What Tesla subscription covers and how much it costs
Tesla offers a monthly subscription service that gives you access to certain vehicle features without paying for them upfront. The subscription model lets you pay a recurring monthly fee instead of purchasing features permanently through the vehicle's software.
The main features available through Tesla subscription are Full Self-Driving (FSD) capability and Premium Connectivity. Full Self-Driving is the larger subscription cost and includes advanced driver information features like automatic lane changes, autoparking, and summon functionality. Premium Connectivity covers features like in-vehicle streaming, maps with live traffic, and satellite view.
Monthly costs vary by region and change periodically. In the United States, Full Self-Driving subscription typically costs between $15 and $20 per month, while Premium Connectivity runs roughly $10 to $15 per month. Prices differ in other countries and may shift without notice. You can check current pricing through the Tesla app or your vehicle's touchscreen before subscribing.
Key Takeaways
- Tesla subscription lets you pay monthly for Full Self-Driving or Premium Connectivity instead of buying these features permanently.
- You can start, pause, or cancel a subscription through the Tesla app or your vehicle's touchscreen at any time.
- Full Self-Driving subscription includes advanced driver information but does not make the vehicle fully autonomous.
- Premium Connectivity provides in-vehicle entertainment and navigation features that require an active subscription to function.
- Subscription pricing varies by location and changes periodically, so confirm the current rate before committing.
How to start or stop a Tesla subscription
You manage subscriptions directly through the Tesla app on your phone or through your vehicle's touchscreen. Open the Tesla app, go to the account or vehicle settings section, and look for the subscription menu. From there you can view available subscriptions, see your current ones, and add or remove services.
If you use the vehicle's touchscreen, navigate to Controls, then Service, then Subscriptions. The same options appear here. You can turn on a subscription when ready and it will begin charging at the next billing cycle. There is no waiting period or approval process.
Canceling works the same way: open the app or touchscreen menu, find the active subscription, and select the option to cancel. Your subscription ends at the end of your current billing period. You will not be charged again, but you retain access to the features until that period closes.
Difference between subscription and permanent purchase
Tesla lets you buy Full Self-Driving permanently instead of subscribing monthly. A permanent purchase costs significantly more upfront—typically several thousand dollars depending on your vehicle model and when you purchase. Once you own the feature, there is no monthly charge and it transfers with the vehicle if you sell it.
Subscription is cheaper month-to-month but adds up over time. If you subscribe for several years, the total cost may exceed what a permanent purchase would have cost. However, subscription lets you try the feature before committing to the larger expense, and you can cancel anytime if you decide it is not worth the cost.
Premium Connectivity is available only through subscription; Tesla does not offer a permanent purchase option for this feature. If you want in-vehicle streaming and live traffic maps, a monthly subscription is your only path.
What Full Self-Driving subscription actually does
Full Self-Driving subscription enables a set of driver information features, but the name can be misleading. The vehicle does not drive itself without human oversight. You must keep your hands on the wheel, pay attention to the road, and be ready to take control at any moment.
The features included are: Autosteer (steering information on highways and city streets), automatic lane changes, autoparking (the vehicle parks itself when you set up the feature), and summon (the vehicle moves forward or backward on its own when you hold a button on the key fob or app). These features reduce the amount of active driving you do, but they are driver information tools, not full automation.
Tesla continues to update Full Self-Driving through software releases. New capabilities may be added to the subscription over time, though major feature additions sometimes require a separate purchase instead.
What Premium Connectivity subscription includes
Premium Connectivity gives your vehicle access to internet-dependent features. These include streaming music and video through the in-vehicle entertainment system, live traffic maps that update in real time, satellite view in navigation, and the ability to send destinations to your vehicle from your phone.
Without Premium Connectivity, your vehicle still has basic navigation and can use Bluetooth to stream audio from your phone, but it cannot access live traffic data or stream video content through the car's built-in systems. Maps work but show static traffic information rather than real-time conditions.
Premium Connectivity is separate from your vehicle's cellular connection. Tesla vehicles come with built-in cellular hardware, and Premium Connectivity is the software service that unlocks what that hardware can do. The subscription is tied to your vehicle, not to your Tesla account, so it stays with the car if you sell it.
Pausing a subscription temporarily
Tesla allows you to pause subscriptions rather than cancel them outright. Pausing stops the monthly charge but preserves your subscription so you can restart it later without going through the full sign-up process again.
The pause option appears in the same menu where you would cancel. Select pause instead of cancel, and your subscription will stop charging at the end of your current billing period. You can restart it through the same app or touchscreen menu whenever you want.
Pausing is useful if you know you will not use a feature for a few months but plan to return to it later. It costs nothing to pause and takes seconds to restart.
Subscription pricing by region and changes over time
Tesla subscription costs are not the same everywhere. The United States, Canada, Europe, and other regions have different pricing structures. Within the United States, some states or areas may have slightly different rates. You can see the exact price for your location by opening the subscription menu in the Tesla app or your vehicle.
Prices change periodically. Tesla has raised subscription costs multiple times since introducing the service. If you are already subscribed, price increases typically take effect at your next billing cycle. You will receive notice of the change through the app or email before it happens, and you can cancel before the new price takes effect if you choose.
Checking your current rate before subscribing ensures you know what you will pay. The price displayed in the app is the rate you will be charged.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I subscribe to Full Self-Driving and Premium Connectivity at the same time?
Yes. You can have both subscriptions active on the same vehicle. Each subscription is managed separately, so you can cancel one while keeping the other, or pause either one independently. Both charges appear on your Tesla account billing.
What happens to my subscription if I sell my Tesla?
Subscriptions are tied to the vehicle, not to your account. When you sell the car, the new owner can keep the subscription active by taking over the billing, or they can cancel it. Premium Connectivity transfers automatically unless the new owner removes it. Full Self-Driving subscription can be transferred or canceled depending on the terms at the time of sale.
Do I need Premium Connectivity to use Full Self-Driving?
No. Full Self-Driving and Premium Connectivity are separate subscriptions. You can have Full Self-Driving without Premium Connectivity, though Full Self-Driving features may work better with live map data, which Premium Connectivity provides. You can use either subscription alone or together.
Can I get a refund if I change my mind about a subscription?
Tesla does not issue refunds for subscription charges once the billing period has started. However, you can cancel at any time and you will not be charged again. Your subscription remains active until the end of your current billing cycle, then stops.
Does the subscription work if my Tesla is not connected to the internet?
Full Self-Driving features work without an active internet connection because the software runs on your vehicle's computer. Premium Connectivity requires an internet connection to function—without it, you cannot stream music or access live traffic. Both subscriptions require an active cellular connection in your vehicle to work properly.