Tesla’s offering free trials of its Full Self-Driving software to encourage more drivers to test the technology. The company’s strategy centers on letting owners experience the autonomous driving system before they commit to buying or subscribing. Tesla believes that once drivers see FSD in action, they’re more likely to become paying customers.
New Tesla owners typically get three months of free FSD access when they take delivery of a vehicle. Existing owners occasionally receive trial extensions after Tesla releases major software updates. These free periods appear as notifications directly on the vehicle’s touchscreen, making them easy to spot and activate.
Tesla’s also considering longer trial periods for both new and existing owners. Some discussions suggest extending trials to six months, particularly after significant FSD improvements like the FSD 14 update. The company views extended trials as an effective way to demonstrate FSD’s full capabilities to skeptical drivers. However, real-world experiences reveal that constant driver monitoring during FSD operation can create significant distractions and frustration for users attempting to understand system warnings.
The free trials serve a dual purpose for Tesla. They function as a marketing tool to convert interested drivers into paying customers while also providing the company with useful real-world driving data. This information helps Tesla improve its autonomous driving technology and supports development of its planned robo taxi fleet.
Tesla now displays Full Self-Driving prominently in its online Design Studio, showing real-life FSD operation videos instead of animations. The configurator highlights both purchase and subscription options side by side.
The $8,000 one-time purchase price appears alongside the $99 monthly subscription option, giving buyers flexibility in how they access the technology. Tesla has historically offered FSD subscriptions at $199/month before adjusting pricing to make the feature more accessible.
The subscription model represents Tesla’s effort to make Full Self-Driving more accessible to a broader range of owners. Subscribers can temporarily pause their service to save money during periods when they don’t need it. Tesla’s also streamlining the subscription process to make activation simpler through the vehicle’s interface.
For owners interested in transferring their purchased FSD to a new vehicle, Tesla offers limited-time eligibility through the transfer program. The transfer program applies to vehicles delivered on April 24, 2025, or later.
Both vehicles must be registered under the same Tesla Account, and the original owner must have purchased FSD outright for the transfer to qualify. The process typically completes within 48 hours of the new vehicle’s delivery.