Have you ever wondered what it's like to experience the future of driving? Tesla's Autopilot system is a remarkable piece of technology that can significantly enhance your driving experience, offering features like adaptive cruise control and automatic steering. While it's incredibly advanced, it's crucial to understand how to use it safely and effectively. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start using Autopilot in your Tesla, ensuring a smooth and confident journey.
Step 1: Understanding Tesla Autopilot: More Than Just Cruise Control!
Before we dive into the "how-to," let's clarify what Tesla Autopilot actually is. It's not a fully autonomous system that allows you to take your hands off the wheel and nap. Instead, it's an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) classified as Level 2 automation by SAE International. This means your Tesla can manage both steering and acceleration/deceleration, but you, the driver, must remain engaged and ready to take control at all times.
Tesla offers different levels of Autopilot functionality:
Standard Autopilot (Included with most Teslas)
This is your baseline. It includes:
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC): This intelligently matches your car's speed to the flow of traffic, maintaining a set following distance.
Autosteer: This keeps your vehicle centered in its lane. It's designed primarily for use on highways and freeways with clear lane markings.
Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) - (Previously Available, sometimes as an upgrade)
If you have EAP, you get all the standard Autopilot features, plus:
Auto Lane Change: When Autopilot is active, you can signal a lane change, and your Tesla will automatically move to the adjacent lane when it's safe.
Navigate on Autopilot (NoA): This is a more advanced highway feature that guides your Tesla from highway on-ramp to off-ramp, including automatic lane changes and navigation through interchanges.
Summon/Smart Summon: This allows your car to move a short distance out of a parking spot or even drive to your location in a parking lot using the Tesla mobile app.
Autopark: Your Tesla can automatically park itself in parallel or perpendicular spaces.
Full Self-Driving (FSD) (Supervised) - (A Paid Upgrade/Subscription)
FSD (Supervised) is the most comprehensive package and includes all EAP features, plus:
Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control: Your Tesla will respond to traffic lights and stop signs.
Autosteer on City Streets: This expands Autosteer functionality to local roads, although it still requires active driver supervision.
It's vital to remember that even with FSD (Supervised), you are responsible for the safe operation of your vehicle. Always pay attention, keep your hands on the wheel, and be prepared to take over.
Step 2: Preparing Your Tesla for Autopilot Activation ️
Before you engage Autopilot, a few quick checks ensure optimal performance and safety. Think of it as a pre-flight checklist for your car!
Clean Your Cameras!
Tesla's Autopilot system relies heavily on its external cameras. Dirty or obstructed cameras can significantly impact performance and even prevent Autopilot from engaging.
Locate them: Your Tesla has cameras around the vehicle (e.g., windshield, B-pillars, rear).
Wipe them clean: Use a soft cloth and a gentle cleaning solution to ensure they're spotless.
Ensure Proper Tire Pressure
While not directly tied to Autopilot activation, proper tire pressure is crucial for overall vehicle stability and handling, which in turn contributes to safe Autopilot operation. Check your tire pressure regularly and adjust as needed.
Familiarize Yourself with Controls
Know where your gear stalk (Model 3/Y) or cruise control stalk (Model S/X) is, as these are your primary tools for engaging and disengaging Autopilot. Understand how the scroll wheels on your steering wheel adjust speed and following distance.
Step 3: Activating Basic Autopilot (Traffic-Aware Cruise Control & Autosteer)
Now for the fun part! Engaging basic Autopilot is straightforward, though it can vary slightly depending on your Tesla model.
For Model 3 and Model Y:
Get on a suitable road: Autopilot works best on clear, straight highways with well-defined lane markings.
Pull the gear stalk down twice: While in "Drive," pull the right stalk (the gear selector) down two times in quick succession. You'll hear a confirmation chime, and the steering wheel icon on your screen will turn blue, indicating Autosteer is active.
Adjust speed and following distance:
Speed: Use the right scroll wheel on your steering wheel to adjust your desired speed.
Following Distance: Roll the right scroll wheel up or down to increase or decrease the distance your Tesla maintains from the car in front.
For Model S and Model X (older models with dedicated cruise control stalk):
Get on a suitable road: Similar to Model 3/Y, highways are ideal.
Pull the cruise control stalk towards you twice: The cruise control stalk is typically on the left side of your steering column. Pull it towards you twice. Again, you'll hear a chime, and the steering wheel icon will turn blue.
Adjust speed and following distance:
Speed: Move the cruise control lever up or down and release to adjust your speed.
Following Distance: Rotate the cruise control lever to change the following distance.
Remember: Even when Autopilot is engaged, always keep your hands on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road. Tesla uses internal cameras to monitor driver attentiveness. If you fail to respond to warnings to apply slight torque to the steering wheel, Autopilot will eventually disengage, and you might receive a strike against your Autopilot privileges.
Step 4: Engaging Advanced Autopilot Features (If Equipped) ✨
If you have Enhanced Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (Supervised), you can unlock even more capabilities.
