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Tesla employee FSD perks on HW3

BeltStrong9228 | 2025-12-16 00:09 | 68 views

Context: I start working for Tesla in the next few weeks and have a 22M3LR currently and have been contemplating getting FSD for my car, the holdout is that the 8k and $100/mo is a lot for a 23yo. I'm wondering if Tesla employees get a discount on FSD (purchase or monthly) or if it's comped as long as you're an employee Current, future and/or former Tesla employees, please feel free to comment from your experience and non-employees, thank you for your interest and I hope you learn or take some value from the guidance provided from the employees **Edit:** u/TowElectric pointed out I misspoke on the pricing, I meant 8k or $100/mo, not 8k and $100/mo

Comments (67)
TowElectric 2025-12-16 00:12

It's not 8k AND $100/mo, it's either/or. Most people would say on such an old car, just rent it for $100/mo.

Tall-Vermicelli-4669 2025-12-16 00:14

I heard that employees get it for free. They don't get discounts on the car but do get free software. I could be wrong. It could have changed - let is know.

cdmgsr92 2025-12-16 00:17

I have a coworker who used to work at Tesla a few years ago and he said he didn't get any discounts or anything on the car price but he got fully paid FSD for free when he bought a new model 3.

Notmainlel 2025-12-16 00:18

I am a Tesla employee we get it for free

BeltStrong9228 2025-12-16 00:18

Thank you Tow, I just updated the post to reflect I've been looking at the $100/month but that seems a little expensive with a Tessie subscription, premium connectivity and the $100/month for FSD Cost breakdown (annual) Tessie: $70 Premium connectivity: $100 FSD: $1,200 ($100/mo\*12) Total: $1,370 + tax

Notmainlel 2025-12-16 00:19

Current Tesla employee here, and yes we get FSD for free. I started leasing a new M3 this past weekend and I got the cost deducted after replacing the order

luminus3d 2025-12-16 00:22

Is it only for newly acquired cars? What if one already got a Tesla ?

Itchy_Platypus4085 2025-12-16 00:23

Only for new vehicle purchases? What if you already own one and want it for free when working there 🤔

BeltStrong9228 2025-12-16 00:24

Do you know if that's for new cars purchased/leased starting after your start date or if that's good for people who already have a Tesla vehicle? Are there any stipulations on that? Does the FSD go away once you leave the company (not planning on it for quite a few years at least), is it transferable from current to future vehicles, it it applicable for older cars? Thank you for replying

FinFreedomCountdown 2025-12-16 00:26

Can employees gift it to friends on their purchase similar to how my Apple discount can be used by friends?

CandyFromABaby91 2025-12-16 00:47

Premium connectivity is so worth it. Probably at least $30/month of value in there. Tessie though, questionable at that price

asswizzard69 2025-12-16 00:47

Would like to know as well

BeltStrong9228 2025-12-16 00:50

It is really questionable for the price of Tessie but after looking my at the developer docs for Tesla’s API, it’s not that expensive compared to making the same thing yourself if you do a short enough sample interval. Even polling the location, battery and shift state once per half hour, that still runs you ~$7/month and that only increases when you start driving

Da_Vader 2025-12-16 00:57

Don't have premium connectivity. Use my phone as hotspot. What other benefit?

Low-Imagination8692 2025-12-16 00:58

Look into Teslamate if you're interested in doing it yourself. I just installed it the other day, but like it so far. It's free, but you have to have something to host the server on.

TonyH22_ATX 2025-12-16 01:05

My neighbor works for the gigafactory in Austin. He bought a new Y when it came out and asked him what perks he got. He got FSD for free and free charging.

VeganAutistBoyfriend 2025-12-16 01:17

Working at tesla should get you FSD for free & 0% APR guaranteed

BeltStrong9228 2025-12-16 01:21

Do you know if the FSD applies to new vehicles purchased during employment only or if I can get it applied for my 2022 M3LR?

[deleted] 2025-12-16 01:29

You can’t get it on your car for free currently. You can buy a used or new Tesla and get free fsd if you purchase it from Tesla. That is the only way. Ridiculous I agree , Ive been submitting feedback to have it changed. I know multiple managers with Tesla’s that do not have FSD because of this reason.

JustSomeUsername99 2025-12-16 01:42

If you have HW3, don't waste your money on it. It isn't very good, the software us HW3 owners get. I did ride in a friend's brand new model Y today and his FSD works pretty damn good.

Krothic 2025-12-16 01:42

Can’t add it for free without a new purchase.

ProblemsAreSelfMade 2025-12-16 01:48

How do I get a job at Tesla?

BeltStrong9228 2025-12-16 01:49

Apply at https://www.tesla.com/careers and filter by your area

BeltStrong9228 2025-12-16 01:49

Dang, do you see that changing anytime in the nearish future?

BeltStrong9228 2025-12-16 01:50

Dang, do you see that changing anytime in the future or anything else that may be a benefit to legacy owners?

