Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your Tesla and share the driving experience with family or friends? Adding a second driver to your Tesla isn't just about handing over the keys; it's about seamlessly integrating their preferences and access into the car's smart ecosystem. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, step by step, ensuring a smooth and successful setup for everyone who gets behind the wheel. Let's get started!
Step 1: Laying the Groundwork – Ensuring Everyone Has a Tesla Account
Before anyone can become an official driver of your Tesla, they need their own Tesla Account. This is crucial for accessing the vehicle via the mobile app and personalizing their driving experience.
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| How To Add Two Drivers To A Tesla Tesla Car |
Sub-heading: Why a Tesla Account is Essential
It's not just a login; it's their digital key and personalized hub. Each Tesla Account allows for unique driver profiles to be created, storing individual settings like seat position, mirror angles, steering wheel preferences, climate control, and even autopilot settings. Without a dedicated account, they won't be able to receive the invitation to drive your car or manage their own profile.
Sub-heading: Guiding a New Driver to Create Their Account
If the person you're adding doesn't already have a Tesla Account, they'll need to create one. It's a straightforward process:
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Download the Tesla App: Have them download the official Tesla app from their phone's app store (iOS App Store or Google Play Store).
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Tap "Create Account": Upon opening the app, they'll see an option to "Create Account."
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Follow the Prompts: They'll need to enter their email address, create a password, and verify their email. It's quick and easy!
Step 2: The Owner's Role – Sending the Invitation from Your Tesla App
As the primary owner of the Tesla, you have the power to grant access to others. This is done directly through your Tesla mobile app.
Sub-heading: Navigating to the Driver Management Section
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Open Your Tesla App: Launch the Tesla app on your smartphone. Make sure you're logged in as the primary owner.
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Select Your Vehicle: If you have multiple Teslas linked to your account, ensure you've selected the correct vehicle you wish to share access to. You'll typically see your vehicle prominently displayed on the main screen.
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Tap "Security & Drivers": On the main vehicle screen within the app, look for the "Security & Drivers" option. This is usually located near the bottom or in a dedicated "Controls" or "Settings" section.
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Tap "Manage Drivers": Within the "Security & Drivers" section, you'll find "Manage Drivers." This is where you'll see a list of current drivers (if any) and the option to add new ones.
QuickTip: Copy useful snippets to a notes app.
Sub-heading: Sending the Invitation Link
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Tap "Add Driver": Once you're in "Manage Drivers," tap the "Add Driver" button.
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Enter Their Email: You'll be prompted to enter the email address associated with the new driver's Tesla Account (the one they created in Step 1).
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Send the Invitation: Confirm the email and send the invitation. An invitation link will be sent to their email address.
A quick note: You can typically add up to five additional drivers to your Tesla using this method. Make sure both your app and the new driver's app are updated to the latest version for the best experience!
Step 3: The New Driver's Acceptance – Acknowledging the Invitation
The ball is now in the new driver's court! They need to accept your invitation to gain access.
Sub-heading: Checking Their Email and Accepting
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Check Their Email: The invited driver should check the email address they used for their Tesla Account. They'll receive an invitation email from Tesla.
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Click the Invitation Link: Inside the email, there will be a link to accept the invitation. They should click this link.
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Log In to Their Tesla Account: The link will likely direct them to log in to their Tesla Account (if they aren't already logged in). Once logged in and the invitation is accepted, your Tesla vehicle will appear in their Tesla app.
Important: The new driver must have the latest version of the Tesla app installed on their phone for this process to work seamlessly.
Step 4: In-Car Setup – Creating a Driver Profile and Linking Keys
Now that the new driver has app access, it's time to personalize their experience inside the Tesla.
Sub-heading: Creating a Personalized Driver Profile
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Access the Touchscreen: The new driver should get into the Tesla.
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Tap the Driver Profile Icon: On the top of the touchscreen, there's a driver profile icon (often a silhouette of a person). Tap on it.
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Tap "Driver Profile Settings": Select "Driver Profile Settings."
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Tap "Add New Driver": Choose "Add New Driver."
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Enter Name and Create Profile: Type in the driver's name and tap "Create Profile."
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Adjust and Save Settings: Now, this is the fun part! The new driver can adjust the following to their liking:
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Seat position: Move the driver's seat forward or backward, up or down.
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Steering wheel position: Adjust the steering wheel's tilt and telescoping.
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Exterior side mirrors: Set the side mirrors for optimal visibility.
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Climate control preferences: Set their preferred temperature and fan speed.
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Navigation Recents and Favorites: Saved destinations will be tied to their profile.
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Media settings: Radio presets, streaming services, and volume.
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Autopilot and driving preferences: Customize their autopilot settings.
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Display settings: Screen brightness, dark/light mode.
As they adjust these, the car will prompt them to save these settings to their newly created driver profile. It's a beautiful symphony of personalization!
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Sub-heading: Linking a Driver Profile to a Key (Optional, but Recommended!)
Tip: Reading in chunks improves focus.
