Recalls, Safety Concerns, and Skyrocketing Insurance — Is the Cybertruck Worth It?

Cybertrucks remain a divisive vehicle. Their distinct design either attracts or alienates potential drivers. And, in a market that now includes several cheaper models, they’re not the only option for those seeking an all-electric truck.

The Cybertruck’s unique materials, specialized technology, and steep starting price of $82,235 all contribute to exceptionally high repair and replacement costs.^[1] And that risk means Cybertrucks aren’t exactly a safe bet for insurers.

The average annual cost of full-coverage insurance for a Cybertruck is $4,649 — more than double the national average of $2,310 for all vehicle types. It’s also 15% higher than the national electric vehicle (EV) average of $4,043, according to Insurify data.

Despite high insurance costs, EV sales are going strong.

Tesla had exceptional sales in the third quarter of 2025, selling 179,525 vehicles before the EV tax credit expired on Sept. 30, according to Kelley Blue Book (KBB).^[2] But that number largely reflects Model Y and Model 3 sales.

Tesla sold just 5,385 Cybertrucks in Q3 of 2025, a 62.6% decrease from when sales peaked in the third quarter of 2024. Yet as Cybertruck sales have slowed, the vehicle has maintained its notoriety as one of the world’s most recognizable vehicles.

Since its release, Tesla has posted eight Cybertruck recalls, including recalls for an image delay on the rearview camera, a faulty inverter causing propulsion loss, and two different appliques that detached from the vehicle and increased crash risk.

Two lawsuits further allege that Tesla’s door handle design led to the death of three young adults in California. Following a crash, a Cybertruck caught fire, and the passengers weren’t able to escape the vehicle, the suit alleges.^[3]

In 2023, Elon Musk estimated Tesla could sell 250,000 to 500,000 Cybertrucks per year, but actual sales have fallen far short of that. Tesla sold 38,965 Cybertrucks in 2024 and has sold 16,097 so far this year, according to KBB. The prospect of high insurance premiums, safety recalls, and expensive repairs may have many drivers choosing to avoid the hassle.

Key findings

• The Cybertruck is the second most expensive Tesla to insure. The Tesla Model X is the most expensive, costing $4,765 per year, according to Insurify data.

• Cybertrucks have a higher share of drivers with excellent credit than the general population: 38% of Cybertruck drivers have excellent credit versus 11% of total drivers, Insurify data shows. EV drivers generally have a higher share of excellent credit, at 32%.

• Millennial and Gen X drivers make up the majority of Cybertruck drivers: 43% of Cybertruck drivers are Millennials and 30% are Gen X, versus Baby Boomers at just 15% and Gen Z at 12%, according to Insurify data.

• Washington, D.C., has the highest number of Cybertrucks, with more than four times the nationwide average, according to Insurify data. Cybertrucks are around twice as common in New York, California, Nevada, and Washington.

Why Cybertrucks cost so much to insure

The Cybertruck’s insurance costs are high largely because insurers aren’t keen to cover such an expensive and specialized vehicle, said Daniel Lucas, senior carrier partnerships manager at Insurify.

“Most insurers won’t write policies for them, or at least don’t want to. The ones that will, but don’t want to, put ridiculously high premiums on them,” he said. “Teslas and Cybertrucks are notoriously expensive to repair; the parts are nearly impossible to find in stock, and few shops are equipped to repair them.”

For example, a moderate accident involving a BMW might have a higher-than-usual price tag, Lucas said. But the Cybertruck will cost double, especially if the expensive battery needs replacing, and take longer, driving up the rental car bill on an insurance claim.

Findings show 43% of Cybertruck drivers are Millennials, and 30% are Gen X, or between ages 29 and 60, according to Insurify data. Meanwhile, drivers in their 60s and 70s typically pay lower rates than the demographics that make up the bulk of Cybertruck buyers.

Cybertruck drivers also have a higher share of people with excellent credit, at 38% versus 11% of all drivers, according to Insurify data. Drivers with excellent credit pay about 15% less than drivers with average credit.

Men pay about 3% more for car insurance than women because actuarial data shows men are riskier drivers, Insurify data shows. And since men make up 88% of Cybertruck drivers — compared to 64% of all EV drivers — premiums may skew higher to account for that different risk pool.

General factors affecting EV insurance costs may also influence Cybertruck premiums. EV adoption, charging infrastructure, severe weather, vehicle theft rates, and claims frequency can all affect rates, according to Insurify’s EV auto insurance report.

Since insurance companies consider many factors when determining premiums, the more data available, the more accurately they can price risk for a specific vehicle and driver. Tesla’s Cybertruck is relatively new to the market, with less than two years of data for insurers to consider. It can take time for companies to adjust rates, as well, so premiums can shift for different vehicles as more data becomes available.

Cybertruck sales heated up fast, but have cooled in 2025

It’s been almost two years since Tesla began shipping the first Cybertruck models to its waitlist of eager owners. The hype has died down somewhat since then, but the vehicle’s reputation has only grown.

