Tesla has officially confirmed its participation in California's MyFirstEV program, offering first-time EV buyers $3,500 off eligible new Model 3 and Model Y inventory starting August 3, 2026. Not every trim qualifies, though — and Tesla isn't getting the same treatment as two of its California-based rivals.
Tesla has updated its official incentives page to confirm exactly how it's participating in California's new MyFirstEV rebate program. First-time electric vehicle buyers in California can now get $3,500 off eligible Model 3 and Model Y new inventory vehicles — but the fine print determines which specific trims actually qualify.
According to Tesla's own incentives page, to be eligible you must place your order on or after August 3, 2026, and take delivery while program funds are still available. The rebate applies to cash, lease, and financed purchases alike, and the vehicle must be both registered and delivered in California to qualify. This is Tesla's own implementation of California's broader MyFirstEV program (created by SB 168, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on July 13, 2026), which offers a $3,500 point-of-sale rebate on new EVs priced at or below $50,000, and $1,750 on qualifying used EVs priced at or below $25,000, with no income cap for buyers.
Because MyFirstEV caps eligible vehicles at a $50,000 MSRP, only Tesla's lower-priced configurations of the Model 3 and Model Y are in scope. Higher trims and other models are priced above the cap and don't qualify at all.
| Vehicle | Status | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Model 3 (RWD / Premium trims) | Eligible | Priced under the $50,000 cap |
| Model Y (RWD / AWD / Premium trims) | Eligible | Priced under the $50,000 cap |
| Model 3 Performance | Not eligible | Exceeds $50,000 MSRP |
| Model Y L | Not eligible | Exceeds $50,000 MSRP |
| Cybertruck, Model S, Model X | Not eligible | All exceed $50,000 MSRP |
Since Tesla adjusts pricing and configurations periodically, buyers should confirm a specific trim's current MSRP against the $50,000 threshold directly with Tesla before assuming eligibility.
Here's a wrinkle worth understanding if you're cross-shopping: MyFirstEV includes an exemption from the $50,000 price cap for any automaker headquartered in California. That exemption applies to exactly two companies — Rivian, headquartered in Irvine, and Lucid, headquartered in Newark, California — letting their vehicles qualify for the rebate regardless of price, even though both companies' cheapest EVs start well above $50,000.
Tesla doesn't get that exemption. The company moved its corporate headquarters from Palo Alto to Austin, Texas, in 2021, and under the bill's language, headquarters status is defined as of January 1, 2026 — a fixed date that doesn't account for Tesla's continued manufacturing and major engineering presence in California. As a result, the standard $50,000 cap applies to every Tesla model, which is exactly why pricier models like Model Y L and Cybertruck are shut out while cars costing considerably more from Rivian or Lucid are not.
The bottom line: If you're a first-time EV buyer in California eyeing a Model 3 or Model Y under $50,000, this is real, meaningful money — $3,500 off at the point of sale, stackable with Tesla's own financing offers. Just don't assume every Tesla qualifies, and don't assume the program has unlimited funding. Order after August 3, confirm your trim's price, and move before the money runs out.
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