Navigate on Autopilot (NoA):
Enable in settings: Go to
Controls > Autopilot > Navigate on Autopilot (Beta). You can also customize its behavior, such as whether it enables automatically at the start of every trip.Enter a destination: Set a destination in your Tesla's navigation system.
Engage Autopilot: Once on a highway, engage Autopilot as described in Step 3.
Confirm lane changes (optional): Depending on your settings, NoA may prompt you to confirm lane changes. You can do this by tapping the turn signal stalk or by doing nothing if "Require Lane Change Confirmation" is off.
Auto Lane Change:
Autopilot must be active.
Use the turn signal: Simply engage the turn signal in the direction you wish to change lanes. Your Tesla will automatically move into the adjacent lane when it determines it's safe to do so.
Autopark:
Drive slowly: Drive slowly past a potential parking spot.
Look for the "P" icon: When your Tesla detects a suitable space, a gray "P" icon will appear on your touchscreen.
Confirm: Tap the "P" icon and follow the on-screen instructions. Your car will then maneuver itself into the spot.
Summon/Smart Summon:
Use the Tesla mobile app.
Select Summon: From the app, you can choose to move your car forward or backward (Summon) or guide it to your location (Smart Summon). Always ensure a clear path and remain vigilant.
Step 5: Disengaging Autopilot: Taking Back Control ️
Knowing how to disengage Autopilot quickly and safely is just as important as knowing how to activate it. You have several options:
Apply the brake pedal: This is the most common and intuitive way. A gentle tap on the brake pedal will disengage Autopilot.
Push the gear/cruise control stalk up once: Pushing the stalk up will disengage both Autosteer and Traffic-Aware Cruise Control.
Slightly turn the steering wheel (with force): If you apply enough torque to the steering wheel, Autopilot will disengage. Be gentle to avoid erratic steering.
Exceed 140 km/h (approximately 85 mph): Autopilot has speed limitations, and exceeding them will disengage the system.
Shift into Reverse, Park, or Neutral: Changing gears will also disengage Autopilot.
Step 6: Safety First! Important Considerations ⚠️
While Autopilot is incredibly helpful, it's not foolproof. Always prioritize safety:
Stay Alert: Autopilot is a driver-assistance system, not a substitute for an attentive driver.
Hands on the Wheel: Keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times. Tesla uses sensors to detect this.
Environmental Limitations: Autopilot's performance can be affected by poor weather (heavy rain, snow, fog), faded lane markings, bright sunlight, or low visibility. Be prepared to take over in these conditions.
Road Conditions: Autopilot is best suited for well-marked roads with predictable traffic. It's not designed for complex city driving, winding roads with sharp curves, or icy conditions unless you have FSD (Supervised) and are actively monitoring it.
Intervention is Key: Always be ready to intervene immediately if the system behaves unexpectedly or if road conditions change.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to check if my Tesla has Autopilot?
Most modern Teslas come with basic Autopilot included. You can confirm by checking your vehicle's software settings on the touchscreen or by looking at your original purchase agreement.
How to update Tesla Autopilot software?
Tesla releases software updates over-the-air. You can check for new updates in the "Software" tab on your touchscreen or through the Tesla app. You'll receive a notification when an update is available.
How to calibrate Tesla Autopilot cameras?
If your Tesla isn't recognizing objects correctly or you're receiving camera-related errors, you might need to calibrate them. Go to Controls > Service > Camera Calibration on your touchscreen. This process usually involves driving on a straight road with clear lane lines.
How to use Autopilot safely in heavy traffic?
Autopilot's Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is excellent for stop-and-go traffic, but remain vigilant. Be ready to brake or steer if traffic suddenly changes or other vehicles behave erratically.
How to adjust the following distance in Autopilot?
For Model 3/Y, use the right scroll wheel on your steering wheel. For older Model S/X, rotate the cruise control stalk.
How to know if Autopilot is engaged?
The steering wheel icon on your Tesla's touchscreen will turn blue when Autosteer is active. You'll also hear a chime upon engagement.
How to troubleshoot common Autopilot issues?
If you experience "Autopilot temporarily unavailable" or "Take over immediately" alerts, check for dirty cameras, poor weather, or faded lane markings. Sometimes a system reboot (holding both steering wheel scroll buttons until the screen turns dark) can help. If issues persist, contact Tesla service.
How to distinguish between Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (Supervised)?
Autopilot typically refers to the basic features (TACC and Autosteer). Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is a paid upgrade that adds more advanced capabilities like navigating on city streets, responding to traffic lights and stop signs, and advanced parking features.
How to use Auto Lane Change with Autopilot?
With Autopilot active, simply engage your turn signal in the direction you want to move. The car will assess safety and execute the lane change automatically.
How to turn off Navigate on Autopilot?
You can disengage Navigate on Autopilot by turning off Autopilot (using the brake pedal or stalk), or by disabling "Navigate on Autopilot" in your vehicle's Autopilot settings.
Learn more about activating Tesla Autopilot features here:
