Config guide · Updated January 1970
Should you subscribe to FSD or take the free trial? A 2026 buyer's guide
Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is the most talked-about optional add-on on a Tesla order. Tesla currently offers it only as a monthly subscription. The one-time purchase option existed in the past and may come back, but buyers should not count on it. This page helps you decide whether to subscribe, and if so, whether to leave it on all year or only pay for the months you actually use it.
Prices change. Every number below is a method, not a quote. Pull the current subscription price from the Tesla app before you commit, and take any free trial before you pay for a single month.
TL;DR
- Tesla no longer sells FSD outright. Subscription is the current path.
- Take any free trial first, especially if it comes from a referral benefit.
- Heavy daily highway commuters are the most likely to want it year-round.
- Road-trip buyers can subscribe for vacation months only and pause the rest of the year.
- You can subscribe after delivery, so you do not have to decide at order.
- Prices and trials change. Verify the current offer in the Tesla app before ordering.
The two ways to get FSD today
- • Subscribe monthly. Turn it on and off from the Tesla app. This is the only purchase path available right now. Best for anyone who wants to stop paying the month they stop using it, and for drivers who only want the feature on road trips or during busy commute seasons.
- • Ride the free trial. Tesla has periodically granted trial periods to new buyers, including through the referral benefit. It ends on its own, and it is the only way to evaluate the feature on the exact roads you actually drive. If you get a trial, use it deliberately.
- • About the one-time purchase. Tesla used to sell FSD as a one-time add-on at order. That option is not currently offered. It could return, but there is no guarantee. Do not delay your decision waiting for it. The subscription is the product today.
How to think about the subscription cost
Without a purchase price, the math is simpler. You are comparing the monthly fee against the value you get from the feature. The key is to be honest about how often you will actually turn it on, not how often you think you might.
| Driving pattern | Months per year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Long highway commute | 12 | You use it almost every drive. |
| City stop-and-go | 0 to 3 | Trial may be enough; benefits are smaller. |
| Seasonal road trips | 1 to 4 | Subscribe for trip months, pause the rest. |
| Rare long drives | 0 | Use the trial if offered, then skip. |
The right number is the one that matches your actual roads. Use the trial to calibrate it before you subscribe.
The biggest mistake is treating FSD like a permanent option. Unlike a physical upgrade, it is software. You can turn it on for one month and off the next. That flexibility is the entire point of the subscription model.
Run your own numbers
Progress saves on this device.
Eight steps to your yearly FSD cost
0/8Which one fits your driving?
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FSD decision checklist
0/6How to actually use the trial
A trial is worthless if you spend it on empty freeway at 10am. Spend it on the drives you hate: the merge you dread, the unprotected left turn near home, the stop-and-go stretch of your commute, a parking structure exit. Those are the situations that decide whether the feature is worth a monthly fee to you.
Note the end date the day the trial starts, in the Tesla app under Upgrades. Then put a reminder three days earlier so the decision is deliberate rather than a surprise. And keep both hands available the whole time. It is Supervised, and you remain responsible for the car.
What I'd do
If I were ordering today, I would take whatever trial is attached to the car, especially if it comes through a referral link, and then subscribe only in the months I know I will use it. For a heavy highway commute, that might mean leaving it on year-round. For mostly local driving, it probably means using the trial and then skipping the subscription.
Decide this separately from your trim decision. Bundling them is how people end up paying for a Performance premium and a software package they only use twice.
FAQ
Can you still buy Full Self-Driving outright?
As of this update, Tesla only offers Full Self-Driving (Supervised) as a monthly subscription. The one-time purchase option was available in the past and could return, but most buyers should not wait for it. Plan around the subscription and any free trial you can get today.
Does the free FSD trial cost anything or auto-charge me later?
A trial granted by Tesla, including any trial that comes from a referral benefit, is time-limited and ends on its own. It does not convert into a paid subscription without you opting in. Check the Upgrades section of the Tesla app for the exact end date, and turn off any subscription you started manually before the billing date if you do not want it.
Should I subscribe year-round or only some months?
It depends on how you drive. A heavy daily commuter on long highway stretches may get enough value to leave it on all year. A mostly city driver may use it rarely. A road-trip driver can subscribe for the vacation month and pause it the rest of the year. The trial is the best way to find out which pattern matches your actual roads.
Can I decide on FSD after delivery, or do I have to pick at order?
You do not have to subscribe at order. FSD can be added or removed after delivery from the Tesla app on supported vehicles. The only reason to think about it now is to make sure you use the referral link before ordering, since any trial benefit attaches at purchase.
Does a referral link change what FSD I get?
The referral benefit is set by Tesla and has at times included a limited FSD trial period for new vehicle buyers. It does not change subscription pricing. Confirm the current benefit on Tesla's referral page, then use the link right before you tap Order.
Before you tap Order
Run through this one more time before placing or finalizing the order:
- • Trim, wheels, paint, and interior locked in - these are hard to change later.
- • FSD decided on its own merits: subscribe only for the months you will use it, or start with the trial.
- • Financing lined up (Tesla quote vs credit union) and any trade-in valued.
- • State and utility incentives checked for your ZIP.
- • Home charging plan in motion (NEMA 14-50 or Wall Connector).
- • Open the referral link on the device you'll order from, right before tapping Order.
Referral disclosure: If you use my referral link for an eligible purchase, Tesla may provide a buyer benefit to you and may provide referral credits or another benefit to me. I do not charge you for using the link. Tesla determines eligibility and benefits.
Related reading: master pre-order checklist, Model Y Long Range vs Performance, referral vs loyalty benefits, what to check before ordering, and the Model Y overview.