Tesla Premium Connectivity is a monthly subscription that adds in-car features beyond what comes standard
Tesla Premium Connectivity costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year in the United States. The subscription adds live traffic maps, satellite imagery in navigation, video streaming through the car's touchscreen, and remote vehicle access through the Tesla app. Without it, your car still works — you get basic navigation, Supercharger access, and local search — but certain features lock behind the paywall.
Whether you need it depends on how you use your car and whether you already pay for other services. If you spend most time on familiar routes or use your phone for navigation, the subscription may not change how you drive. If you regularly take long trips, want real-time traffic rerouting, or use the car's entertainment features while parked, the monthly cost may be worth it to you.
Key Takeaways
- Premium Connectivity costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year and adds live traffic, satellite maps, video streaming, and remote app features to your Tesla.
- The subscription is optional — your car navigates and charges without it, but some in-car features will not work.
- Tesla offers a free trial period when you first take delivery; the length varies depending on your vehicle model and purchase date.
- You can turn the subscription on and off through your Tesla account settings at any time without penalty.
- Premium Connectivity requires an active cellular connection in your vehicle, which Tesla provides separately through your car's built-in modem.
What Premium Connectivity actually gives you
The subscription unlocks specific features in your Tesla's navigation and entertainment systems. Live traffic maps show real-time congestion and suggest faster routes automatically. Satellite imagery appears in the navigation view so you can see terrain and landmarks. Video streaming through Spotify, YouTube, Netflix, and other apps works only when the car is parked — this is a safety feature Tesla enforces in software.
Remote vehicle access through the Tesla mobile app includes the ability to unlock the car, honk the horn, flash the lights, open the frunk or trunk, and precondition the battery from your phone. You can also see your car's location on a map and check its battery level and climate settings remotely. Without Premium Connectivity, these remote features do not work through the app.
Sentry Mode video access also requires the subscription. Sentry Mode records video from your car's cameras when motion is detected while parked; Premium Connectivity lets you view those clips through the app. Without it, you can only review footage through the car's touchscreen.
What comes standard without paying extra
Basic navigation, Supercharger access, and local search work without any subscription. Your car can find addresses, businesses, and Supercharger locations and route to them using offline maps. You can also use your phone's navigation app (Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze) and mirror it to the Tesla screen through Bluetooth or WiFi.
Over-the-air software updates, climate control, charging management, and Autopilot features are not subscription-based. These come with your car regardless of whether you pay for Premium Connectivity. The same is true for Supercharging access — you pay per charge at the Supercharger, not a subscription fee.
Free trial periods and how they work
Tesla includes a free trial of Premium Connectivity when you take delivery of a new vehicle. The trial length depends on your vehicle model and the date you purchased it. Most new cars receive between one and three months free; some older inventory or used vehicles may have shorter trials or none at all. Tesla does not always publish the exact trial length in advance, so check your Tesla account after delivery to see when your trial ends.
When the trial expires, the subscription does not turn on automatically — instead, the features simply stop working. You will see prompts in your car and app offering to start a paid subscription. If you do not subscribe, you keep basic navigation and Supercharger access but lose live traffic, satellite maps, video streaming, and remote app features.
How to manage your subscription
You control your subscription through your Tesla account on the Tesla website or mobile app. Go to your account settings, find the Subscriptions section, and you can start, pause, or cancel Premium Connectivity at any time. There is no contract, no cancellation fee, and no waiting period — changes take effect immediately.
If you cancel and later want to resubscribe, you can turn it back on the same way. Your payment method stays on file unless you remove it. You can also choose to receive a reminder email before your subscription renews each month or year, depending on which billing cycle you chose.
If you share your Tesla with family members through Tesla's Family Accounts feature, only the primary account holder can manage the subscription. Secondary accounts can use Premium Connectivity features if the primary account has an active subscription, but they cannot turn it on or off.
Cellular service and connectivity requirements
Premium Connectivity requires an active cellular connection in your vehicle. Tesla includes cellular service through a built-in modem in all new cars; you do not pay separately for this. The modem connects to cellular networks to deliver live traffic data, enable video streaming, and power the remote app features.
If your car loses cellular signal — in a tunnel, remote area, or during a network outage — Premium Connectivity features will not work temporarily. Basic navigation using offline maps continues to function. Once signal returns, the features come back online automatically.
If you own an older Tesla model (2016 or earlier), your car may have a different cellular setup. Check your vehicle's documentation or contact Tesla to confirm whether Premium Connectivity is available for your specific model year.
Comparing Premium Connectivity to other ways to navigate and stream
You do not have to use Premium Connectivity to navigate or listen to music in your Tesla. You can mirror your phone's navigation app (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze) to the car's screen using Bluetooth or WiFi. These apps show live traffic and reroute you automatically, and they are free if you already have a phone plan with data.
For music and podcasts, you can stream through Bluetooth from Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, or other services you already subscribe to. The car's built-in Spotify app also works without Premium Connectivity — you only need Premium Connectivity to watch video content (Netflix, YouTube, etc.) through the car's screen while parked.
The main advantage of Premium Connectivity is convenience: live traffic and satellite maps built into the Tesla navigation system, and remote app features you cannot get any other way. The main disadvantage is the ongoing monthly cost. If you already use your phone for navigation and do not need remote app access, the subscription may not be worth it to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my Premium Connectivity if I sell my Tesla?
The subscription is tied to your Tesla account, not the car itself. When you sell the vehicle, you can cancel the subscription through your account. The new owner can start their own subscription if they want, but they do not inherit yours. If you transfer the car to a family member through Tesla's account transfer process, you can transfer the subscription as well.
Can I use Premium Connectivity on multiple Tesla vehicles?
One subscription covers all Tesla vehicles linked to your account. If you own two Teslas, both can use Premium Connectivity features with a single $9.99 monthly payment. If you add a third vehicle to your account, it also gets access to the same subscription.
Does Premium Connectivity work outside the United States?
Premium Connectivity is available in most countries where Tesla operates, but pricing and features may vary. Some countries have different subscription costs or may not include all features. Check your Tesla account settings or contact Tesla support for your specific region to confirm availability and pricing.
What if I only want Premium Connectivity for a few months?
You can start and stop the subscription whenever you want through your account. If you know you will take a long road trip in three months, you can turn it on a month before and turn it off when you are done. There is no penalty for pausing or canceling, and you can resubscribe later without restarting a trial.
Is Premium Connectivity the same as Full Self-Driving?
No. Premium Connectivity is a separate subscription that adds navigation and entertainment features. Full Self-Driving is a different, more expensive subscription that adds advanced driving features like automatic lane changes and navigation on city streets. You can have one, both, or neither depending on what you want to pay for.