Whether you’re a new or veteran Tesla owner, you’re hopefully aware of how and where to charge your Tesla, especially on its ever-growing Supercharger network. Especially if you’ve had your Tesla for a few years, you have – or still do – qualify for free Supercharging from Tesla. Here are the best ways to determine whether you or your Tesla model still qualify for free charging.
Table of contents
- Tesla Supercharger Network
- Does Tesla still offer free Supercharging?
- Does your Tesla still qualify for free Supercharging?
- Current Teslas that (may) qualify for free unlimited Supercharging
- How to confirm whether or not your Tesla qualifies for free charging
- Tesla charging FAQ
Tesla Supercharger Network
The Tesla Supercharger Network exists as a combined network of proprietary charging stations developed and implemented by Tesla. As a result, the automaker doesn’t have to rely onthird-party charging networkslike most automakers producing electric vehicles currently do.
The Supercharger network was introduced in September 2012, beginning with six Supercharger stations. This debut coincided with the launch ofTesla’s Model S sedan, the first to utilize the new network.
Since then, the Supercharger network has grown to over 20,000 stalls worldwide within over 2,100 stations or hubs. This includes North America, Europe, Asia,and even the Arctic Circle. Tesla recently passed 1,000 Supercharger stations in North America alone.
The average station usually features about 10 Supercharger stalls, but some stations offer many more. For example,Tesla opened a 72-stall Supercharger station in Shanghaiat the end of 2020, making it the world’s largest. Currently, Tesla is working through permitting fora 62-stall station on the west side of Los Angelesthat could easily make it the largest in North America.
Most recently, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has stated that the company will open up its Supercharger network to non-Tesla EVs later this year.
As a result, the interchangeability between third-party networks and Tesla’s Supercharger network will expand significantly to the benefit of all EV owners.
For full details of Tesla’s Supercharger network, check out our detailed Supercharger guide.
Does Tesla still offer free Supercharging?
The short answer is yes, but not recently. When Tesla EVs truly began ramping up deliveries to customers after the debut of its Model S in 2012, many customers saw added perks like unlimited Supercharging. Over time, Tesla has incorporated similar promotions for specific models or customers who made a referral.
However, this still remainsone of the most confusing potential perks for Tesla owners, old and new. We get a lot of questions, such as:How can I tell if my Tesla has free unlimited Supercharging? Does free Supercharging transfer over? andDoes Tesla still offer free Supercharging?
For now, there remains a select group of Tesla owners that are still able to receive free Supercharging perks. Earlier this year, however, Tesla shared that it would be revamping its referral program as it admitted to spending over $23 million on free Supercharging in 2021 alone… and that was in May.
Does your Tesla still qualify for free Supercharging?
While Tesla seems to be pivoting its referral mileage bonus program, there are still plenty of Teslas out there that have been grandfathered into free unlimited supercharging. Here are some of the best ways to determine if you or your Tesla qualify.
First, it’s important to note some of the policy updates and Tesla news that has happened since the automaker began offering free unlimited Supercharging in 2012. This should help get you up to speed:
- The original Tesla Roadster does not have Supercharging capabilities
- All versions of the Model S have seen some form of free Supercharging from Tesla
- Excluding the Model S 40, since it was software-limited Model S 60 that needed to be unlocked
- Fully-transferrable, free unlimited Supercharging has not been offered since 2017
- The Performance Model 3 came with free unlimited Supercharging for the life of the EV in 2018-2019
- However, this deal only applied to the first owner and is non transferrable
- Since mid-2020, Tesla has made no mention of additional free unlimited Supercharging
- As the newest Tesla, the Model Y has never seen any long-term free Supercharging promotions
- In a push to hit Tesla’s sales goal, Model Y purchases made in later December 2020 may have qualified for a year of free Supercharging
Current Teslas that (may) qualify for free unlimited Supercharging
Here’s a breakdown of what Tesla modelsmaystill have a promotion for free unlimited supercharging. Remember to check with Tesla to confirm if your EV qualifies or not:
| Tesla Model | Year(s) | Unlimited Supercharging status |
| Model Y | 2020-2021 | None (Unless you purchased in late December 2020) |
| Model 3 | 2018-2019 | Performance trim only and must be original owner |
| Model X | 2016-2020 | Potentially available, confirm with Tesla |
| Model S | 2012-2020 | Potentially available (excluding the S 40), confirm with Tesla |
How to confirm whether or not your Tesla qualifies for free charging
Contact Tesla directly
The easiest and clearest way to check if you or your Tesla have free unlimited Supercharging is to contact Tesla directly. These days, it may be tougher to get a hold of someone, but whether it’s through call or chat, it might be worth the wait to know for sure whether you still qualify or not.
Check your Tesla account
- Login to your Tesla account
- Next to your linked Tesla vehicle select, “manage” then “view details”
- Look for the“free unlimited Supercharging”option listed
Note: This option will only tell you whether your Tesla has free unlimited supercharging or not, it will not tell you whether that charging perk is transferable.
