Ever wondered if your Tesla Model 3 can practically drive itself? Well, you're in for a treat! Tesla's Autopilot system is an incredible piece of technology designed to enhance your driving experience, making it safer and more convenient. However, it's crucial to understand that Autopilot is a driver-assist system, not a fully autonomous one. You, the driver, must always remain attentive and prepared to take control. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about engaging Autopilot in your Tesla Model 3. Let's get started!
Understanding Tesla Autopilot
Before we dive into the "how-to," let's clarify what Autopilot actually is. Tesla's Autopilot is a suite of advanced driver-assistance features that leverage cameras and powerful vision processing to monitor the car's surroundings. It's designed to assist with steering, accelerating, and braking within its lane.
There are different levels of Tesla's autonomous driving features:
Basic Autopilot: This comes standard with every new Tesla and includes:
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC): Matches your car's speed to the surrounding traffic, maintaining a set following distance.
Autosteer: Actively assists in steering to keep your Model 3 within a clearly marked lane. This feature is operational between speeds of 18 mph (30 km/h) and 85 mph (140 km/h) on most roads, though it can activate at lower speeds if a vehicle is detected ahead.
Enhanced Autopilot (EAP): This is a paid upgrade that offers additional functionalities, which have varied over time. Historically, EAP has included:
Navigate on Autopilot: Guides your Model 3 from a highway's on-ramp to off-ramp, including suggesting and performing lane changes, navigating interchanges, and taking the correct exit.
Auto Lane Change: Assists in moving to an adjacent lane on the highway when Autosteer is engaged.
Autopark: Automatically parks your vehicle in both parallel and perpendicular spaces.
Summon: Moves your vehicle in and out of a tight space using the mobile app or key.
Full Self-Driving (FSD) (Supervised): This is the most advanced package, designed to provide more active guidance and assisted driving, always under your active supervision. FSD (Supervised) includes all EAP features plus capabilities like:
Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control: Identifies stop signs and traffic lights and automatically slows your vehicle to a stop on approach. You still need to confirm to proceed.
Autosteer on City Streets: This feature is continually evolving.
Important Note: Regardless of the package, Autopilot and FSD (Supervised) require a fully attentive driver with hands on the wheel, ready to take over at any moment. These features do not make the vehicle autonomous.
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| How To Do Autopilot In Tesla Model 3 |
Step 1: Prepare for Autopilot Activation – Are You Ready for a Smarter Drive?
Before you engage Autopilot, ensuring your Model 3 and yourself are ready is paramount. Think of it as preparing for a co-pilot; you both need to be in sync!
1.1. Ensure Optimal Conditions
Tesla Autopilot relies heavily on its external cameras. For optimal performance, make sure:
Cameras are Clean: Dirt, mud, ice, snow, or even heavy rain, fog, or bright sunlight can obstruct the camera's view and affect Autopilot performance. Regularly inspect and clean the camera areas, especially the one at the top center of your windshield.
Clear Lane Markings: Autosteer functions best on roads with clear, visible lane markings. Faded or missing lane markers can limit its effectiveness.
Appropriate Road Conditions: Avoid using Autopilot on winding roads with sharp curves, icy or slippery roads, or in adverse weather conditions that significantly reduce visibility.
1.2. Familiarize Yourself with Controls
The primary control for engaging Autopilot in the Model 3 is the gear selector stalk on the right side of the steering wheel.
1.3. Driver Attentiveness
This is the most critical aspect. Autopilot is a convenience feature, not a replacement for your attention.
Keep Your Hands on the Wheel: Even when Autosteer is active, you must keep your hands on the steering wheel. The car monitors your attentiveness, and if it detects a lack of engagement (e.g., no steering wheel torque detected), it will issue escalating warnings.
Be Prepared to Take Over: Always be ready to take immediate control of the vehicle. This means maintaining awareness of your surroundings, traffic, and road conditions.
Step 2: Engaging Basic Autopilot (Traffic-Aware Cruise Control & Autosteer) – Your First Taste of Assisted Driving!
QuickTip: Scan quickly, then go deeper where needed.
This is where the magic begins! Basic Autopilot combines two powerful features for a smoother highway driving experience.
2.1. Activating Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC)
TACC allows your Model 3 to maintain a set speed while keeping a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.
