Are you considering purchasing a used Tesla? Here is the information you need to know to complete an ownership transfer - and the info you’ll want to understand when it comes to Full-Self Driving, Free Supercharging, and Premium Connectivity on used Teslas.

How to Complete an Ownership Transfer

If you are looking to purchase (or sell) a used Tesla, it is important to familiarize yourself with the Ownership Transfer process.

Whether the vehicle is owned by a private seller or a third-party dealer, the owner will need to log into the Tesla Account associated with the vehicle via the Tesla App.

Purchasing Through a Third-Party Dealer

If you are purchasing a used Tesla via a third-party dealer, you will need to create a new Tesla account via the Tesla website.

Once done, you will need to upload one form of personal identification (driver’s license, passport, etc.) and one document showing your ownership of the vehicle (registration, title, bill of sale, etc). Once your documents are validated, the vehicle will be transferred into your account.

You can then download the Tesla App, log in, and click “Add Product.” Then, follow the prompts to add your vehicle to the app.

Purchasing Through a Private Sale

If you are buying your Tesla via a private sale, the previous owner can transfer ownership of the vehicle to you through the Tesla App. You will need to create a Tesla Account to receive the vehicle transfer.

The previous owner will need to access the Tesla App, navigate to “My Products,” and select the vehicle. Then, they will click “remove or transfer ownership.” Once they follow the prompts, they will be able to send the vehicle to your Tesla Account.

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Both the previous owner and yourself will receive an email confirmation of the transfer. This process can take 3-5 days to complete.

Full-Self Driving (FSD)

Generally, a Tesla with purchased Full-Self Driving that is sold via a private sale or third-party dealer will retain its FSD when ownership is transferred to a new buyer.

A Tesla with subscription FSD will not allow the FSD to transfer to a new owner. You will, however, be able to subscribe to FSD yourself once your ownership is finalized.

There are some cases, however, where FSD will not transfer. If you trade a vehicle into Tesla, you will likely have to re-purchase FSD on your next Tesla vehicle. Similarly, if a Tesla has a salvage title, FSD will have been disabled on the vehicle and cannot be reactivated until an intensive Tesla inspection has been performed to ensure the vehicle is safe to operate.

However, Tesla has recently offered promotional periods during which an owner could transfer the FSD from their trade-in vehicle to their new Tesla. If your new Tesla was delivered in August or September 2023, February or March 2024, August or September 2024, or between October 10, 2024 and December 31, 2024, and you owned FSD on your previous Tesla, you may be eligible for a free transfer.

Free Unlimited Supercharging

On early Tesla Models S and X (pre-2017), Tesla offered Free Unlimited Supercharging. This feature allowed an owner to charge for free at any Tesla Supercharging station for the lifetime of the vehicle.

It is important to note that only Free Unlimited Supercharging can transfer from one owner to the next. Any other Supercharging promotion does not transfer and only applies to the original owner. Free Unlimited Supercharging on vehicles delivered post-2017 are also only applicable to the original owner of the vehicle.

Take a look at our chart below to see which Tesla models and years may include transferable Free Unlimited Supercharging:

Model S

2012-2013 (if vehicle is capable of Supercharging): 60, 85, P85

2014: 60, 85, 85D, P85, P85+, P85D

2015:  60, 70, 75, 75D, 85, 85D, P85D, 90, 90D, P90D

2016: 60, 60D, 70, 75, 75D, 85, 85D, P85D

Model X

2016: 60D, 70D, 75D, 90D, P90D, 100D, P100D

2017 (delivered before April 15th, 2017): 75D, 90D, P90D, 100D, P100D

Premium Connectivity

Free Premium Connectivity does not transfer to a new owner in most cases. Instead, used Tesla vehicles purchased from Tesla include a 30-day free trial of Premium Connectivity.

If a Tesla is purchased from a third-party dealer, it is best to confirm any free trials with the dealer.

Conclusion

Identifying which features transfer during a used sale for which Tesla models can be arduous, but by following our guide above, you can ensure you get the features you want from your new vehicle.

This guide is not comprehensive, however, so make sure to always confirm the features and capabilities of the used Tesla you wish to purchase directly with the seller to avoid any confusion.

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