Comment If you're considering buying your first electric vehicle, you probably have some reservations. Tesla is becoming hard to ignore since it's all over the news these days. While the U.S. automaker's cars are arguably nice to look at, incredible performers, and packed with high-tech features, you may find it difficult to justify taking ownership of a car like the Tesla Model 3 without doing plenty of homework. Perhaps a less expensive EV is a better option? Or, a practical and reliable gas car? Electric cars are certainly growing in popularity, but they still haven't really caught on, especially in terms of sales in the United States. Tesla outsells all other automakers on our shores when it comes to EVs. However, even the hugely popular Model 3 doesn't sell at anywhere near the volume of top-selling vehicles in the U.S. Check Out More Related Tesla Articles: Tesla Model Y Vs BMW X3 Hybrid: 5-Year Cost Of Ownership Analysis 9. Home Charging Installation Cost 10. Tesla Supercharger Cost To start off I purchased my tesla model 3 mid-range back in December of 2018. The purchase process was flawless and with a few simple clicks I purchased my first electric car online with a small deposit on my credit card. 3 months later I was notified that my model 3 was ready to be picked up at my local tesla facility. With all the customizations I have added to my tesla including the white interior package, the silver metallic exterior paint color and the 19” sport wheels the total came to a whopping $49,000. This does not even include the destination and documentation fee which added another $1,200 dollars and we also have to add local sales tax along with registration and titling fees adding another $1,739 dollars. Giving me a final grand total of $51,939 for my brand-new tesla model 3 midrange. Now keep in mind the added sales tax and registration fees will vary based on your state of purchase. This was my total based on my state of residence in her in North Carolina. By far this is the most expensive car I have ever purchased but let me tell you how I did not end up paying the full price of $51,939. Back in December of 2018 the $7,500 tax credit was about to be cut in half to $3,750. This being the reason I wanted to purchase the car before the expiration of this tax credit. So, when I took deliver during this time frame I fully qualified for this large tax credit bringing my total tesla model 3 purchase price down to $44,439. While this is still a large sum of money for any vehicle in my opinion, there are a few more incentives as to why the tesla model 3 is still cheaper to own over the long term. Share this Story