(Video) Tesla Free Supercharging, does a car have it and does it transfer?
Tesla charging FAQ
While you may have a better idea of whether you or your Tesla qualify for free unlimited supercharging, you may still have other questions about the entire charging process. Here are some common questions and answers.
How long does it take to charge a Tesla?
Depends. A lot of different factors play into charging speeds including the Tesla model you’re driving, the level of charging you’re using, and the capacity of your Tesla’s battery pack.
We have compiled everything you need to know into one cohesive guide found here:
How long does it take to charge a Tesla?
How much does it cost to charge a Tesla?
Another great question, but again not one so easily answered. Much like charging speeds, multiple factors such as location, amount of energy taken, and time of day can all affect how much you may pay to recharge your Tesla.
Luckily, we’ve broken it down for you in greater detail to estimate what you might pay for a full charge: How much does it cost to charge a Tesla?
What’s the most affordable state to charge and drive a Tesla?
Check out a state by state breakdown of charging a Tesla: The most affordable states to charge and drive your Tesla
How is Tesla’s Supercharger network different from third-party networks?
There are a lot of differences as well as some similarities. The market of charging infrastructure varies, but shares a lot of the same elements depending one what EVs are compatible on various chargers, including Tesla Superchargers. You can find more detailed information here:
Electric vehicle (EV) charging standards and how they differ
Don’t qualify for any free unlimited Tesla Supercharging? Ask Electrek‘s Fred Lambert for some miles, he has over 1 million saved up!
Truthfully, Fred can’t give away these free Tesla Supercharging miles, although he has previously asked Tesla to allow it… to no avail unfortunately.
I just reached 1 million @Tesla free Supercharging miles and I want to give them all away. Let's go @elonmusk. Please enable free Supercharger mile sharing. The referral program has already been toned down greatly. Let's not let those miles go to waste. pic.twitter.com/xPiEOK295J
— Fred Lambert (@FredericLambert) September 28, 2020
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
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FAQs
What Tesla Model S qualify for free supercharging? ›
Models S, X, and 3 are eligible for free lifetime charging. Visit www.tesla.com to find out if your electric vehicle qualifies for free supercharging.
How do you check the status of a Tesla supercharger? ›With the Tesla app, you can view Supercharger stall availability, monitor your charge status or get notified when you're ready to go. Enter a destination and Trip Planner calculates your route.
How do you get free supercharging in 2022? ›Tesla website explains how the 10,000 free Supercharger miles offer works as follows: Tesla is offering free Supercharging credits* — up to 10,000 miles of driving—for customers who take delivery of a new Tesla vehicle between December 15 and December 31, 2022.
How much is 10000 miles of free supercharging worth? ›However, 10,000 miles is a better offer than usual. The incentive is worth about $500, depending on your vehicle and market since efficiency varies per vehicle and Supercharger prices vary per market.
How do I know if my Tesla has free unlimited Supercharging? ›Check Your “My Tesla” User Account
Select Manage > View Details to check for the Free Unlimited Supercharging option. Your Supercharging status should be listed as one of the following: Pay-Per-Use, Free Unlimited, and Timebound Supercharging.
You can see available free Supercharging miles and their expiration date in the Tesla app. If you took delivery of a new Tesla vehicle from Dec 15 - 31, 2022, you may have 10,000 miles of free Supercharging.
How do I check my Supercharger availability on Tesla app? ›- Find and press the Supercharger icon in the corner. ...
- A list of nearby Tesla chargers will appear below the search bar, alongside the maximum charging speed, and appropriate icons will appear on the map.
Unfortunately it's easier to tell when a car definitely does not have transferable free supercharging than it is to confirm the car does: If the car says an amount for the last charge session (excluding $0.00), this is a sign the car does NOT have transferable free supercharging.
How do you check superchargers on Tesla app? ›To locate the nearest Supercharger location at anytime, tap the lightning bolt icon on your navigation, then tap any red Supercharger pin to view the total number of open stalls, status updates and maximum charge rate available.
Does 2016 Model S get free Supercharging? ›2016. The Model S has been a part of Free Unlimited Supercharging promotions after the 2017 change, but these promotions limit Tesla's Free Unlimited Supercharging for the Model S to a single owner (it does not transfer).
Do all 2016 Model S have free Supercharging? ›
It depends. Early Tesla vehicles were sold with free Supercharger access that was transferable to the new owner. This went through 2016 or 2017. Note that it appears that Tesla might remove this when they resell a used vehicle, so you would need to buy the car from a private owner or a 3rd party dealer.
Does Model S Plaid have free Supercharging? ›Tesla used to offer free unlimited supercharging on their new models, but unfortunately, that's no longer the case.
Is charging a Tesla Model S free? ›No, it isn't free to charge a Tesla at a charging station. Charging your Tesla at a Supercharger comes with a price, typically around 26 cents per kWh. This is often more expensive than using a different means of charging, such as a 120-volt or 240-volt outlet.