Tesla Lease Prices Are About to Spike and the Numbers Are Hard to Ignore

Tesla has been pulling every lever it can to finish the year strong, and lease pricing has been one of the most aggressive tools in play. Over the past few weeks, deals across the lineup have dropped to levels that made even longtime EV owners stop scrolling and do the math twice. That moment is about to pass.

Tesla is now signaling that these lease offers expire at the end of the month, with price increases taking effect as early as December 26. In some cases, monthly payments are set to jump by up to 67 percent, paired with higher down payments. This is not a small adjustment or fine print change. It’s a sharp return to normal pricing.

The deal that grabbed the most attention was the $299 per month Model 3 lease. It spread quickly because it rewired the usual car-buying logic. At that price, driving electric starts to look cheaper than owning many gas cars once fuel and routine maintenance are factored in. The reason it worked is also why it’s ending. Tesla has been subsidizing these leases to move inventory during a slower demand period. Tesla often sacrifices margin in the short term to keep deliveries flowing.

With Q4 deliveries wrapping up on December 31, that subsidy appears to be switching off.

Tesla has already outlined where pricing is headed next, and the increases are significant. The Model 3 Premium RWD is expected to rise to $499 per month with $3,000 down, up from roughly $299 per month with $1,500 down. That’s a 67 percent increase in the monthly payment, along with double the upfront cost. The Model 3 Premium AWD moves to $549 per month with $3,000 down, about a 22 percent increase. The Model 3 Performance climbs to $749 per month with $3,000 down, up from around $699 today.

The Model Y follows the same trend. The Premium RWD jumps to $549 per month with $3,000 down, compared to roughly $449 per month with no money down right now. The Premium AWD rises to $649 per month with $3,000 down, a 35 percent increase. Even the Cybertruck sees movement, with the AWD version increasing to $849 per month with the same $5,000 down payment, about a 16 percent bump.

What makes this shift notable is how direct Tesla is being about it. In past quarters, incentives often faded quietly. This time, Tesla is clearly signaling the change ahead of time to push buyers toward taking delivery before the year ends. The strategy smooths out end-of-year logistics and locks in Q4 numbers, but it also puts real pressure on shoppers sitting on the fence.

For shoppers considering a Tesla lease, timing suddenly carries real financial weight. Waiting a few weeks could mean hundreds of extra dollars each month without gaining anything new in return. It’s also a reminder of how flexible Tesla’s pricing model is compared to traditional automakers, where incentives tend to linger and shifts happen more slowly.

For current owners, higher lease pricing has a side effect. As entry costs rise, vehicle condition and long-term value matter more. Keeping a Tesla protected and well-maintained pays off when replacement costs climb and deals dry up.

Source: Electrek