Tesla Premium Connectivity is a monthly subscription that adds in-car features beyond what comes standard
Tesla Premium Connectivity costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year and adds live traffic maps, satellite imagery, in-car entertainment, and remote vehicle controls through the Tesla app. It is separate from the vehicle's basic connectivity, which includes navigation, Supercharger location, and emergency calling. You can turn Premium Connectivity on or off at any time through your Tesla account settings.
The subscription applies to your Tesla account, not to a specific vehicle. If you own multiple Teslas, one subscription covers all of them. If you sell your car, the subscription stays with your account and transfers to your next Tesla if you keep the same account.
Tesla includes a trial period with new vehicles — typically three months of Premium Connectivity at no charge. After the trial ends, the subscription either lapses or converts to a paid subscription depending on your account settings.
Key Takeaways
- Premium Connectivity costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year and covers live traffic, satellite maps, in-car entertainment, and remote app controls.
- The subscription applies to your Tesla account across all vehicles you own, not to individual cars.
- New Tesla owners receive a trial period of Premium Connectivity included with their vehicle purchase.
- You can pause or cancel the subscription at any time through your Tesla account without penalty.
- Without Premium Connectivity, your Tesla still has basic navigation, Supercharger maps, and emergency calling.
What Premium Connectivity includes
Live traffic visualization shows real-time congestion on your navigation map and automatically reroutes you around delays. Without Premium Connectivity, your navigation uses cached map data that updates less frequently. The live traffic feature is most useful on long drives or in areas with heavy congestion.
Satellite imagery displays aerial photos of your destination and surrounding area in the navigation screen. This helps you recognize landmarks, parking areas, and building entrances before you arrive. Standard maps show street-level detail only.
In-car entertainment includes streaming music, podcasts, and audiobooks through services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Audible. These services require their own subscriptions, but Premium Connectivity provides the connection to stream them in your car. Without it, you can still play music stored on your phone or use Bluetooth audio.
Remote vehicle controls through the Tesla mobile app let you lock and unlock doors, adjust climate control, open the trunk, and check vehicle status from anywhere with internet. You can also locate your car on a map and see real-time battery level and charging status. Basic app functions like viewing your vehicle location work without Premium Connectivity, but remote climate and door controls require the paid subscription.
What comes standard without paying extra
Every Tesla includes basic connectivity features at no cost. Navigation works with turn-by-turn directions, and you can search for addresses and points of interest. Supercharger locations and availability appear on your map automatically. Emergency calling connects you to emergency services if your airbags deploy or you manually trigger the emergency button.
You can also use your phone's hotspot to connect your Tesla to the internet, which gives you access to some streaming services and web browsing through the in-car browser. This does not require Premium Connectivity, but it does use your phone's data plan.
How to manage your subscription
To view your Premium Connectivity status, open the Tesla mobile app and go to Account settings. You will see whether your subscription is active, paused, or expired, and when your next billing date occurs. From the same screen, you can pause the subscription temporarily or cancel it permanently.
If you pause the subscription, your Premium Connectivity features stop working when ready, but you can reactivate it at any time. Canceling removes the subscription entirely, and you will need to purchase it again if you want to restore it later. Tesla does not charge a cancellation fee or require advance notice.
If you own multiple Teslas under the same account, you can view all of them in the app. The Premium Connectivity subscription covers all vehicles on that account, so you cannot subscribe to Premium Connectivity for one car and not the other.
How billing works
Premium Connectivity renews automatically on the same day each month (for monthly plans) or each year (for annual plans). Your payment method is the one linked to your Tesla account. If a payment fails, Tesla typically sends a notification and retries the charge a few days later.
If you cancel mid-month, you do not receive a refund for the unused portion of that month. Your subscription remains active until the end of your current billing period, then stops. If you cancel an annual plan early, Tesla's refund policy varies — contact Tesla Support to ask about your specific situation.
You can switch between monthly and annual billing at any time. If you switch from monthly to annual, you pay the difference between what you have already paid and the annual rate. If you switch from annual to monthly, you cannot get a refund for the unused portion of your annual plan.
Trial periods and new vehicle purchases
New Tesla vehicles typically include three months of Premium Connectivity included with purchase. The trial begins when you take delivery and appears as active in your Tesla account. You do not need to enter a payment method during the trial.
Before your trial ends, Tesla sends a notification to your account email. At that point, you can choose to purchase Premium Connectivity, pause it, or let it expire. If you do nothing, the subscription automatically converts to a paid monthly subscription after the trial ends, and Tesla charges your payment method on file.
If you purchase a used Tesla, it does not include a trial period. The previous owner's subscription does not transfer to you. You can purchase Premium Connectivity when ready if you want it, or use only the basic connectivity features.
Comparing Premium Connectivity to other Tesla services
Premium Connectivity is different from Tesla's other paid services. Full Self-Driving (FSD) is a separate subscription ($99 to $199 per month depending on your region) that adds advanced driving features like automatic lane changes and traffic light recognition. Enhanced Autopilot is a one-time purchase that adds features like summon and auto parking. Neither of these requires Premium Connectivity, though they work together if you have both.
Tesla Energy Services (for owners with Powerwall or solar) is a separate subscription that provides monitoring and optimization features. Premium Connectivity does not include energy management.
If you are deciding whether to purchase Premium Connectivity, consider whether you use live traffic often, stream music in your car, or use the remote app controls. If you mostly use navigation with cached maps and listen to music through Bluetooth, you may not need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Premium Connectivity work outside the United States?
Yes, Premium Connectivity works in most countries where Tesla operates, including Canada, Europe, and Australia. However, live traffic data and some entertainment services may not be available in all regions. If you travel internationally, check with Tesla Support to confirm coverage in your destination country.
Can I use Premium Connectivity on a Tesla I am financing or leasing?
Yes. If you finance or lease a Tesla, you can purchase Premium Connectivity through your account. The subscription is tied to your account, not to the vehicle's ownership status. When your lease ends or you pay off the loan, the subscription remains active if you keep the same account.
What happens to my subscription if I sell my Tesla?
Your Premium Connectivity subscription stays with your account. If you buy another Tesla and keep the same account, the subscription transfers to the new vehicle. If you sell your Tesla and do not plan to buy another one, you can cancel the subscription to stop being charged.
Do I need Premium Connectivity to use Supercharging?
No. Supercharger locations and availability appear on your map without Premium Connectivity. You can navigate to a Supercharger and charge your vehicle using only basic connectivity. Premium Connectivity adds live traffic routing to get you there faster, but it is not required.
Can I share my Premium Connectivity subscription with another person?
No. Premium Connectivity is tied to your Tesla account and cannot be shared with other accounts. If someone else drives your Tesla, they can use the Premium Connectivity features while logged into your account, but they cannot access it from their own account or their own Tesla.