lower on the page.
Average used Tesla listing prices
Data: Recurrent proprietary analysis of used EV dealer listings, September 2026. Listing prices, not transaction prices.
These are asking prices. An offer for your car will be lower, because the dealer has to recondition it, market it and make their margin. How much lower depends on who you sell to. That gap is what this decision is really about.
Online pricing tools are a starting point, but they trail the market. Chris Taylor, owner of Certified AutoBrokers near Buffalo, NY, says many sellers underprice their cars because of this:
They're out there asking below market value for that vehicle based on what they understand as market value, which is very often based on third-party evaluations, KBB and things like that. Well, those are lagging indicators.
Chris Taylor, Owner, Certified AutoBrokers (Buffalo, NY)
Why used Tesla prices are slipping
Used EV prices rose through the first half of 2026 and leveled off in June. From June to September, same-model prices eased 1.9% for the Model 3 and 1.4% for the Model Y.
The nearly new ones moved most:
- 2024 Model Y: -3.3%
- 2025 Model 3: -3.2%
- 2025 Model Y: -2.5%
Older Teslas held steady. The 2020 Model Y gained 2.9% and the 2021 Model 3 was flat.
The reason is new-car pricing. Since Tesla added lower-priced Standard trims last fall, a new Model 3 starts under $40,000 and a new Model Y starts just above it. A used 2024 or 2025 Tesla has to be priced well below a new one to sell. Pete Berkey, general manager of Lee Johnson Kia near Seattle, sees this every time a Tesla owner trades in:
Tesla's kind of a market maker... every time you drop that price, that new car price by 13%... that vehicle becomes worth a lot less.
Pete Berkey, General Manager, Lee Johnson Kia (Kirkland, WA)
What about the Model S and Model X?
Tesla announced the end of Model S and Model X production on its earnings call in late January 2026. Owners worried that values would drop. But they didn't.
Comparing the same model years, average listing prices rose about 6% for both models from January to September 2026. The Model 3 rose 9.8% and the Model Y 7.5% over the same period. The S and X tracked the rest of the used EV market. Older cars did not get a scarcity premium.
They held up a little better this summer. From June to September, the Model S rose 1.1% and the Model X fell 2.5%.
They also take longer to sell. From June to September, the median used Model S stayed listed for 23 days and the Model X for 26. A Model Y took 16. The median September listing price was $35,745 for a Model S and $38,590 for a Model X, across all model years.
S and X owners are using Recurrent to sell. About 1 in 8 EVs sold through Recurrent in early 2026 was a Model S or Model X, up from 1 in 10 in 2025.
For S and X owners, the advice is the same as for any Tesla, with one addition. Fewer dealers retail a $35,000 to $40,000 luxury EV, so it matters even more to find one that does. Expect a slightly longer wait for the right offer.
Your four options
Private sale. Selling it yourself used to be the way to get the most money. Dealers who buy directly from owners say that's no longer a safe assumption.
A lot of people believe I can get more money on the private market if I sell it myself. That's just not the case these days.
Chris Taylor, Certified AutoBrokers
Private sales also mean you handle the loan payoff and the title transfer yourself. If you still owe money on the car, Taylor's advice is to pay it off before a private sale.
Instant online offers. Carvana, CarMax and similar buyers make fast, firm offers. Use them as a baseline for expectations.
Selling to a dealer. Many dealers now run buy centers that purchase cars straight from owners instead of at auction. That gives them room to pay more. Jay Clark, who runs acquisitions for the Ron Marhofer Auto Family in Ohio, explains the math:
Most dealers will offer over MMR for your car if you show up at the dealership, because then they don't have to pay the fee that Manheim charges... usually on average of $800 buy fee. Then you got the transportation cost to get the car back to your store, which is usually on average of $400.
Jay Clark, Director of Acquisitions, Ron Marhofer Auto Family (Ohio)
MMR is the Manheim Market Report, the wholesale value dealers see. A dealer who buys your car directly skips about $1,200 in auction and shipping costs. Some of that can go to you.
Not every dealer will pay the same. Clark's rule is to find the one that plans to keep the car on its own lot:
If you're selling a Tesla, you want to find a dealer that's going to retail the vehicle, because anybody that's segmenting that car for retail versus wholesale is going to pay you way more money for the vehicle.
