Tesla is preparing to raise lease pricing across several models in the U.S., with increases of up to 67% set to take effect later this month. According to longtime Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt), the higher pricing will apply to the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck AWD beginning December 26, 2025.
Customers looking to lock in current lease rates will need to order and submit a leasing application by December 26 and take delivery by December 31, 2025.
Lease pricing for the Model Y is seeing notable hikes, particularly for the Premium (formerly Long Range) All-Wheel Drive variant. The updated pricing also introduces a higher required down payment compared to current offers.
The Model 3 will see the steepest adjustments, with the entry-level Premium Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) trim jumping by as much as 67%. As with the Model Y, Tesla is also increasing required down payments.
Tesla is also raising lease pricing for its electric pickup, though the increase is more modest compared to the Model 3 and Model Y.
The timing of these changes strongly suggests a strategic push to drive end-of-quarter and end-of-year deliveries. With the price hike taking effect just days before the end of December — and with delivery required by December 31 to secure current pricing — Tesla appears to be creating urgency to maximize Q4 and full-year 2025 sales figures.
The move comes shortly after Tesla dropped lease pricing for the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck in November, following another brief period where lease rates were also raised. Taken together, the pattern suggests Tesla is actively experimenting with lease pricing as a lever to stimulate demand and manage delivery volumes as financial reporting deadlines approach.
Whether these higher lease prices stick into 2026 remains to be seen, but for buyers on the fence, the next few weeks could make a meaningful difference in monthly payments.
