Tesla Premium Connectivity pricing and what's included

Premium Connectivity on Tesla vehicles costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year in the United States. This subscription unlocks features that use your car's cellular connection: live traffic maps, satellite imagery in the navigation system, real-time weather, video streaming while parked, and the ability to send navigation routes to your car from your phone.

Your Tesla comes with a trial period of Premium Connectivity—usually three months for new vehicles, though this varies by purchase date and region. After the trial ends, the service pauses. You can still use navigation, but the maps revert to a basic version without live traffic data, and streaming features stop working.

Pricing outside the United States differs. Canada charges CAD $10.99 monthly or CAD $109.99 yearly. European pricing varies by country. If you own multiple Tesla vehicles on the same account, you pay per vehicle, not per account.

Key Takeaways

  • Premium Connectivity costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year in the US and includes live traffic, satellite maps, video streaming, and remote route sending.
  • Your new Tesla includes a free trial period (usually three months), after which the service pauses unless you pay for a subscription.
  • Without Premium Connectivity, your car still has basic navigation and can receive over-the-air software updates, but live traffic and streaming features are unavailable.
  • Each vehicle on your account requires its own subscription; there is no multi-vehicle discount.
  • Pricing is different in Canada, Europe, and other regions, so check your Tesla account for your local rate.

What Premium Connectivity actually does versus standard connectivity

All Tesla vehicles have standard connectivity built in—the car connects to Tesla's servers to receive software updates, send diagnostic data, and let you control basic functions (lock, unlock, climate) from the Tesla app. This is always included and does not require a paid subscription.

Premium Connectivity adds a second layer. The live traffic feature pulls real-time congestion data into your navigation, so your car can route around accidents and heavy traffic automatically. Satellite imagery in the map view shows aerial photos of neighborhoods and intersections instead of just street lines. Video streaming—YouTube, Netflix, and others—works on the center screen while the car is parked. You can also send a destination from your phone to your car, and it will appear on the navigation screen when you get in.

Without Premium Connectivity, your navigation still works. It uses offline map data stored on the vehicle and can calculate routes, but it cannot see live traffic conditions. Streaming services do not work on the screen. The car still receives updates and responds to app commands.

How to check your subscription status and manage billing

Open the Tesla app on your phone and tap the car icon at the bottom. Scroll down to find "Subscriptions" or "Premium Connectivity." This screen shows whether your subscription is active, when it renews, and your billing method. If you are still in the free trial, it will show the trial end date.

To add or change your subscription, tap the subscription section and follow the prompts. Tesla accepts credit and debit cards. You can pause or cancel at any time—there is no contract or early termination fee. If you cancel mid-month, you keep access until the end of your billing cycle.

You can also manage subscriptions through your Tesla account on the web at tesla.com. Log in, go to your vehicle settings, and look for the subscription section. Changes made on the app or website sync to your car within a few minutes.

Whether Premium Connectivity is worth the cost

The value depends on how you use your Tesla. If you drive the same routes regularly and know the traffic patterns, live traffic data may not change your driving much. If you commute on highways or in cities where congestion is unpredictable, real-time routing can save time and fuel. A 20-minute detour around an accident pays for several months of the subscription.

Video streaming while parked is a convenience feature—useful if you charge at a location where you wait, but not essential for driving. Satellite imagery is visual; it does not change navigation performance. Remote route sending is handy if you want to send a destination to your car before you leave your house, but you can also enter it manually on the car's screen.

The annual plan ($99) costs less per month than the monthly plan ($9.99), so if you think you will keep the subscription for more than 10 months, the yearly option saves money. Some owners subscribe during winter months when they drive more, then cancel in summer. Others keep it year-round for the traffic feature alone.

What happens if you let Premium Connectivity expire

When your subscription ends, the features turn off when ready. Live traffic stops updating. Satellite imagery disappears from the map view. Video streaming stops working. The car reverts to basic navigation with offline maps. You can reactivate Premium Connectivity at any time by paying for a new subscription—there is no waiting period or reactivation fee.

Your car's core functions do not change. Climate control, charging, locking, and unlocking all work through the app. Software updates still arrive. The only loss is the connectivity features that require a live data connection.

If you reactivate after a gap, your subscription starts fresh on the date you pay. There is no prorating or credit for the time you were inactive.

Premium Connectivity in different regions and countries

Pricing and availability vary outside the United States. In Canada, the monthly rate is CAD $10.99 and the annual rate is CAD $109.99. In the United Kingdom, pricing is typically £9.99 monthly or £99.99 yearly, though rates have changed over time. European countries have different rates depending on local taxes and market conditions.

Some regions offer different trial lengths. A few markets have offered extended trials (six months instead of three) during promotional periods, but this is not standard. Check your Tesla app to see your local pricing and trial status.

The features included in Premium Connectivity are the same worldwide—live traffic, satellite maps, video streaming, and remote route sending. However, the availability of specific streaming services and map data quality can vary by country.

Alternatives if you want navigation features without Premium Connectivity

Your Tesla's built-in navigation works without Premium Connectivity. It uses offline maps and can route you to any destination. You can also use your phone's navigation app (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze) and send the route to your Tesla through Bluetooth or the Tesla app. Phone-based navigation shows live traffic and works without a Premium Connectivity subscription.

Many owners use their phone's map app for navigation and only subscribe to Premium Connectivity if they want satellite imagery or video streaming. This is a valid approach and costs nothing beyond your phone's data plan.

If you want live traffic but do not want to pay for Premium Connectivity, using your phone's navigation app is the most practical option. It provides the same real-time traffic data and often integrates better with your phone's contacts and saved locations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my Tesla need Premium Connectivity to charge or use Supercharging?

No. Charging, Supercharging, and all vehicle functions work without Premium Connectivity. The subscription only affects navigation features, video streaming, and live traffic. Your car can charge and drive normally without it.

Can I share one Premium Connectivity subscription across multiple Tesla vehicles?

No. Each vehicle requires its own subscription. If you own two Teslas, you pay $9.99 per month for each one. There is no family plan or multi-vehicle discount.

What data does Premium Connectivity use, and will it affect my mobile data plan?

Premium Connectivity uses Tesla's built-in cellular connection, not your phone's data plan. Tesla includes cellular data with the subscription. Live traffic and map updates use minimal data—typically a few megabytes per month. Video streaming uses more data, but it only works while parked and connected to the car's own connection.

Can I get a refund if I change my mind after paying for a year?

Tesla does not offer refunds for unused subscription time. You can cancel at any time and keep access through the end of your billing period, but you cannot recover the cost of months you do not use. If you are unsure, start with the monthly plan to test the features.

Does the free trial count toward a paid subscription if I decide to keep it?

No. The trial and paid subscription are separate. When your trial ends, you start a new billing cycle if you pay. There is no credit or discount applied from the trial period.