In Canada's used electric vehicle market, some Tesla Model Ys are commanding more than a factory order would cost. One 2026 example with about 1,864 miles (3,000 kilometers) is listed at 55,999 Canadian dollars ($39,829).
For shoppers, that means choosing between paying a markup for a nearly new SUV or waiting months for a new delivery.
Here's what to know
Using YouTube creator The Electric Standard's (@TheElectricStandard) calculations, the AutoTrader vehicle sits roughly 8,400 Canadian dollars ($5,975) above the effective cost of a new Model Y in Canada.
The creator arrived at a 47,636 Canadian dollars ($33,953) total by taking Tesla's 49,990-dollar price ($35,631), adding 2,646 dollars ($1,886) in fees, and then subtracting the 5,000-dollar ($3,563) rebate. Clutch, meanwhile, values a similar vehicle at 51,349 Canadian dollars.
Delivery delays are a big part of the story. According to The Electric Standard, buyers who ordered in March were looking at roughly four to six weeks, those who ordered in April and May faced about four to five months, and the latest estimates point to December 2026 or January 2027.
"If you can wait, if you want a Tesla, and if you can wait, buy new now, you'll eventually get it in hopefully six to seven months," the creator assessed. "But if you can't wait, then you're going to have to buy used and pay the premium. That's kind of what it is right now."
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Commenters also described similar experiences. One said, "The math has flipped," and another reported that Clutch quoted them 4,000 Canadian dollars above what they had paid for a Model 3.
Not everyone agreed with the calculation, though. A commenter identifying themselves as an auto-industry worker said "the math might not be correct" because Clutch takes a 5% handling fee and the 5,000-dollar rebate comes after tax.
More background
The steepest markups appear to be on almost-new Model Ys that offer immediate availability, while older examples are still down by about 7% to 13%, The Electric Standard said.
In the creator's view, demand is also being supported by rising gas prices and Tesla's Full Self-Driving subscription (99 Canadian dollars, $70 per month). He said that because FSD-equipped vehicles previously carried about a 8,000-dollar to 11,000-dollar ($5,702-$7,840) premium, the monthly subscription changes how buyers may look at those cars.
"I feel like your hunch is correct, my parents are boomers and my dad wants a new Model Y because of FSD," a viewer responded.
What can be done?
For buyers focused on price, placing a new order may still be the cheaper route than absorbing a used market markup. That appears especially true while the before the EVAP falls to 4,000 Canadian dollars in 2027, based on The Electric Standard's calculations.
Looking only at the asking price can miss part of the calculation. Buyers who care about FSD may want to weigh the monthly subscription against paying thousands more for a used vehicle that already includes it.
Ultimately, timing may be the deciding factor, and one commenter preached patience.
"Just wait it out, let the Chinese EV's enter the market … Teslas will get back to some normalcy imho," they predicted.
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