After its launch in November 2023, Cybertruck sales took off, climbing to the third-bestselling EV in the third quarter of 2024 — and the bestselling all-electric truck, according to KBB.^[4] But by the third quarter of 2025, the Cybertruck dropped to 14th place in EV sales and tied with the GMC Hummer EV for the second-bestselling electric truck.

So far in 2025, the Ford F-150 Lightning has maintained its top spot as the bestselling all-electric truck. It’s also held steady at ninth place for overall EV sales share for three consecutive quarters, while the Cybertruck dropped from 10th to 12th, and then to 14th place. The Cybertruck debuted at 14th place, with a 1% sales share in its first full sales quarter in 2024.^[5]

The Ford F-150 Lightning has been the Cybertruck’s main sales competition for a while. But, in the third quarter, the GMC Hummer EV Pickup — a $99,095 truck — has caught up to the Cybertruck to tie at a 1.2% sales share, according to KBB. If the Cybertruck’s sales trend continues, the Hummer may surpass it in the last quarter of this year.

The Cybertruck is the most expensive EV truck to insure — Ford F-150 Lightning is the cheapest

Drivers interested in an EV truck are starting to have more options, many of which are more affordable than even 2025 vehicle models. Chevrolet and GMC offer lower-cost versions of the Silverado EV and Sierra EV, respectively, for model year 2026, making them more cost-accessible despite the end of the EV tax credit.

The GMC Hummer EV Pickup is the only EV truck with a higher starting MSRP than the Cybertruck. But the Hummer’s average annual insurance premium is still more than $500 cheaper than the average for the Cybertruck, Insurify data shows. Insuring a Ford F-150 Lightning — which costs about $25,000 less than a Cybertruck — is more than $1,800 per year cheaper.

EV Model	Starting MSRP	Average Annual Cost of Full Coverage
National average	$50,080	$2,310
EV average	$58,124	$4,043
Tesla Cybertruck	$82,235	$4,649
Ford F-150 Lightning	$56,975	$2,778
Chevrolet Silverado EV	$54,895	$3,397
GMC Hummer EV Pickup	$99,095	$4,132
GMC Sierra EV	$64,495	$3,409

While drivers excited about a Cybertruck may not necessarily be shopping for just any EV truck, it can benefit drivers to try it out before making the commitment.

Baruch Labunski, CEO at Rank Secure, rented a Cybertruck for a few days before deciding to purchase it. It felt “solid and futuristic,” he said, and the acceleration, handling, and visibility impressed him. But a few things made him think twice.

“I wouldn’t describe the Cybertruck’s dimensions as ‘manageable.’ I also wouldn’t describe the firm ride as comfortable,” he told Insurify. “The stainless-steel exterior might look indestructible; however, I found the exterior to be very smudgy … I also thought of the insurance and repair costs; with weird shapes, it isn’t like any auto body shop would take it.”

Tesla’s own attempts to reduce insurance costs and make it easier for drivers to secure coverage have been mixed. The company launched Tesla Insurance in 2019 and now offers coverage in 12 states. Its main insurance product, Tesla Real-Time Insurance, tracks driving behavior and calculates the next month’s premium based on the previous month’s driving.

Though some drivers report Tesla Insurance saving them money on premiums, not everyone has had a positive experience. One Reddit commenter in California described a frustrating claims experience, alleging Tesla Insurance didn’t follow up with him or evaluate quotes from his mechanic.^[6] Another YouTuber described a sleek app interface and savings over time but “non-existent” claims support.^[7]

It may also be costing Tesla Insurance to keep rates low. In 2024, Tesla Insurance paid out $1.03 for every $1.00 it collected in premiums, meaning it spent more money on claims than it earned on premiums.^[8]

And, in October, the California Department of Insurance posted an enforcement notice that its claims services bureau had received 2,642 complaints from policyholders since 2022 and found the insurer violated state regulations 2,913 times.^[9] The majority of violations were for failing to respond to claimants within 15 days. Others include failure to provide written updates every 30 days, failure to conduct fair investigations, and failure to adopt reasonable standards for prompt investigation.

Tips: How to reduce Cybertruck insurance costs

Cybertrucks are expensive to own and insure. But for drivers enthusiastic about owning such a unique vehicle, strategies exist to save money on insurance.

Choosing a higher deductible means paying lower premiums, but it also means increased out-of-pocket costs in the event of a claim. Bundling car insurance with home or renters insurance, maintaining a good credit history, and taking advantage of discounts can also save drivers more than a few dollars.

Telematics policies that track driving behavior, like Tesla Real-Time insurance, can also be money savers for safe drivers. Maintaining a safe driving record in general also keeps premiums lower, since a person’s driving record often factors significantly into how insurers set rates. Finally, shopping around to compare quotes at least once a year helps any driver make sure they have the best deal available.

Methodology

Insurify’s team of data scientists examined more than 97 million quotes in its proprietary database, quoted via integrations with partnering insurance companies, to determine average car insurance rates for gas-powered cars and EVs. Rates reflect the average annual cost of a full-coverage car insurance policy (up to $50,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person and $100,000 per accident, a $50,000 property damage liability limit, and a $1,000 deductible for both comprehensive and collision coverage).