Transferring a Tesla to a new owner

Separate vehicle access from account ownership

Agree in advance who will complete the process and when in the Tesla app. The manual describes removing or transferring the vehicle from the previous owner’s account; one vehicle can have only one account owner at a time. Until the process is complete, do not assume the buyer already has full access. Have the VIN, proof of purchase, and a way to connect the car to Wi‑Fi ready in case an ownership claim is needed.

Seller: protect personal data first

If you no longer own the car and no longer need access, the manual directs you to perform a Factory Reset before removing it from your account. For the covered generations, the reset clears personal vehicle data, including profiles, Bluetooth devices, and navigation history. Then open My Products in the app and select Remove or Transfer Ownership. Check that you have saved anything you need and have completed the required steps first: the reset cannot be performed after the vehicle is removed from your account.

Buyer: request the transfer, then verify access

Ask the seller to start the transfer in the Tesla app. If they are unavailable, the manual describes requesting the vehicle through the app by entering its VIN and uploading the required identity and ownership documents. You may need access to the vehicle and Wi‑Fi for this request. After approval, set up your own phone key and check the key card. Do not ask the seller for their Tesla Account password or rely on a phone left in the cabin.

Check paid features separately

Removing a vehicle from an account ends its paid subscriptions; Supercharging credits, upgrades, subscriptions, and some other features may not transfer. Before the sale, record which features are shown for that specific car, then check them in your own account after transfer. A feature visible to the previous owner is not proof that it will remain available to the buyer. For questions about status or timing, use Tesla support and the sale documents.

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