Is Tesla FSD tied to the car or the person?
2 Answers
It is tied to the car. Tesla FSD is bound to the vehicle. FSD (Full Self-Driving) is a premium feature of Tesla electric vehicles that requires payment. Once purchased, it is bound to a specific car. If the owner changes vehicles in the future, they cannot transfer FSD and must repurchase it for the new car. Meaning: Tesla FSD stands for Full Self-Driving capability, which is an upgraded version of the Autopilot feature. Function: The FSD computer does not enable full self-driving immediately upon installation in the vehicle. Instead, full self-driving functionality is achieved through subsequent over-the-air software updates. Compared to the vehicle's onboard computer, the biggest change in the FSD computer is the use of Tesla's self-developed chip.
As a car tech buff who's followed Tesla closely, FSD is definitely hooked to the car itself, not the person driving it. It works because the system integrates deeply with that specific vehicle's hardware, like all the cameras, sensors, and onboard computer. Once you buy FSD for a Tesla, it locks onto that car's unique ID number, so if you sell it or trade it in, the feature automatically transfers to the new owner. I've seen cases where folks upgraded to a newer model and had to shell out full price again for FSD, which can feel unfair but makes technical sense. The software adapts to each car's quirks, ensuring smooth operation during drives. That's why in private sales, Tesla cars with FSD often command higher prices since it's a built-in perk. Overall, think of it as an upgrade welded to the vehicle, not something you carry like your phone.
