Ready to unlock a new level of driving convenience in your Tesla? Tesla Autopilot is a sophisticated suite of driver-assistance features designed to make your journeys smoother and more relaxed. It's crucial to remember that Autopilot is a Level 2 driver-assistance system, meaning you remain in control of the vehicle at all times. It assists, but it doesn't replace your active driving. Let's dive into how you can effectively use this technology!
Step 1: Prepare Your Tesla for Autopilot Engagement
Before you even think about engaging Autopilot, there are a few essential preparations to ensure optimal performance and safety.
1.1. Understand Autopilot vs. Full Self-Driving (FSD)
It's important to differentiate between standard Autopilot and the Full Self-Driving (FSD) package.
Autopilot comes standard with all new Teslas and includes Traffic-Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer. These features help maintain your speed and distance from other vehicles, and keep your car centered in its lane.
Full Self-Driving (FSD) is an optional, paid upgrade that builds upon Autopilot's capabilities, adding features like Navigate on Autopilot (highway on-ramp to off-ramp navigation), Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, and Autopark. FSD is continuously updated and aims for greater autonomy in the future, but still requires constant driver supervision.
1.2. Ensure Clean Cameras and Sensors
Tesla's Autopilot system relies heavily on its cameras to "see" the road and surrounding traffic.
Before every drive, visually inspect all cameras (front, rear, and side pillars) and ensure they are clean and free of obstructions like dirt, mud, snow, ice, or even excessive wiper streaks. Obstructions can severely impact Autopilot's performance and may lead to temporary unavailability of features.
1.3. Check Road Conditions and Visibility
Autopilot performs best under ideal conditions.
Good visibility is key. Heavy rain, snow, fog, or extremely bright direct sunlight can impair camera vision and cause Autopilot to disengage or be unavailable.
Clear lane markings are crucial for Autosteer. Faded or missing lane markers, construction zones, or rapidly changing lane configurations can confuse the system.
Autopilot is designed for use on controlled-access highways. Avoid using it on winding roads with sharp curves, icy or slippery roads, or in areas with frequent pedestrian and cyclist traffic.
1.4. Familiarize Yourself with Autopilot Settings
You can customize how Autopilot behaves through your Tesla's touchscreen.
Navigate to Controls > Autopilot on your touchscreen.
Set Speed: Choose whether Autopilot engages at the currently detected speed limit or your current driving speed.
Autopilot Activation: This is a crucial setting!
If set to Single Click, both Traffic-Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer will engage with one press of the right scroll button.
If set to Double Click, you'll need to double-press the right scroll button to engage Autosteer. This setting also allows you to use Traffic-Aware Cruise Control independently. Many users prefer "Double Click" for more granular control.
Step 2: Engaging Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC) is the foundational component of Autopilot. It maintains your speed and an adjustable following distance from the vehicle in front of you.
2.1. Activating TACC
While driving, press the right scroll button on your steering wheel once.
You'll hear an audible chime, and the touchscreen will display an icon indicating that TACC is active.
Release the accelerator pedal to allow TACC to maintain the set cruising speed.
Speed Requirements: TACC typically operates between 18 mph (30 km/h) and 85 mph (140 km/h). It can activate at lower speeds if a vehicle is detected ahead.
2.2. Adjusting Following Distance
On your touchscreen, you'll see a visualization of your car and the cars around you.
You can adjust the following distance by rolling the right scroll wheel on your steering wheel up or down. Rolling up increases the following distance, and rolling down decreases it.
2.3. Adjusting Set Speed
To change the set speed while TACC is active, roll the right scroll wheel up to increase, or down to decrease the speed.
You can temporarily override the set speed by pressing the accelerator pedal. Once you release it, TACC will resume its set speed.
Step 3: Engaging Autosteer
Autosteer builds upon TACC by actively steering your Tesla to keep it centered within its lane.
3.1. Enabling Autosteer (Initial Setup)
The very first time you use Autosteer, you might need to enable it via the touchscreen. Go to Controls > Autopilot > Autosteer (Beta) and carefully read and understand the pop-up window, then touch "Yes."
3.2. Activating Autosteer
Ensure TACC is already active.
Depending on your "Autopilot Activation" setting (from Step 1.4):
If set to Single Click: Autosteer will engage automatically when you press the right scroll button once to activate TACC.
If set to Double Click: While TACC is active, double-press the right scroll button on your steering wheel.