To make the experience even more seamless, the new driver can link their profile to a specific key (like a key card or a key fob, if applicable). This means the car will automatically adjust to their settings when it detects their linked key.
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Ensure Correct Profile is Active: Make sure the new driver's profile is currently selected on the touchscreen.
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Go to Controls > Locks > Keys: On the touchscreen, navigate to
Controls>Locks>Keys. -
Toggle the Driver Icon: Next to the key (key card or key fob) that the new driver will primarily use, you'll see a driver icon. Tap this icon to link their profile to that key. The name of their driver profile will appear under the key, confirming the link.
Note: A Tesla can support up to 10 driver profiles. You can link multiple keys to a single driver profile, but you cannot link multiple driver profiles to a single key.
Step 5: Understanding Access Levels and Key Benefits
Now that the second driver is set up, it's important to understand what access they have and the benefits of this multi-driver setup.
Sub-heading: Access Levels for Added Drivers
While an added driver has significant access, there are a few limitations compared to the primary owner:
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Full Vehicle Access: They can drive the car, use all its features, and access most of the Tesla app functions related to driving.
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Service Scheduling & History: They can schedule service appointments and view the vehicle's service history.
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In-App Messages: They'll receive in-app messages related to the vehicle.
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Vehicle Location Information: They can see the car's location.
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No Ownership Transfer: They cannot transfer ownership of the vehicle.
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No Purchase Upgrades: They cannot purchase upgrades for the vehicle (e.g., Full Self-Driving subscriptions).
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No Payment Management: They cannot manage payment methods linked to the car.
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No Charging History Access: They typically won't be able to view the detailed charging history.
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No Insurance Information Access: They won't have access to the insurance details directly through the app.
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Cannot Add/Remove Drivers: They cannot add or remove other drivers themselves.
Sub-heading: Benefits of Multiple Driver Profiles
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Personalized Comfort: No more fiddling with seats, mirrors, and climate settings every time someone new drives. The car automatically adjusts.
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Seamless Driving Experience: Each driver can have their preferred driving modes, autopilot settings, and display preferences saved.
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Convenience: For families or shared vehicles, it streamlines the handover process.
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Security: By linking profiles to specific keys, it adds an extra layer of personalized security and convenience.
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Cloud Sync: Tesla Profiles, if set up, allow profile settings to be saved to the cloud and accessed across multiple Tesla vehicles under the same Tesla Account.
Step 6: Troubleshooting Tips (Just in Case!) ️
While the process is generally smooth, sometimes hiccups happen. Here are a few things to check if you encounter issues:
Sub-heading: Common Issues and Solutions
QuickTip: Pause to connect ideas in your mind.
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Invitation Not Received:
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Double-check the email address you sent the invitation to.
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Ask the invited driver to check their spam or junk folder.
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Ensure both your Tesla app and their Tesla app are updated to the latest version.
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Try resending the invitation.
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Unable to Add Driver in App:
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Verify you are the primary owner of the vehicle. Leasing companies might have different procedures.
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Ensure both phones (owner's and new driver's) have the latest software updates.
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Confirm that "Allow Mobile Access" is enabled on the vehicle's touchscreen (Controls > Safety > Allow Mobile Access).
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If all else fails, contact Tesla Customer Support.
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Driver Profile Not Saving/Loading:
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Ensure the car's software is up to date.
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Make sure the driver is properly saving the profile settings after making adjustments.
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If linking a key, ensure the key is correctly linked to the desired profile.
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10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about managing drivers in a Tesla, with quick answers:
How to remove a driver from my Tesla?
Open your Tesla app, select the vehicle, tap "Security & Drivers," then "Manage Drivers," and tap "Remove" next to the driver's name.
How to link a key card to a specific driver profile?
First, activate the desired driver profile on the Tesla touchscreen. Then, go to Controls > Locks > Keys, and tap the driver icon next to the key card to link it.
How to switch between driver profiles in a Tesla?
On the Tesla touchscreen, tap the driver profile icon at the top of the screen, then select the desired driver's name from the list.
How to update my Tesla app?
Go to your phone's app store (App Store for iOS, Google Play Store for Android), search for the Tesla app, and tap "Update" if an update is available.
Tip: A slow, careful read can save re-reading later.
How to create a Tesla Account?
Download the Tesla app and select "Create Account" on the initial screen, then follow the prompts to register.
How to give temporary access to a Tesla for a valet?
Use "Valet Mode" from the driver profile icon on the touchscreen. This limits certain features and performance, and requires a separate PIN to disable.
How to check my Tesla's software version?
On your Tesla's touchscreen, go to Controls > Software.
How to ensure the new driver has all app features?
Ensure both the primary owner and the new driver have the latest version of the Tesla app installed on their devices.
How to resolve issues with adding a driver if it's not working?
First, check app and phone software updates. If the problem persists, contact Tesla Customer Support.
How to know if a driver profile is saved to the cloud?
When setting up or editing a driver profile, you'll have the option to set up a "Tesla Profile" which syncs settings to the cloud for access across multiple Tesla vehicles linked to that specific Tesla Account.
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