Notmainlel 2025-12-16 01:51

Yeah it has to be new acquired, so if you already have one then you can’t get it retroactively

Notmainlel 2025-12-16 01:52

Kinda, you and the employee need to both be registered to the vehicle and be there for delivery day

Notmainlel 2025-12-16 01:52

New purchases, no benefits apply if you already have one

Notmainlel 2025-12-16 01:57

It only applies if you get it after starting. I think FSD stays even if you leave the company. And transferable? I don’t think so. But as long as you’re an employee you’ll get it for free anyways

DefinitionOk7480 2025-12-16 01:58

Hello. I want to mention i bought a Tesla M3 from a employee. He also ordered a latest model Y for himself. The fsd got transferred to me with the "used M3"

BeltStrong9228 2025-12-16 01:59

The free FSD only applies if I get FSD after starting or the free FSD only applies if I get the vehicle after starting? That’s awesome if it really stays after you leave the company

Notmainlel 2025-12-16 02:01

After becoming an employee as you need to place to order using your work email to get the benefits

Krothic 2025-12-16 02:30

Not at all. Tesla has used the employee incentive to help drive new sales. Speaking as an ex sales advisor who did a lot of employee deals.

ulmersapiens 2025-12-16 02:46

No, the FSD did not get “transferred” to you, it stayed with the car.

ddave13 2025-12-16 02:50

You get it for free with a new purchase. Not with existing one.

BeltStrong9228 2025-12-16 03:05

Damn If I may, you mentioned being an ex sales advisor, why did you leave (if you did) or did you get a promotion

Krothic 2025-12-16 03:12

8 years at the company. Wanted to spend more time with the family

BeltStrong9228 2025-12-16 03:14

That’s awesome. Is there anything you can recommend for a new employee? With the employee stuff, are there any discounts on the used fleet are more or less just FSD if you get a vehicle during your time with the company?

Krothic 2025-12-16 03:36

Not really any make discounts on used cars. Small discount available. You have access to internal inventory so you can find deals faster than the general public website.

RainOnPizza 2025-12-16 03:38

If you buy/lease a new car, you'll get FSD for free This year, they added this perk for used vehicles purchased from Tesla. It cannot be applied to vehicles purchased before a certain date, or vehicles purchased before you started employment You can still get a discount on Tesla Insurance

BeltStrong9228 2025-12-16 03:44

Do you know if tradeins are valued at a higher price with employees? I have a 22M3LR and if there’s any good enough deals on an X, I might trade in if the deal is good enough but from what I’ve been reading on this sub, it seems like there’s no real deal

Krothic 2025-12-16 04:02

Not really. You can message a acquisition specialist who does trade in for a value. They may be able to give the upper end of the trade value but even then they are limited.

BeltStrong9228 2025-12-16 04:02

Do you know how they handle tradeins or if employees get more value for them?

BeltStrong9228 2025-12-16 04:03

Dang, but I get it. It is still a business after all

DefinitionOk7480 2025-12-16 04:08

Corrected

[deleted] 2025-12-16 04:13

I hope!

dwappo 2025-12-16 04:24

I mean, it is. Just because you don't use it doesn't mean others don't have issues with it.

Suitguy2017 2025-12-16 04:29

Is there a minimum time you have to work there before getting free FSD?! Has anyone quit right after getting it? 🤔

zadszads 2025-12-16 04:50

Yeah but I would venture to guess the SW engineers built in a 'dev testing' backdoor for them to activate it on their own cars.. because that's what I would do.

AmountRemarkable5682 2025-12-16 04:52

Idk if it was mentioned. But you must be Full Time also.

archbish99 2025-12-16 05:14

For monitoring with Fleet API, you want the signals functionality, where they push the changes to you rather than you polling.

BeltStrong9228 2025-12-16 07:04

Nobody has mentioned that I have to be full time but the position I signed for (since writing the post) is listed as a full time position

WelcomingOutpost 2025-12-16 11:00

You do get it free as an employee but it has to be on a new vehicle. Won’t apply on one you already own unfortunately

JDeLiRiOuS129 2025-12-16 13:35

My cousin works for Tesla. I think he gets up to 2 cars with free FSD. That’s what my uncle told me anyways

Tokemonkey 2025-12-16 15:48

I would ask. I believe you get it while working with Tesla but after leaving Tesla you loose it. Mine says Fsd trial. If buying a new Tesla they will give you FSD that you can keep after leaving Tesla. After starting DM me and I can point you in the right direction.

JasonTheK1d 2025-12-16 21:14

I have an employee lease, FSD was free and I’m (supposedly) getting “Half of the taxes and fees I paid up front back in my check every month.” I paid over $3,800 up front for taxes and fees (no down payment required) but have yet to see how much I’ll get back. Monthly payment is $294 and worth every penny. I don’t think I can go back to a non-Tesla.

Only_Indication8410 2025-12-17 07:22

I have an HWD3 and it works pretty well.

lnxgod 2025-12-18 02:03

For 100 month sure

No_Complaint_765 2025-12-18 10:34

Weird question but as an employee, if you have HW3 on your car with free FSD, would they retrofit your car to HW4 for free(Assuming it comes out)?

RegularDefinition578 2025-12-21 13:19

Hey what model did you get?

MyDirtyWishList 2025-12-21 13:23

RWD Model 3. People were saying to get AWD but that was an extra $100 a month. It’s handled the Buffalo winter just fine so far. I love it, according to the stats I use FSD 97% of the time.

RegularDefinition578 2025-12-22 01:41

Nice!!

Malacasts 2025-12-22 17:24

EAP flash sale of it being $2-3k when it came back for a end of quarter push in 2020, then FSD $2k good deal for me haha

BeltStrong9228 2025-12-22 17:25

Damn, that is a good deal

JasonTheK1d 2026-01-10 03:36

Are you getting “half the taxes and fees” back in your checks? I heard that’s what happens but can’t confirm.

JasonTheK1d 2026-01-10 03:37

M3 RWD long range with FSD 🥰

RegularDefinition578 2026-01-10 11:12

Nice!! Have you started to see the money back on your paychecks yet? I’m trying to get an idea on the overall cost before making the purchase.

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