A reservation deposit and an earlier announced price do not establish the final cost of a new Roadster. The original coverage below contains the figures already reported; confirm the current offer and written terms directly with the manufacturer before paying.
No official price yet
Tesla showed three versions at the October 15 event, Performance, Thrust and Rocket, but gave no price for any of them. Musk also said he is not sure the Roadster "moves the needle massively" for Tesla's revenue, which suggests a low-volume, high-price car rather than a mass-market one.
The deposit
Reservations reopened through Tesla's updated Roadster configurator with a $50,000 deposit. Reports before the event described the payment as $5,000 up front and the remaining $45,000 by wire transfer within 10 days, and described the reservation as fully refundable. Terms can change, so read the configurator carefully before you pay.
Every Roadster price so far
| Roadster | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First Roadster (2008 to 2012) | Roughly $98,000 to $109,000 | Sold; out of production |
| 2017 announcement, base | $200,000 | Superseded by the redesign |
| 2017 announcement, Founders Series | $250,000 | Superseded by the redesign |
| 2026 Performance | Not announced | Open for reservations |
| 2026 Thrust | Not announced | Limited release |
| 2026 Rocket | Not announced | Invite only |
Many articles still quote $200,000 as the Roadster price. That figure is from 2017, before the car was redesigned with thrusters and a fan system, so the final price may be different.
What the flying versions might cost
Nobody outside Tesla knows. The Thrust and Rocket versions add a cold gas thruster system developed with the project engineers, and Rocket is limited to invited buyers. Both points suggest they will cost considerably more than the Performance version. Be wary of any site quoting an exact Rocket price; Tesla has not published one.
Other costs to expect
- Sales tax, which varies by US state.
- Insurance, likely high for a car with Tesla's claimed acceleration figures.
- Import duty and VAT outside the US; for UK buyers, see our Tesla Roadster UK guide.
- Home charging equipment, if you do not already have a wall charger.
For specs and dates, read our new Tesla Roadster summary.
Read the payment documents as separate promises
A reservation normally records interest under a particular agreement. An order specifies what is being purchased under its own terms. An invoice requests payment, while a delivery document records the handover. Do not assume that one document guarantees the matters covered by another.
Before transferring money, save the exact agreement offered to you, including the country, currency, named contracting business and cancellation provisions. If a page changes later, your saved copy helps you ask precise questions. A screenshot of a headline price is less useful than the complete terms attached to the payment.
Build a budget with unknowns left visible
Create separate lines for the vehicle, selected equipment, delivery, registration, tax, insurance and charging arrangements. Mark unquoted items as unknown instead of filling them with estimates copied from an old article. A currency conversion can illustrate an amount, but it does not produce a local retail price or a binding tax calculation.
Ask an insurer what information it needs before it can quote. Ask the seller which equipment is included and which expenses remain payable locally. Those questions help establish whether you can assess the total commitment at all, even while a final vehicle price remains unresolved.
Check how money comes back as well as how it goes out
If the agreement describes a refund, read the process, currency and recipient requirements. Ask how cancellation is requested and what record confirms that it has been accepted. Do not infer refund timing or protection of funds from the word refundable alone.
For a substantial payment, an independent financial or legal adviser can help you assess the agreement and personal exposure. This is general purchasing context, not a prediction about the manufacturer's finances or a recommendation to reserve. The sound decision is the one based on the actual current contract, rather than an exciting specification or an old headline figure.
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Frequently asked questions
Can an earlier advertised price become my final invoice?
Only the applicable offer and contract can settle that. Keep earlier announcements dated and ask the seller what price, equipment and local charges the current agreement includes.
What should I save before paying a reservation?
Save the complete agreement, payment instructions, currency, contracting business and cancellation provisions. Keep payment confirmation with those documents rather than relying on a headline or cropped screenshot.
Should I budget using an estimated exchange rate?
An exchange calculation can illustrate a foreign amount but cannot establish a local retail total. Keep taxes, delivery and other unquoted charges marked as unknown until confirmed.
Should I compare a deposit with a used-car asking price?
They describe different transactions. A deposit is governed by reservation terms; a used-car asking price concerns an identified vehicle and its condition. Compare the complete purchase commitments and documents.