Tesla Now Accepts Cybertruck Trade-Ins – But The Depreciation Is Shocking

Tesla has finally started allowing Cybertruck trade-ins, a move that wasn’t possible for more than a year after the first deliveries of the electric pickup truck began. But what’s raising eyebrows isn’t just the new policy—it’s how badly the Cybertruck has lost its value.

When Tesla began rolling out the Cybertruck in late 2023, many people had high hopes. The company had bragged about over one million reservations. But the final version of the truck turned out to be pricier and weaker than expected. It didn’t meet the performance or range figures originally promised. This left thousands of buyers disappointed. In the end, only around 40,000 of those reservations were turned into actual purchases.

As time went by, it became clear that Tesla had a problem. Cybertruck models were piling up in inventory. Many units went unsold for months. To fix this, Tesla started offering big discounts to get them off the lots. But strangely, the company wouldn’t even accept its own Cybertruck as a trade-in—until now.

Now, Cybertruck owners from the Foundation Series can finally trade in their trucks. But the price Tesla is offering shows how much the vehicle’s value has dropped. For example, one Cybertruck Foundation Series AWD was originally sold by Tesla for $100,000. Today, Tesla is offering just $65,400 for that same truck—even though it has only 6,000 miles on it. That’s a massive 34.6% drop in value in just one year. For comparison, most pickup trucks lose about 20% in their first year and 34% after three or four years. Cybertruck is losing that much in just 12 months.

And that’s not even the worst part. Tesla’s online trade-in quotes are often more generous than the real offer the customer gets in person. Some owners are seeing even lower prices from independent used car dealers. According to listings on CarGurus, the average Cybertruck depreciation is closer to 45% in one year. This is far beyond what anyone expected—and a bad sign for resale value.

So, why did this happen? One major issue is that Tesla didn’t limit how many Foundation Series units were built. Instead of creating scarcity, which often helps a product retain value, Tesla produced as many as customers wanted. This flooded the market with Cybertrucks. Some units even had to be modified by removing the “Foundation Series” badge just so they could be sold as regular Cybertrucks. As of April 2025, Tesla still had some Foundation Series Cybertrucks sitting unsold in inventory for up to six months.

Another reason why people are backing away from the Cybertruck is its lack of practicality. Many reviews mention that its aluminum frame isn’t good for towing, it doesn’t support popular truck accessories, and Tesla’s so-called “Full Self Driving” system still has major flaws. Yes, it does come with vehicle-to-home (V2H) power-sharing ability, but it’s costly and not compatible with many setups. Most buyers would be better off using a regular 240V port or even a simple home generator setup.

The vehicle’s real-world driving range is another letdown. For a truck that was supposed to revolutionize the EV market, many owners feel like they ended up with a half-finished product. Because of all these issues, early buyers are already rushing to sell or trade their trucks.

Used car dealerships are also being cautious. Just like Tesla, they don’t want to get stuck with Cybertrucks sitting on their lots. The demand just isn’t there anymore. This created a situation where even trade-in offers are rare, and when they do happen, the value is much lower than owners expected.

Tesla’s decision to finally start accepting trade-ins might be an attempt to fix its image and regain customer trust. But the move also confirms what many feared: the Cybertruck’s resale value is dropping faster than any other Tesla vehicle ever has.

Some experts believe Tesla will have to rethink its entire approach to the Cybertruck if it wants to avoid long-term damage. That could include updating the design, improving range and features, and perhaps limiting how many units are made moving forward. For now, though, it looks like Tesla is just trying to clear out existing inventory without making things worse.

As for buyers who paid full price hoping their Cybertruck would hold value like other Teslas, many are feeling regret. The depreciation is not just surprising—it’s extreme. And with resale offers falling fast, Tesla may have to make bigger changes than just accepting trade-ins to stop the damage.

FAQs

Q1: Is Tesla really accepting Cybertruck trade-ins now?
Yes, but only for Foundation Series models as of May 2025.

Q2: How much has the Cybertruck’s value dropped in a year?
Up to 34.6% according to Tesla, and up to 45% according to third-party sites like CarGurus.

Q3: Why did the Cybertruck depreciate so much?
Poor performance, high price, limited practicality, and overproduction all played a part.

Q4: How many Cybertruck reservations were actually fulfilled?
Out of over 1 million reservations, only around 40,000 were turned into orders.

Q5: What is Tesla doing to solve this problem?
Tesla has started trade-ins, offered discounts, and may need to rethink its strategy.

Q6: Are used car dealers buying Cybertrucks?
Very few are, due to low demand and fear of holding unsold inventory.

Q7: Is the Cybertruck a good investment vehicle?
Right now, no. It’s losing value faster than nearly all other EVs.

Q8: Does the Cybertruck have V2H features?
Yes, but it’s expensive and not compatible with all home systems.

Q9: Is production still going on?
Tesla has slowed down Cybertruck production due to low demand.

Q10: Will Cybertruck prices recover?
That depends on updates, future demand, and how Tesla handles upcoming models.