How safe is Tesla’s Autopilot system compared to regular driving? Tesla’s latest data shows drivers using Autopilot technology experience one crash for every 6.69 million miles driven in the second quarter of 2025. That’s more than nine times safer than the national average of one crash every 702,000 miles, according to government data from NHTSA and FHWA.
Tesla tracks crashes that trigger airbags or seatbelt restraints in its vehicles. The company separates data between times when Autopilot is actively engaged and when drivers aren’t using the technology. Tesla vehicles without Autopilot still perform better than average, with one crash every 963,000 miles.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found Autopilot reduced property damage claims by 11% and injury claims by 21%. These independent insurance findings support Tesla’s own safety reports about the technology’s effectiveness.
Tesla says automated systems don’t get tired or distracted like human drivers. The technology can’t drive drunk or make judgment errors that often cause accidents. However, Autopilot is classified as Level 2 automation, requiring constant driver supervision and the ability to take control at any moment. The company calls Full Self-Driving capability a fundamental safety feature that protects everyone in the vehicle.
Critics point out some limitations in Tesla’s data collection methods. Most Autopilot use happens on highways, which typically have fewer crashes than city streets. The data also comes from Tesla’s own reporting rather than independent verification. Tesla uses self-reported data to measure and compare Autopilot performance against regular driving statistics.
Recent trends show some concerning patterns. Autopilot safety metrics have declined slightly year-over-year. In Q2 2024, there was one crash every 6.88 million Autopilot miles compared to 6.69 million miles in Q2 2025. That’s a 2.8% decrease in safety performance.
Non-Autopilot Tesla driving showed an even larger decline. Crashes increased from one every 1.45 million miles in Q2 2024 to one every 963,000 miles in Q2 2025. That’s a 33.6% drop in safety performance.
Meanwhile, the national average improved by 4.8% during the same period. This contrasts with the declining metrics for both Autopilot and non-Autopilot Tesla driving.
Despite recent declines, Tesla’s Autopilot still shows markedly fewer crashes than both regular Tesla driving and the national average. The technology demonstrates nearly seven times fewer crashes than Tesla vehicles without Autopilot engaged. Tesla continuously refines its Autopilot system using nine billion miles of real-world driving data to enhance safety performance.