If you’re budgeting for a new Tesla, or deciding whether to add Full Self-Driving to one you already own, the price has settled into a simple number: Tesla’s support site lists FSD (Supervised) at $99 a month, billed on a rolling subscription rather than a one-time purchase.
That’s a real change from how Tesla used to sell the feature. For years you could buy FSD outright, with the price climbing as high as $15,000 before drifting back down. As of February 2026, that option is gone: Tesla moved to subscription-only sales, so a new order or an existing car without FSD can only add it as a monthly charge, not a lump sum.
Who gets the discounted rate
Not everyone pays the full $99. If you previously bought the older Enhanced Autopilot package, Tesla discounts your FSD (Supervised) subscription to $49 a month instead. It’s worth checking your Tesla account before you subscribe, since that discount applies automatically if your car qualifies rather than requiring a separate signup step.
Hardware still matters
The subscription itself doesn’t include any hardware upgrade. Tesla’s support page specifies you need FSD computer 3.0 (also called AI3) or newer to subscribe at all; older Hardware 2.5 cars aren’t eligible regardless of what you’re willing to pay. If your Tesla needs the upgrade, Tesla charges $1,000 plus tax and installation for the AI computer swap, separate from the monthly subscription fee.
Should you subscribe or skip it
Because it’s month-to-month, you’re free to turn FSD on for a road trip and cancel it before your next billing cycle rather than committing to it long-term. Tesla has also said the $99 rate won’t stay fixed forever, and that pricing will rise as the feature’s capabilities move closer to unsupervised driving, so locking in today’s rate isn’t a given if you wait. For most new owners, the practical approach is the same either way: try it for a month before deciding whether it’s worth keeping as a permanent line item in your Tesla ownership costs.
Photo by Vladimir Srajber.
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