Is It Worth It to Upgrade to Tesla Premium Connectivity?

If you want to unlock all the features on your Tesla’s touchscreen, the Premium Connectivity upgrade can make streaming and navigation a lot smoother. However, Tesla owners have mixed feelings about if they should pay the extra fees for it. Keep reading, and we’ll cover all the features and costs to see if Premium Connectivity is worth it for you. Plus, we’ll provide a couple of workarounds you can use in the meantime.

Tesla Premium Connectivity: Quick Guide

Premium Connectivity unlocks streaming media and browsing the Internet without a Wi-Fi connection, live traffic maps, and live-view Sentry Mode cameras. Premium costs USD 9.99 per month or USD 99 for a full year, but the value depends on how much you use the features.

Section 1 of 7:

What is Tesla Premium Connectivity?

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Premium Connectivity is a Tesla feature that unlocks online features. With Tesla’s Standard Connectivity, you aren’t able to stream media or use the Internet once you disconnect from Wi-Fi. When you subscribe to Premium Connectivity, your vehicle connects to local cell towers and provides unlimited data for streaming.^{[1]
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- Premium Connectivity also unlocks extra navigation and security features that are not available for Standard users.

Section 2 of 7:

Premium Connectivity Features

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Unlimited streaming and browser use while driving Normally, you’re only able to use the touchscreen browser and native Tesla apps while you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network. With a Premium Connectivity subscription, your Tesla uses mobile data to stay online the entire time you’re driving.^{[2]
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- Third-party streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Netflix, and Hulu require separate subscriptions and are not included with Premium Connectivity.
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Live traffic visualization on Navigation When you have Standard Connectivity, Tesla’s Navigation app already chooses the best route based on traffic. With Premium, streets on the map are updated live with colors based on the amount of traffic.^{[3]
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- Premium Connectivity also shows traffic signs and stoplights on the map.
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Satellite view navigation Standard Connectivity only shows a basic street map with a white or black background. Premium Connectivity lets you switch to a satellite view so you can get a bird’s-eye view of where you’re heading.^{[4]
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- This is especially helpful if you’re driving to someplace you haven’t visited before and want to see what the parking situation is like.
Sentry Mode keeps your Tesla’s cameras turned on so they’re ready to record activity around your vehicle and are available with Standard Connectivity. With a Premium Connectivity subscription, you can use the Tesla app to watch a livestream from any of your vehicle’s cameras for some extra peace of mind.^{[5]
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Caraoke while driving Caraoke has a library of songs and displays lyrics on the screen so you can sing along. While you can normally only use it while connected to Wi-Fi, Premium Connectivity connects to mobile data signals to stream Caraoke.^{[6]
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- Caraoke is a great activity for keeping children entertained during a long drive, and it can be set to only display on the rear touchscreen.

Section 3 of 7:

Premium Connectivity Cost

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Premium Connectivity costs USD 9.99 monthly or USD 99 yearly. If you want to try out Premium Connectivity, get a monthly subscription to test the features for a short time. Otherwise, you can save a few bucks by committing to an annual subscription.^{[7]
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- Premium Connectivity may vary in price by location and may change as more features are added. You can always double-check the price on your Tesla’s touchscreen or the Tesla app.
- If you bought your Tesla on or before June 30, 2018, then your vehicle has lifetime Premium Connectivity for free.
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New Tesla orders offer a free trial for Premium Connectivity. The length of your free trial depends on the vehicle you ordered and when you placed the order. The trial starts on your Tesla’s delivery date. Once the trial period ends, you’ll automatically be switched to Standard Connectivity.^{[8]
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- New orders for Model S or Model X on or after July 1, 2018: 1-year trial
- Inventory orders for Model S or Model X on or after July 1, 2018: 1-year trial
- New orders of Model 3 on or after October 15, 2021: 30-day trial
- Inventory orders of Model 3 on or after October 15, 2021: 30-day trial
- Used vehicle orders on or after January 16, 2020: 30-day trial

Section 4 of 7:

Is Tesla Premium Connectivity worth it?

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Consider upgrading if you’re in a big city or use your vehicle a lot. When you’re driving your Tesla frequently and want to unlock the full features, many users think Premium Connectivity is worth the price. Some reasons that the subscription is a good investment for you include:
- You drive in unfamiliar areas and want to view routes clearly
- You want to compare traffic on routes in real time
- You prefer streaming music and videos directly from your vehicle
- You park your vehicle in unsafe areas or for extended periods of time
- You have passengers that you want to keep entertained during long drives
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Save your money if you don’t find the features useful. Some Tesla users don’t think that Premium Connectivity is worth the extra money because they don’t need a majority of the features provided. Some reasons you may avoid subscribing to Premium Connectivity include:^{[9]
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- You live in a small area or know the streets well
- You prefer the simplicity of the basic road map compared to satellite view
- You keep your vehicle in a safe or secure area, such as a garage
- You don’t spend a lot of time in your car to use streaming services
- You already stream from your phone using Bluetooth

