Questions to Ask a Tesla Seller About FSD + Checklist

The three questions that matter most

1. "Was FSD bought outright, or is it a subscription or trial?"
2. "Can you send a screenshot of Upgrades in your Tesla app, and a photo of Controls > Software showing the VIN?"
3. "Has Tesla, an auction or a salvage title ever been part of this car's history?"

A seller with owned FSD can answer all three in a few minutes. Vague answers are not proof of a problem, but they mean you have not got your answer yet.

Before you visit: the message to send

You can copy this and adjust it. It is polite, specific, and easy for an honest seller to answer:

Hi, I'm interested in your [year, model]. The listing mentions FSD. Before I come to see it, could you tell me:

1. Was Full Self-Driving bought outright (when ordered or later in the app), or is it a monthly subscription or a trial?
2. Could you send a screenshot of the Upgrades section in your Tesla app for this car, and a photo of Controls > Software on the car's screen with the VIN visible?
3. If you have them, the original order or invoice.
4. Did you buy the car new? If not, where from (private seller, dealer, Tesla)?
5. Has the car ever had a salvage or rebuilt title, or been sold at auction?
6. Which Autopilot computer does it show under Additional Vehicle Information?

Thanks!

Why each question matters:

Question 1 goes straight to Tesla's rule: purchased FSD stays with the car, a subscription does not (Tesla FSD support page).
Question 2 gets you two independent pieces of evidence: the app shows who paid, the screen shows what is on the car today. The VIN makes sure both are this car.
Question 3 documents a purchase at order. A missing invoice is not unusual for a second or third owner.
Questions 4 and 5 check the history. Cars that passed through Tesla, an auction or a salvage title are where FSD has been removed or replaced by a trial (see Does FSD transfer?).
Question 6 tells you whether it is HW3 or AI4 (HW4), which changes what FSD does today (see HW3 vs HW4).

Good answers and weak answers

You hear	What it usually means	Next step
"Bought it with the car in 2021, here's the invoice and the app."	The strongest answer you will get	Check the VIN matches on everything
"Bought it in the app in 2024."	Owned, but not on the original paperwork	The app screenshot is the key document
"It was transferred from my old Tesla."	Owned; Tesla says transferred FSD stays with the car	App screenshot; ask roughly when
"It's the subscription, you can keep it going."	Not owned. It ends when the car leaves their account	Price the car without FSD
"It came with it when I bought it from Tesla."	Could be owned, could be a trial	Ask to see an end date, or the app
"It's a 2026 Model S, FSD is included."	Luxe Package; ends at sale if ordered after February 14, 2026	Ask for the order date
"It has FSD, it's in the listing."	No evidence yet	Ask questions 1 and 2 again, kindly
"The screen says Full Self-Driving Computer."	That is the hardware, not the software	Ask for the included-package line

Be fair to sellers. Many owners genuinely do not know the difference between a subscription and a purchase, especially if they bought the car used themselves. The app screenshot answers it for both of you.

Extra questions for dealers

"Where did you get this car?" Trade-in, auction, or from Tesla. If it came through a Tesla auction, be more careful: in a case reported in 2020, Tesla removed Autopilot and FSD from a car a dealer bought that way, then restored them after press coverage (Electrek).
"Can you show me FSD on the car's screen today?" A dealer usually cannot show the previous owner's app, so the screen and any paperwork carry more weight.
"Will you write 'FSD (Supervised) purchased and included' on the bill of sale?" A dealer that is confident in its listing should not mind. It gives you something to point to if FSD is missing after delivery.
"What happens if FSD is not active on my account after I buy?" Get the answer in writing.

Signs to slow down

None of these proves anything on its own, but each one is a reason to get more evidence before you pay for FSD:

The seller will not send an app screenshot or a screen photo, but insists the car "has FSD".
The screen photo shows a different VIN from the listing, or no VIN at all.
A renewal or expiry date is visible next to FSD on the screen.
The listing says "FSD capable", "FSD hardware" or "FSD computer": that describes the hardware, not a purchase.
The history report shows a salvage or rebuilt title, a Tesla auction, or Tesla as a recent owner.
The car was first delivered after February 14, 2026 and the seller says FSD was bought outright.
The price is well above similar cars "because of FSD", with no evidence it is owned.

If the seller has good reasons and good evidence, fine. If not, price the car as one without FSD, or keep looking.

Test-drive checklist

Check these with the car in front of you. It takes about ten minutes on top of the drive.

On the screen, parked

Controls > Software: "Full Self-Driving Capability" listed, and no renewal or expiry date next to it
The VIN on the screen matches the listing and the windshield plate
Additional Vehicle Information: Autopilot computer line (HW3 or AI4) as described
Software version is recent (the car has been updating)
Autopilot settings show the FSD (Supervised) options, not only basic Autopilot
If Enhanced Autopilot is claimed instead, it shows as such

On the road

Only use FSD (Supervised) where it is legal and safe, with your hands ready and your eyes on the road. The seller or dealer may need to enable it for you.

FSD (Supervised) engages and follows a short route you set in navigation
No camera, calibration or "Autopilot unavailable" warnings
Cameras clean and uncracked; windshield has no chips in front of the camera housing
The cabin camera above the mirror (on cars that have one) is not covered

The rest of the car

FSD is one part of a used-car check. Also look at tires, brakes, panel gaps and paint, any warning messages, the charge port and charging, the battery warranty dates, and a history report. For the battery, compare the range at full charge with the original rated range for the trim, and remember it varies with temperature and use.

Handover-day checklist

Before paying: Controls > Software still shows FSD as an included package
Bill of sale lists the VIN, and "FSD (Supervised) purchased and included" if you paid for it
The seller removes the car from their Tesla account and you add it to yours (Tesla's app and support site explain the ownership transfer steps)
On your account: FSD (Supervised) shows as included for the car, not as an offer to subscribe
Keys and key cards handed over; old phone keys removed
If anything is missing, contact the seller the same day and Tesla support with your paperwork

If FSD (Supervised) shows as included on your account, Tesla's published rule is that purchased FSD stays with the car. If it does not, the evidence you gathered with the checklist above is what you will need.

FSD Radar is independent and not affiliated with Tesla, Inc. Facts in this guide are dated where they change often; we re-check Tesla's support pages regularly. Spotted something out of date? Email info@fsdradar.com.