Single Downward Pull: To activate TACC, pull the gear selector stalk down once.
You'll see a gray speed icon on your touchscreen, indicating TACC is ready. Once engaged, it will turn blue, and you'll see your set speed and the vehicle ahead (if any) represented visually.
Adjusting Speed: You can adjust the set speed using the right scroll wheel on the steering wheel.
Adjusting Following Distance: To change the following distance from the car in front, use the right scroll wheel left or right.
2.2. Engaging Autosteer
Autosteer works in conjunction with TACC to keep your car centered in its lane.
Double Downward Pull: Once TACC is active, pull the gear selector stalk down twice in quick succession to engage Autosteer.
The steering wheel icon on your touchscreen will turn blue, indicating Autosteer is active. You'll also see blue lane lines guiding the car.
Maintaining Engagement: To keep Autosteer active, you need to apply slight torque to the steering wheel periodically. You can also gently scroll or press one of the scroll wheels to indicate your attentiveness. If the car detects you're not paying attention, it will issue visual and audible warnings. If you ignore these warnings, Autosteer will disengage for the remainder of your drive.
Step 3: Unleashing Enhanced Autopilot Features (If Equipped) – Taking It Up a Notch! ️
If you have Enhanced Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (Supervised), you unlock even more advanced capabilities.
3.1. Navigate on Autopilot (NoA)
NoA actively guides your car on highways from on-ramp to off-ramp.
Enable in Settings: First, ensure Navigate on Autopilot is enabled in your vehicle's settings:
Controls > Autopilot > Navigate on Autopilot (Beta). You can also customize its behavior, such as "Enable at Start of Every Trip."Set a Destination: NoA works with a navigation route active. Enter a destination into your Tesla's navigation system.
Engage on Highway: Once on a compatible highway segment, you'll see a gray Navigate on Autopilot icon on your screen. Pull the gear selector stalk down twice to engage it. The icon will turn blue, and you'll see the route highlighted with blue lines, including suggested lane changes.
Confirm Lane Changes: For some lane changes, especially those suggested by NoA, the car may prompt you to confirm by engaging the turn signal. This allows the car to initiate the maneuver if it's safe.
3.2. Auto Lane Change
This feature allows your Model 3 to automatically change lanes when Autosteer is engaged.
Initiate with Turn Signal: With Autosteer active, engage the turn signal in the direction you want to change lanes. The car will assess the surrounding traffic and perform the lane change if it's safe and clear.
3.3. Autopark
Let your Tesla handle the tricky parking maneuvers.
Tip: Summarize each section in your own words.
Search for a Spot: Drive slowly near parking spaces. Your Model 3 will automatically detect suitable parallel or perpendicular parking spots.
Activate Autopark: When a suitable spot is detected, a "P" icon will appear on your touchscreen. Tap the "P" icon and follow the instructions on the screen to initiate Autopark.
Supervise and Override: The car will then steer, accelerate, and brake to park itself. You must remain attentive and be ready to override at any time by pressing the brake pedal or taking the steering wheel.
3.4. Summon and Smart Summon
These features allow you to move your Tesla short distances using the mobile app.
Enable in App: Access these features through your Tesla mobile app.
Summon: Basic Summon allows you to move the car forward or backward into a tight space.
Smart Summon: This more advanced feature lets your car navigate more complex environments, like a parking lot, to come find you or move to a specific location you designate.
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Step 4: Monitoring and Disengaging Autopilot – Staying in Control
Understanding how to monitor and disengage Autopilot is just as important as knowing how to activate it.
4.1. Monitoring the Touchscreen
Your Tesla's touchscreen provides crucial visual feedback on Autopilot's status:
Blue Steering Wheel Icon & Lane Lines: Indicate that Autosteer is active.
Gray Steering Wheel Icon: Indicates Autosteer is available but not engaged.
Visualizations: The screen shows real-time representations of other vehicles, pedestrians, and road markings, helping you understand what Autopilot is "seeing."
4.2. Driver Attention Warnings
Tesla uses a cabin camera and steering wheel torque sensors to monitor your attentiveness.
Visual and Audible Alerts: If the system detects that you are not paying attention, it will first display a visual warning on the screen. If you continue to be inattentive, it will escalate to audible warnings and may eventually disengage Autopilot.