You'll hear another chime, and the steering wheel icon on your touchscreen will turn blue, indicating Autosteer is active. The lane lines on your visualization will also turn blue.
A message will briefly appear on the touchscreen reminding you to pay attention to the road and keep your hands on the steering wheel.
3.3. Hands-On Monitoring
This is paramount: Autosteer is a hands-on assistance feature. You must keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times and remain attentive to road conditions and surrounding traffic.
Tesla uses a system to monitor your attentiveness. If you don't provide slight rotational force to the steering wheel for a period, your Tesla will issue escalating warnings.
First, a visual warning on the touchscreen.
Then, an audible chime.
If you continue to ignore the warnings, Autopilot will eventually disengage and become unavailable for the remainder of your drive.
Step 4: Using Navigate on Autopilot (If Equipped with FSD)
If you have the Full Self-Driving package, Navigate on Autopilot is an advanced feature that actively guides your Tesla from a highway's on-ramp to off-ramp.
4.1. Activating Navigate on Autopilot
First, ensure both TACC and Autosteer are active.
Set a destination in your navigation system that includes highway driving.
When on a controlled-access highway, you'll see the option for "Navigate on Autopilot" appear on your touchscreen. You can then activate it.
Navigate on Autopilot will suggest and perform lane changes, navigate interchanges, and automatically engage the turn signal, but remember, you are still responsible for supervising these actions and intervening if necessary.
Step 5: Disengaging Autopilot
Disengaging Autopilot is straightforward and important to know for immediate manual control.
5.1. Methods to Disengage
You can disengage Autopilot in several ways:
Press the brake pedal: This is the most common and immediate way to disengage.
Apply rotational force to the steering wheel: Even a slight turn of the steering wheel will disengage Autosteer. If your "Autopilot Activation" setting is "Double Click," TACC may remain active. If it's "Single Click," both will disengage.
Push the right scroll stalk up: Pushing the stalk behind the steering wheel upwards will also disengage Autopilot.
Press the right scroll button once: This will disengage Autosteer (and potentially TACC, depending on your settings).
Important Safety Considerations and Limitations
While incredibly helpful, Autopilot has limitations.
Not fully autonomous: It is a Level 2 system. It does not make your Tesla self-driving.
Always be prepared to take over: Road conditions, sudden changes in traffic, and unforeseen obstacles can require immediate driver intervention.
Environmental factors: Rain, snow, fog, bright sunlight, and poor lane markings can affect performance.
Objects partially in lane: Autosteer is not designed to steer around objects partially in a driving lane and may not stop for objects completely blocking the lane.
Driver attentiveness: The system monitors your attention. Failure to respond to warnings will lead to disengagement.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to customize Autopilot settings?
You can customize Autopilot settings by going to Controls > Autopilot on your Tesla's touchscreen, where you can adjust set speed and Autopilot activation preferences.
How to know if Autopilot is engaged?
When Autopilot (including Autosteer) is engaged, the steering wheel icon on your touchscreen will turn blue, and you'll hear an audible chime.
How to adjust the following distance in Autopilot?
You can adjust the following distance from the car in front by rolling the right scroll wheel on your steering wheel up to increase the distance or down to decrease it.
How to change the set speed while using Autopilot?
To change the set speed, roll the right scroll wheel on your steering wheel up to increase the speed or down to decrease it.
How to temporarily override Autopilot's speed?
You can temporarily override the set speed by pressing the accelerator pedal; Autopilot will resume the set speed once you release the pedal.
How to disengage Autopilot quickly?
The quickest ways to disengage Autopilot are to press the brake pedal, apply rotational force to the steering wheel, or push the right scroll stalk up.
How to re-engage Autopilot after disengagement?
To re-engage Autopilot, you'll typically need to press the right scroll button once for TACC or double-press it for Autosteer, assuming conditions are suitable.
How to ensure Autopilot functions optimally?
To ensure optimal performance, keep your Tesla's cameras clean and drive in clear weather conditions with visible lane markings.
How to handle Autopilot warnings?
When Autopilot issues warnings, it's indicating a need for driver attention or intervention; apply slight torque to the steering wheel to show attentiveness and be prepared to take control.
How to understand the difference between Autopilot and FSD?
Autopilot includes basic traffic-aware cruise control and autosteer, while FSD (Full Self-Driving) is an optional upgrade that adds more advanced features like navigation on city streets, traffic light/stop sign control, and autopark.
For more details on mastering Autopilot, watch this