Section 5 of 7:

Workarounds for Premium Connectivity

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Even without Premium, Standard Connectivity allows you to plug your phone into the USB port and play local music or video files. You can also pair your phone to your vehicle with a Bluetooth connection. Then, all you have to do is queue up your favorite music or videos on your phone, and they’ll stream on your touchscreen.^{[10]
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Use a mobile hotspot to access the Internet and streaming features. Turn on the mobile hotspot setting on your phone to make it visible to your Tesla. Open your Tesla’s Wi-Fi setting, and select your phone from the list. Make sure to select “Remain Connected in Drive” so you don’t lose your Internet connection.^{[11]
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- Once you’re connected, you can use streaming services, the Internet browser, and Caraoke on your touchscreen. However, you will not have access to Premium features like Live Traffic Visualization and satellite view.
- You will have to reconnect your Tesla to your phone’s hotspot every time you turn on your vehicle.
- Keep in mind if your cell provider has data limits. Using a hotspot for a long drive can eat through a lot of data quickly, so it may not be the best long-term solution unless you have an unlimited plan.
If you’re waiting for your Tesla to charge or want to stream in your vehicle, check if there are Wi-Fi networks nearby that you can join. Once you connect to the Internet, you can use the browser or any streaming services until you leave.^{[12]
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Section 6 of 7:

What to Do if Premium Connectivity is Not Working

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Click on the Software tab on your Tesla’s screen or check under Upgrades > Manage Subscriptions on the Tesla app to see if you’re subscribed to Premium Connectivity. If you’re trying to stream music or videos from third-party services, make sure that you have active subscriptions to them as well.^{[13]
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Find an area with stronger cell service. Because Premium Connectivity uses local cell phone towers to transmit data, you may just be in an area with poor service. See if your connection improves while you’re driving in a different area to determine if service is an issue.^{[14]
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- Don’t forget to check local cell phone outages in your area because they can prevent your vehicle from connecting as well.
Shift your vehicle into park. Then, hold down both scroll buttons on your steering wheel until the screen turns black. After a few seconds, the Tesla logo will appear. Wait another 30 seconds for the touchscreen to turn on and check if it’s responsive.^{[15]
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Install the latest Tesla software update. Software updates appear as a notification on your Tesla’s touchscreen or on the main page of the Tesla app. Make sure your vehicle is connected to Wi-Fi and select the update to either start it right away or schedule it to install later.^{[16]
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- You can drive your Tesla while the update downloads, but you won’t be able to drive it during installation. Some software updates can take a few hours, so give yourself some time for it to completely install.
If you’re still having connectivity issues, then there may be a bigger problem with your vehicle. Schedule an appointment through the Tesla app or find the nearest Tesla service center to take your vehicle in.

Section 7 of 7:

FAQ

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What vehicles are eligible for Premium Connectivity? You can get a Premium Connectivity subscription if you have a Model S, Model X, or Model 3. If you ordered your vehicle on or after July 1, 2018, then you have to pay for a subscription.^{[17]
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- If you ordered your Tesla before July 1, 2018, then your vehicle comes with Premium Connectivity for free.
Check under the “Software” tab on your vehicle’s touchscreen to see if the subscription is active. Using the Tesla app, tap on “Upgrades” and then “Manage Subscriptions” to see if Premium Connectivity is on the list.^{[18]
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How do you subscribe to Premium Connectivity? You can start a Premium Connectivity subscription directly from your Tesla’s touchscreen or from the Tesla app.^{[19]
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- Touchscreen
  - Tap on Controls
  - Select Upgrades
  - Find Premium Connectivity on the upgrades list and choose Swipe to Purchase
  - Connect your vehicle to Wi-Fi and start the required software update
- Tesla app
  - Choose your vehicle and select Upgrades
  - Tap on Software Updates and open the Subscribe tab
  - Find Premium Connectivity and tap Add
  - Choose the card you want to charge and tap Next
  - Select Checkout to confirm your purchase
No, a Premium Connectivity subscription only works with one Tesla vehicle. If you want to add Premium to a different vehicle, cancel the old subscription and start a new one on the other Tesla.^{[20]
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How do you cancel Premium Connectivity? Go to the Tesla app and tap on Upgrades from the menu. Select Manage Upgrades and find Premium Connectivity from the list. Then, tap on Manage and choose the Cancel option.^{[21]
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- After canceling your subscription, you’ll have access to Premium Connectivity features for the rest of the billing period.
No, all Tesla vehicles will get software updates when they’re connected to a Wi-Fi network. Software updates will appear on your Tesla’s touchscreen or in the Tesla app as soon as they’re available.^{[22]
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After owning a Tesla for 8 years, the Standard Connectivity expires and you may lose access to maps, navigation services, and voice commands. While you cannot resubscribe to Standard Connectivity, you can still upgrade to Premium.^{[23]
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Tesla continues to add and update features included with Premium Connectivity.

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