Jay Clark, Ron Marhofer Auto Family
A dealer also handles the paperwork. Taylor says his team requests a fresh payoff quote, overnights the check to your lender and handles the title, so you don't need to go to the DMV.
Trading in. A trade-in is the easiest option. It's usually not the highest offer. Its real advantage is tax.
The trade-in tax math
In most states, you only pay sales tax on the difference between your new car's price and your trade-in's value. That can close the gap between a trade-in and a cash sale.
Example. You're buying a $45,000 car in Texas and trading in a Tesla for $28,000. Texas charges 6.25% on the sales price minus the trade-in allowance.
- Trade in: you pay tax on $17,000. That's $1,063 in tax.
- Sell it separately: you pay tax on the full $45,000. That's $2,813 in tax.
- Tax savings from trading in: $1,750.
In this example, a cash offer has to beat the trade-in by more than $1,750 to come out ahead. The savings scale with your state's rate. In North Carolina, which charges a 3% highway use tax on the price minus the trade-in, the same trade saves $840.
The credit usually requires that the trade-in and the new purchase happen on the same contract with a licensed dealer. Rules and rates change, so check your state's revenue or DMV site before you decide.
Tesla-specific questions
Should I trade in to Tesla? Tesla takes trade-ins only toward the purchase of a new or Certified Pre-Owned Tesla. It won't buy your car outright. You get an estimate online, and the final offer comes after you place an order, obviously subject to inspection.
Treat it like any other trade-in offer. Compare it against at least two dealer cash offers, then factor in your state's tax credit. One wrinkle: We read that Tesla says buyers in California, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland and South Carolina pay tax on the full purchase price up front when trading in with Tesla.
Does battery health matter? Yes, mostly as a way to prove there's no problem. Dealers rarely pay a premium for an exceptional battery, but they will cut an offer for one that's below normal for its age and miles. Showing a battery health report up front removes the doubt.
In the EV world, it's all about battery life, tires, and paint.
Chris Taylor, Certified AutoBrokers
Asked what a third-party battery report does for a seller, his answer was two words: "Huge positive."
Should I replace worn tires first? No. Dealers buy tires in bulk at a discount, so you won't get back what you spend.
It's never worth going and getting new tires to put on the car before... don't do that.
Chris Taylor, Certified AutoBrokers
How to get the most for your Tesla
- Know your number. Check what similar Teslas are listed for near you, and treat online estimates as a floor.
- Get 2-3 actual offers. Include at least one dealer that sells Teslas at their location.
- Bring a battery health report. It answers a buyer's first question before they ask it. (Recurrent offers that.)
- Be upfront about problems. Educated buyers will find them anyway.
- Skip the pre-sale repairs. New tires and cosmetic fixes rarely pay for themselves.
- Do the tax math if you're buying. A lower trade-in offer can still win in most states.
Recurrent's selling service connects EV owners with dealers that buy used EVs, so you can compare offers from several buyers at once. Get an offer for your Tesla.
FAQ
Is it better to sell a Tesla privately or to a dealer? Dealers that buy directly from owners can often match private-party prices, because they skip about $1,200 in auction and transport costs. A dealer sale is also faster and handles the payoff and title for you.
Does Tesla give a fair trade-in value? Tesla only takes trade-ins toward another Tesla, and its final offer comes after you order. Compare it with at least 2 dealer cash offers, and factor in whether your state gives a sales tax credit for trade-ins.
How much does mileage affect a used Tesla's value? About $1,000 per 10,000 miles for a Model 3 or Model Y of the same model year, based on our latest data.
Does Full Self-Driving add resale value? FSD stays with the car when you sell it, and the transfer program to a new Tesla has ended. Buyers value it differently, so ask whether each offer includes it.
Did Model S and Model X values drop after Tesla discontinued them? No. Comparing the same model years, average listing prices for both rose about 6% from January to September 2026, in line with the rest of the used EV market. They do take about a week longer to sell than a Model Y.
Are used Tesla prices going up or down? Down slightly since June 2026. Model 3 prices eased 1.9% and Model Y prices 1.4% from June to September, with the nearly new model years moving most. See our Used EV Market Report for the full data.
