Adding a Driver to the Tesla App: The Basic Steps
To add a driver to your Tesla app, you create a new Tesla account for that person, then link it to your vehicle through the Tesla app's driver management feature. The person you're adding needs their own Tesla account and email address — you cannot share a single login between multiple people. Once they have an account, you invite them through your vehicle settings, and they accept the invitation on their phone.
The process takes about five minutes and requires both phones to have the Tesla app installed. The new driver will then see your vehicle in their app and can unlock, start, and control the car remotely just as you can. You remain the vehicle owner and can remove any driver at any time.
Key Takeaways
- Each driver needs their own Tesla account with a separate email address; you cannot share login credentials between people.
- You invite drivers through your vehicle's settings in the Tesla app, and they must accept the invitation on their own phone to gain access.
- Added drivers can unlock the car, start it, and use remote features, but you as the owner control who has access and can revoke it anytime.
- The new driver's phone must have the Tesla app installed and be connected to the internet for the invitation to work.
Creating a Tesla Account for the New Driver
The person you want to add must have their own Tesla account before you can invite them. They should read the Tesla app on their phone and tap Create Account. They will enter their email address, create a password, and verify their email by clicking a link Tesla sends them.
This account is separate from yours and is not linked to any vehicle yet. It's straightforward their login to the Tesla app. They do not need to own a Tesla or have any vehicle associated with their account at this stage — the account just needs to exist.
Sending an Invite Through Your Vehicle Settings
Open the Tesla app on your phone and make sure you're viewing your vehicle. Tap Controls (the steering wheel icon at the bottom), then scroll down and select Manage Drivers or Manage Vehicle Access — the exact wording varies by app version and region.
Tap Add Driver or the plus icon. You will see a field to enter the email address of the person you want to add. Type the email address associated with their Tesla account exactly as they registered it. Tap Send Invite. Tesla will send an invitation to that email address.
The invitation is valid for a set period (usually 14 days). If the person does not accept within that time, you can send a new invite. You can also add multiple drivers this way — there is no hard limit, though Tesla's documentation does not specify a maximum number.
What the New Driver Sees and How They Accept
The person you invited will receive an email from Tesla with the subject line containing your vehicle information and an invitation to access it. They should open that email and click the link or button to accept. This will direct them to the Tesla app or a web page where they confirm they want to accept access to your vehicle.
Once they accept, your vehicle will appear in their Tesla app under Vehicles. They do not need to do anything else. The next time they open the app, they can see your car and use all remote features — locking, unlocking, climate control, opening the frunk or trunk, and starting the vehicle if it has a key card or phone key set up.
What Permissions Added Drivers Have
Any driver you add through the app can perform the same remote actions you can: unlock and lock the vehicle, open the frunk and trunk, adjust climate control, honk the horn, flash the lights, and start the car. They can also view the vehicle's location, battery level, and trip history.
However, added drivers cannot change vehicle settings, add or remove other drivers, or access the vehicle's service records. Only the vehicle owner (the person who purchased it or is listed on the registration) can make those changes. If you want to restrict what a driver can do — for example, preventing them from unlocking the car — Tesla does not currently offer granular permission controls in the app.
Removing a Driver or Revoking Access
If you need to remove a driver, open the Tesla app and go to Controls > Manage Drivers. Find the driver's name in the list and tap the trash icon or Remove button next to their name. Confirm the removal. That person will when ready lose access to your vehicle in their app.
Removing a driver does not delete their Tesla account — it only removes them from your vehicle. They can still use the Tesla app for other purposes, such as viewing their own vehicle if they own one. You can re-add them later if needed by sending a new invite.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If the invitation does not arrive, check that the email address is spelled correctly and that the person has created a Tesla account with that exact email. Ask them to check their spam or junk folder. If they still do not see the email after 10 minutes, go back to Manage Drivers and send a new invite.
If the new driver can see the invite but the vehicle does not appear in their app after they accept, have them close the Tesla app completely and reopen it. If the vehicle still does not show up, they should sign out of the app, sign back in, and try again. Make sure both phones have a working internet connection and the latest version of the Tesla app installed.
If you cannot find the Manage Drivers option in your vehicle settings, your app may be outdated. Update the Tesla app from your phone's app store and try again. The feature is available on all Tesla models, but older app versions may not display it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a driver if they don't own a Tesla?
Yes. The person only needs a Tesla account and the Tesla app on their phone. They do not need to own a vehicle or have any connection to Tesla other than the app account. Once you send them an invite, they can access your car remotely.
What happens if I add a driver and then sell my car?
When you transfer ownership of the vehicle to the new owner, all added drivers lose access automatically. The new owner will need to set up their own driver list. You should remove all drivers before the sale is complete to avoid confusion.
Can a driver I added see my location history or trip data?
Added drivers can see your vehicle's current location and battery level, but they cannot see your trip history or past locations. Only the vehicle owner can view detailed trip data and history in the app.
Is there a limit to how many drivers I can add?
Tesla does not publish a specific maximum number of drivers per vehicle in the app. Most owners add between two and five drivers without issues. If you need to add more than that, contact Tesla Support to confirm whether there are any limits for your region or vehicle model.
Do added drivers need to be on the same WiFi network as the car?
No. Added drivers can control your vehicle from anywhere as long as their phone has an internet connection and your vehicle has cellular connectivity. They do not need to be near the car or on the same network.