How to Transfer Tesla FSD Between Owners in 2025

How to Transfer Tesla FSD Between Owners

Buying or selling a Tesla in 2025? You’re probably asking: Does the Full Self-Driving (FSD) capability transfer with the car? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t always straightforward—and that ambiguity has cost buyers thousands.

Let’s break down what Tesla officially supports, what real-world owners are experiencing, and what to check before you finalize a deal.

1. Is Tesla FSD Transferable in 2025?

The short answer? Usually, no.

As of July 2025, Tesla’s official policy remains clear: FSD is tied to the vehicle, not the owner, and in most cases, it stays with the car when it’s resold. But here’s the catch—that rule only applies if Tesla doesn’t intervene during a resale or reconfiguration.

❗ Important:

Tesla has occasionally removed FSD from used vehicles when they’re resold through third-party dealers or auction houses, citing “license violations” or “unauthorized ownership transfers.” This has happened more than once and has caused quite a stir in the Tesla community.

2. When Can FSD Actually Be Transferred?

While the norm is “FSD stays with the car”, Tesla made headlines in early 2023 and again in mid-2024 by offering limited-time promotions allowing owners to transfer their FSD license to a new vehicle purchase.

Example:

In June 2024, Tesla launched a one-time FSD Transfer Credit for Model S and X owners upgrading to a new Tesla. The offer ended quickly, and many missed it.

🔍 As of July 2025, there is no active FSD transfer promotion for individual resale scenarios.

So unless Tesla reintroduces that offer (likely for quarterly sales boosts), you cannot transfer FSD between owners as a private seller or buyer.

3. How to Confirm If a Used Tesla Still Has FSD

Here’s what to do before buying a used Tesla:

Check the vehicle screen: Go to Controls > Software. If FSD is listed as an active feature, it’s still on the car.
Use the Tesla mobile app (if logged in): The app will list FSD Capability under the specs.
Ask the seller for screenshots of the in-car screen with the VIN visible.
Call Tesla Support (yes, it still works): Provide the VIN and ask if FSD is still active.

🚨 Don’t trust seller claims without checking. Some buyers discovered FSD was removed remotely by Tesla after their purchase.

4. Buying From Tesla vs. Private Sellers: What’s Safer?

If you buy a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Tesla directly from Tesla, you’ll know upfront whether FSD is included. The listing will clearly say “Full Self-Driving Capability” or not.

But with private party or dealer sales, you’re taking on more risk. Tesla reserves the right to remove software features during ownership transitions—especially from cars bought at auction or from unauthorized resellers.

5. Legal Loopholes and Workarounds?

While there are forums full of people trying to game the system (VIN cloning, hacking the software, etc.), none of these are legal—or sustainable.

What might work: some sellers include their Tesla Account with the vehicle sale, allowing the new owner to retain FSD through account inheritance. But this is not recommended and may violate Tesla’s Terms of Service.

6. What About FSD Subscription Plans?

If the vehicle does not have FSD, you can subscribe to it monthly:

$99/month (with Enhanced Autopilot)
$199/month (with Basic Autopilot)

This is a decent option for buyers who want to test FSD without paying the full ~$12,000 upfront.

🔧 But note: FSD subscriptions can’t be transferred either. If you sell the car, the subscription ends with your account.

7. Future Outlook: Will Tesla Ever Loosen Restrictions?

Given regulatory shifts and Tesla’s push toward monetizing software, there’s growing pressure for more flexible software licensing. Industry analysts predict Tesla may:

Offer portable FSD licenses tied to user accounts (like Apple IDs)
Allow FSD resales as NFTs or licenses (rumored but unconfirmed)
Introduce tiered transfer fees for secondary market owners

But until any of this becomes official, buyers must assume FSD is tied to the car—unless Tesla says otherwise.

Final Checklist Before You Buy a Used Tesla for FSD

✅ Check if FSD shows up on the in-car screen
✅ Confirm via Tesla support (if possible)
✅ Don’t rely solely on listings or seller promises
✅ Beware of third-party dealers or auctions
✅ Use a bill of sale that clearly states “FSD included”