Forced Disengagement: If you consistently ignore the warnings, Autopilot will disengage and may become unavailable for the remainder of your drive, requiring you to shift into Park to reset it.
4.3. Disengaging Autopilot
You can disengage Autopilot at any time, instantly regaining full manual control:
Apply Brakes: Pressing the brake pedal will immediately disengage Autopilot.
Take Steering Wheel: Firmly take over the steering wheel and apply steering input.
Push Stalk Up: Push the gear selector stalk up once to disengage Autosteer while keeping Traffic-Aware Cruise Control active.
Push Stalk Up Twice: Push the gear selector stalk up twice to disengage both Autosteer and Traffic-Aware Cruise Control.
Step 5: Keeping Your Tesla Updated – The Brains of the Operation
Tesla's Autopilot features continuously evolve and improve through over-the-air (OTA) software updates.
Tip: Focus on sections most relevant to you.
5.1. Check for Updates
In-Car: Go to
Controls > Softwareon your touchscreen. Your car will check for updates.Tesla App: You can also check for available updates in the Tesla app.
Wi-Fi Connection: To ensure the fastest and most reliable delivery of software updates, connect your vehicle to Wi-Fi whenever possible. Downloads typically require a strong Wi-Fi signal.
5.2. Install Updates
Notification: When an update is available, you'll receive a notification on your touchscreen and in the Tesla app.
Schedule Installation: You can choose to install the update immediately or schedule it for a later time.
Vehicle Cannot Be Driven During Installation: The installation process can take some time (sometimes several hours), and you cannot drive your vehicle while the software is being installed.
Limitations and Safety Considerations
While Autopilot is incredibly advanced, it's vital to remember its limitations and prioritize safety:
It's a Driver-Assist System: It is not a self-driving car. You are always responsible for the safe operation of your vehicle.
Environmental Factors: Performance can be affected by weather, faded lane markings, bright lights, or dirty cameras.
Does Not Prevent All Collisions: Autopilot is designed for convenience and comfort, not as a collision avoidance system. Always be prepared to take action.
Speed Limits: Autosteer has maximum speed limits, which can be restricted on certain road types (e.g., residential roads without dividers).
No Interference with Steering: Do not interfere with the steering wheel when Autopark is active, as this will cancel the feature.
10 FAQ Questions about Tesla Model 3 Autopilot
How to turn on Autopilot in Tesla Model 3?
To turn on Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, pull the gear selector stalk down once. To engage Autosteer, pull it down twice in quick succession after TACC is active.
How to disengage Autopilot in Tesla Model 3?
You can disengage Autopilot by pressing the brake pedal, taking firm control of the steering wheel, or pushing the gear selector stalk up.
How to adjust the speed in Tesla Autopilot?
Adjust the set speed of Traffic-Aware Cruise Control using the right scroll wheel on the steering wheel.
How to change the following distance in Tesla Autopilot?
QuickTip: Absorb ideas one at a time.
Use the right scroll wheel on the steering wheel, moving it left or right, to adjust the following distance when Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is active.
How to enable Navigate on Autopilot in Tesla Model 3?
First, enable it in Controls > Autopilot > Navigate on Autopilot (Beta), then set a navigation destination, and engage Autosteer on a compatible highway.
How to use Auto Lane Change in Tesla Model 3?
With Autosteer engaged, simply activate the turn signal in the direction you wish to change lanes. The car will execute the change if it's safe.
How to use Autopark in Tesla Model 3?
Drive slowly near a parking space until a "P" icon appears on your touchscreen, then tap the icon and follow the on-screen instructions.
How to update Tesla Model 3 software for Autopilot?
Connect your vehicle to Wi-Fi, then go to Controls > Software on your touchscreen or check the Tesla app for available updates and install them.
How to calibrate Tesla Model 3 cameras for Autopilot?
Camera calibration usually happens automatically. If issues persist, you can clear the calibration via Controls > Service > Camera Calibration and then drive on well-marked roads for a period.
How to troubleshoot Autopilot not working in Tesla Model 3?
Check for clean cameras, clear road markings, and good weather conditions. If persistent issues occur, check troubleshooting alerts on your touchscreen or schedule a service appointment through the Tesla app.
For more insights into Tesla's advanced features, check out this video:
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