Tesla reopened reservations for the next-generation Roadster on the weekend of 20-21 September 2026, per Electrek, The Verge and Fox Business. Securing a place costs $50,000: a $5,000 card payment up front, followed by a $45,000 wire transfer within 10 days. Tesla describes the deposit as fully refundable. The move lands days before the confirmed 1 October reveal event near Waco, Texas.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What reopened | Next-generation Tesla Roadster reservations (weekend of 20-21 Sept 2026) |
| Total deposit | $50,000 |
| Step 1 | $5,000 paid by card |
| Step 2 | $45,000 by wire transfer within 10 days |
| Refundable? | Tesla describes the deposit as fully refundable |
| Why now | The reveal event is confirmed for 1 October 2026 near Waco, Texas |
| Sources | The Verge (21 Sep), Fox Business (21-22 Sep), Electrek (20 Sep) |
How the $50,000 Roadster deposit works
The reservation is a two-step payment, per The Verge and Electrek: $5,000 by card to open the reservation, then a $45,000 wire transfer within 10 days to keep it. Miss the wire window and the place is not secured. Tesla describes the full $50,000 as refundable.
That structure mirrors the original Roadster reservation programme from years past - existing holders are the invite list for the 1 October event - but the reopening means new buyers can now join the queue before anyone outside Tesla has seen the production car.
Why reopen reservations before the reveal?
Tesla confirmed the second-generation Roadster reveal for 1 October 2026 at 8:30 p.m. ET near Waco, Texas, with invitations limited to reservation holders. Reopening reservations days beforehand, as Fox Business notes, effectively sells access to the reveal-era queue while attention on the car is at its peak.
The timing also follows the teaser cycle - the cold-gas thruster image and the Tesla/SpaceX flight restriction over the McGregor test site - covered in our earlier report on what is confirmed for the reveal.
What you are actually paying for
A reservation is a queue position, not a car. Production is targeted at Gigafactory Texas in 2027 or 2028, and final specifications and pricing have not been announced. The $50,000 buys a place in line for a vehicle whose production form nobody outside Tesla has seen.
The refund promise is Tesla's own description of the terms, and the card-plus-wire structure means the bulk of the money moves by bank transfer. Anyone weighing a deposit should read the reservation agreement terms in full and treat performance claims as unverified until the 1 October event puts them on the record.
What happens on 1 October
The reveal takes place near Waco, Texas, roughly 90 minutes from Tesla's Austin headquarters, with a joint Tesla/SpaceX temporary flight restriction banning aircraft below 10,000 feet over the McGregor site - the strongest hint that the thruster hardware will be demonstrated.
Whether the event converts reservation-holders' patience into firm specifications, prices and delivery dates is the real test. We will report what is announced, with every number attributed.
A reservation is not a purchase contract for a finished, specified car. Production is a 2027-2028 target, specs and final pricing are unannounced, and while Tesla describes the $50,000 as fully refundable, the terms are Tesla's own - read the reservation agreement before wiring anything.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Tesla Roadster reservation in 2026?
Is the Tesla Roadster deposit refundable?
When will the Tesla Roadster be revealed?
When can you actually buy a Tesla Roadster?
Sources & further reading
- The Verge - Tesla reopens Roadster reservations at 50,000 dollars (21 Sep 2026)
- Electrek - Roadster reservation reopening details (20 Sep 2026)
- Fox Business - deposit structure and reveal context (21-22 Sep 2026)
- True Motion Auto - Tesla Roadster reveal: what we know
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
