Image: Tesla
If you’ve been thinking about buying Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software outright, this is your last call.
After February 14, Tesla will officially discontinue the one-time purchase option for FSD in the U.S., moving the advanced driver assistance system to a subscription-only model. That means the current $8,000 upfront purchase option — available either when placing an order or after delivery — is going away for good. Going forward, FSD will only be accessible via subscription at $99 per month or $999 per year.
The one-time price has fluctuated dramatically over the years, peaking at $15,000 in 2022 and often drawing criticism given the system’s evolving capabilities at the time. Now, Tesla appears ready to simplify things and lean fully into recurring revenue.
From a consumer standpoint, the shift significantly lowers the barrier to entry. Rather than committing thousands upfront, owners can enable FSD only when they need it — for a long road trip, a busy commute season, or simply to try it out — and cancel when they’re done. Conversely, it’s a turn-off for buyers who prefer owning their software rather than renting it monthly.
From Tesla’s perspective, it creates predictable, steady software revenue as the company pushes toward full autonomy. It appears the company is following a similar blueprint in other markets, with the option to buy FSD as a one-time purchase in Australia also going away on March 31, 2026. There’s no word yet on when Tesla plans to pull the option from other regions, however.
This move comes as Tesla continues improving FSD at a rapid pace. The company has rolled out major updates recently, and CEO Elon Musk has made it clear that the subscription price will increase as capabilities expand — particularly once an unsupervised version becomes reality. That future milestone could represent the biggest pricing jump yet.
FSD has also proven itself in real-world scenarios, including cases where the system helped prevent accidents and even save a driver’s life during a medical emergency. As of Q4 2025, 1.1 million Tesla owners have either purchased or subscribed to FSD (Supervised), underscoring just how central the software has become to Tesla’s long-term strategy.
At the same time, Tesla is also winding down free FSD transfers by the end of March, closing yet another chapter in its evolving autonomy playbook.
For buyers who have been on the fence, this weekend is effectively their last chance. After February 14, the one-time FSD purchase option disappears — and it’s not expected to return.
