Tesla: Registration Tax Drives Car Prices Soaring

Tesla adds a new tax to its prices in France, which can reach up to over 2000 euros. What is it about?

Since May 1, 2025, a discreet but important change has emerged for electric vehicle buyers in France, particularly at Tesla. Indeed, the American manufacturer has included a new tax in its prices: the regional tax on the registration certificate. Until recently, electric vehicles were exempt from this tax in most French regions. However, a measure from the 2025 finance law changed the situation by allowing each region to decide whether to maintain this exemption or not. The result: almost all have chosen to eliminate it, with the notable exception of Hauts-de-France, which continues to support zero-emission vehicles by maintaining the free registration certificate.

Tesla Model Y still without ecological bonus

To anticipate inconveniences and better smooth the purchasing process, Tesla has decided to incorporate this tax directly into its selling prices. Thus, models such as the Model 3 Propulsion or the Model Y Propulsion have seen their prices increase by about 329 €, corresponding to a nationwide average estimate of the registration certificate cost. This is not a disguised margin but a transparent adjustment designed to include this new administrative cost. This “all-inclusive pricing” strategy aims to simplify the process for the buyer, even though the actual amount of the registration certificate varies from one region to another based on the tax rate per horsepower.

This change reflects an underlying trend: while electric vehicle sales are skyrocketing, public authorities are trying to compensate for the decline in tax revenues from registration certificates. By eliminating exemptions, regions hope to recover resources to fund their services while slightly slowing down the tax advantages associated with electric mobility. An evolution to watch closely if you are planning a purchase in the coming months.

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