Have you ever been cruising in your Tesla, enjoying the smooth, silent ride, only to be surprised by a toll booth or an unexpected charge on your bill? Many Tesla owners love the advanced navigation, but sometimes, those pesky tolls can put a damper on your journey or your budget. The good news is, your Tesla's built-in navigation system offers an easy way to avoid them! Let's dive into a step-by-step guide to ensure your future drives are toll-free.
Step 1: Engage with Your Tesla's Touchscreen Interface
Your Tesla's large central touchscreen is the command center for almost everything, including navigation. This is where we'll start our journey to avoiding tolls.
Accessing the Main Controls
To begin, you need to open the main car controls. Look for the car icon on your touchscreen, typically located at the bottom or side of the display. Give it a gentle tap. This will bring up a new screen with various settings and menus.
Step 2: Navigate to the Navigation Settings
Once you're in the main controls, you'll see a series of sub-menus listed on the left-hand side of the screen.
Finding the Navigation Section
Scroll through the options on the left until you locate the "Navigation" section. Tap on it. This will reveal the specific settings related to your Tesla's mapping and routing functions.
Step 3: Activate the "Avoid Tolls" Feature
This is the crucial step to ensure your Tesla plans routes that steer clear of toll roads.
Toggling the "Avoid Tolls" Option
Within the Navigation settings, you'll find a toggle switch labeled "Avoid Tolls" (and often, "Avoid Ferries" as well). By default, this might be turned off, meaning your navigation system will include toll roads if they offer the fastest route. Simply tap this toggle to turn it on. When it's active, the navigation map will prioritize directions that do not take you through toll booths.
Alternatively: On-the-Fly Adjustment
Did you know you can also adjust this directly from the map while a route is active? If you're already navigating and realize you're heading towards a toll, simply touch anywhere on the map to bring up the navigation icons. Look for the settings icon (often represented by three dots or a gear), tap it, and you'll find the "Avoid Tolls" option there. This is especially handy if you forget to set it beforehand or your preferences change mid-journey!
Using Voice Commands (If Available)
For even greater convenience, you might be able to use voice commands. Simply say something like, "Turn on Avoid Tolls" or "Avoid Toll Roads" to your Tesla, and it should toggle the feature for you. This can be particularly useful when you're driving and want to keep your hands on the wheel.
Step 4: Verify Your New Route
After activating "Avoid Tolls," your Tesla's navigation system will automatically recalculate your route.
Checking the Map
Observe your map to ensure the new route avoids the previously suggested toll roads. The estimated time of arrival (ETA) might increase, as toll roads are often designed for speed, but you'll be saving money!
Step 5: Consider "Avoid Motorways/Highways" (Newer Feature)
Some newer Tesla updates (like the 2025 Spring update) have introduced an "Avoid Motorways" or "Avoid Highways" feature.
Expanding Your Avoidance Options
If you not only want to avoid tolls but also prefer scenic, less-trafficked, or country roads, look for this additional setting within your navigation options. Toggling this on will further customize your route to stay off major highways, which can often be linked to tolls or simply offer a different driving experience. This can be found in the same navigation settings menu as "Avoid Tolls."
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to turn off "Avoid Tolls" in Tesla navigation?
To turn off "Avoid Tolls," simply go back to the "Navigation" settings (via the car icon or directly from the map) and tap the "Avoid Tolls" toggle again to switch it off.
How to check if "Avoid Tolls" is active on my Tesla?
When "Avoid Tolls" is active, your navigation routes will typically display a path that circumvents known toll roads. You can also confirm its status in the "Navigation" settings menu.
How to use voice commands to avoid tolls in a Tesla?
You can say "Turn on Avoid Tolls" or "Avoid Toll Roads" to your Tesla's voice command system to activate this feature.
How to find the navigation settings on a Tesla touchscreen?
Tap the car icon on your Tesla's main display, then look for "Navigation" in the left-hand sub-menu list.
How to adjust navigation preferences while driving a Tesla?
Touch anywhere on the map during an active navigation route to reveal the settings icon (often three dots or a gear), then tap it to access options like "Avoid Tolls."
How to avoid ferries in my Tesla's navigation?
Similar to avoiding tolls, there's usually an "Avoid Ferries" toggle right next to the "Avoid Tolls" option in your Tesla's navigation settings.
How to make Tesla navigation show alternate routes without tolls?
Once "Avoid Tolls" is enabled, your Tesla's navigation will automatically present routes that avoid tolls. It may also show alternative routes that are toll-free when you initially input a destination.
How to use the "Avoid Highways" feature in my Tesla?
If your Tesla has the latest software updates, you might find an "Avoid Motorways" or "Avoid Highways" option alongside "Avoid Tolls" in the navigation settings.
How to reset Tesla navigation settings to default?
While there isn't a single "reset to default" button for navigation, you can manually toggle individual settings like "Avoid Tolls" back to their original state.
How to optimize my Tesla route for cost savings (including tolls)?
Enabling "Avoid Tolls" is the primary way to save money on your route. Additionally, Tesla's trip planner helps optimize for charging stops, which indirectly contributes to cost savings compared to unexpected charging.
