Are you shopping for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving outright earlier than it goes subscription-only?

Lately Tesla began providing passenger rides of their driverless robotaxi community and its clear they’re firmly targeted on scaling that throughout the US and in the end the world. Not solely can you are taking a experience in a Mannequin Y with no driver, however in addition they introduced the primary Cybercab rolled off the manufacturing line this week with no steering wheel or pedals.

Whereas it’s full steam forward within the US with autos powered by FSD v14.x, Australians are caught with V13 which launched in late 2025 for HW4 automobiles, whereas early adopters with HW3 autos nonetheless wait for his or her flip.

Tesla lately switched off the power to buy the FSD software program improve outright (to personal it), as a substitute US clients have simply two methods to entry to it, subscribe, or take a experience in a Tesla-owned robotaxi.

Australian Tesla homeowners have till March thirty first to resolve if they will buy Full Self Driving (FSD) for his or her car. From April 1, 2026, the A$10,100 one-off fee will vanish, changed fully by a month-to-month subscription mannequin.

Whereas there’s no official affirmation, some are speculating this timeline may correlate to V14 lastly arriving for Australia. For HW3 homeowners, we await the supply of one thing referred to as V14 lite (slated for Q2 2026) which ought to see a compressed mannequin be able to FSD (Supervised) nevertheless it’s not clear if a {hardware} improve might be required to ship FSD (Unsupervised).

These shopping for their first Tesla, or present homeowners trying to improve have a call to make and quick. After this deadline, the software program might be completely obtainable by way of the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) Subscription for $149/mo.

For potential consumers, the deadline creates a “now or by no means” state of affairs. If you wish to personal the software program for the lifetime of the car, and keep away from a monthy cost that’s uncovered to cost adjustments sooner or later, then you definitely want transfer quick. For many who personal FSD and shopping for a brand new car, you may switch it, however do have to take supply earlier than March thirty first.

Key to your FSD resolution is the understanding of the worth proposition on supply right here. Tesla has delivered FSD (Supervised) which is one of the best ADAS system in the marketplace, however continues to be wanting the last word dedication of FSD (Unsupervised) which might can help you use your telephone, watch a film and even fall asleep whereas the automotive drives you to your vacation spot. How a lot that’s price to you, could be very particular to you, so solely you may resolve if that makes monetary sense.

The short maths round that is an FSD bought of A$10,100 would take 5 years and eight months to interrupt even. When you plan on maintaining your automotive for 67 months or better, then it seems like a good selection, nevertheless..

Issues get extra difficult / attention-grabbing after we take into accounts the possibility to enrol your automotive within the Tesla robotaxi community and make cash from it. For those who subscribe, you first have to pay again the price of subscribing earlier than earning profits, likley a proportion break up between Tesla and the car proprietor. For many who purchase and personal FSD outright, they’ll be earning profits from the primary experience and importantly, be protected against further worth rises.

We don’t anticipate that Tesla can have an entry charge so as to add your automotive to their Robotaxi Community, but it surely’s additionally not completely out of the query and if that does eventuate, the enrolment charge could possibly be totally different between outright consumers and subscribers.

Is FSD Unsupervised authorized in Australia?

One other side to think about is the legalities and timeline of delivering FSD (Unsupervised) in Australia. There are nonetheless important regulatory hurdles with Australian earlier than Tesla and others may supply totally autonomous autos right here.

Whereas the Division of Infrastructure and related state regulators have spent years working with the NTC on creating an Automated Automobile Security Regulation which continues to be not in place in 2026.

If we use Victoria for instance, Transport Victoria has info on the Testing of autonomous autos (ADS Allow). This allow scheme at the moment mandates a Automobile Supervisor should “meet Austroads health to drive necessities” and “obey all Victorian street guidelines”. This implies “Unsupervised” (the place the human shouldn’t be the motive force) can’t be realised till these tips are up to date to permit for operation with out a human-in-the-loop.

Within the allow type, candidates are requested to supply particulars of the trial, together with the Autonomous Driving System and technoloigies being relied upon, together with proof or information to show it’s security. These conducting an ADS trial may even have obligations like having an Australian-based entity and report on incidents, very like they expertise within the US.

For extra info, head to Tesla Australia