50% Of Tesla Owners Report Vandalism Since Tesla CEO Elon Musk Started Working On DOGE

In a new study, nearly 50% of Tesla owners report their vehicles have been vandalized, causing concern across the country. 

Since Tesla CEO Elon Musk was named to lead the Department of Government Efficiency in January, Tesla has drawn a surge of protests across the country, leading to a significant decrease in vehicle sales for Tesla in the first quarter of 2025 and a decline in Tesla’s stock price.

In this study from Guardian Service, researchers studied over 500 Tesla owners in the U.S. to “explore how vandalism, insurance hikes and public perception are reshaping the EV ownership experience.” 

Guardian Service found that 44% of Tesla owners received “intentional damage to their vehicle,” accounting for an average repair cost of $1,900, impacting both their short-term and long-term insurance rates. Besides only physical damage, about 43% of Tesla owners reported they had received negative comments or rude gestures from other drivers. 

The Guardian Service also discovered that Tesla owners in the South are the most likely to face vandalism, with nearly 46% reporting incidents. That is more than double the rate in any other region of the U.S. 

It also reports that 61% of respondents have seen their insurance rates increase by approximately $340 annually. Millennials have faced an even greater increase of $360 per year. This led to 30% of Tesla owners switching insurance providers since purchasing their cars.

“As the auto market races toward electrification, the road for Tesla owners is proving more turbulent, costly, and emotionally charged than they ever expected,” Guardian Service wrote. 

Although there are many benefits to choosing an EV, including zero tailpipe emissions, the threat of vandalism has deterred people from purchasing the car, and many Tesla owners have sold their vehicles.

The study came out before Musk’s spectacular falling out with the president last week.