free supercharging (sc01)
A handful of used Teslas come with free unlimited Supercharging for the life of the car - worth thousands of dollars if you road-trip or can't charge at home. But not all "free Supercharging" is equal, and the difference is exactly where used buyers get burned.
The one that matters: transferable (SC01)
Mostly early Model S and Model X (roughly 2012 through early 2017 orders, plus various later promotions). The perk is attached to the vehicle, coded on the car's account record as SC01, and it survives a private-party sale. This is the version sellers can legitimately advertise - and the one our Free Supercharging filter is for.
The ones that don't transfer
- Owner-tied promos (referral rewards, some 2017-2019 offers): free for that owner only - it vanishes at transfer.
- Time-boxed promos (e.g. "free Supercharging for a year" delivery incentives): expire on schedule regardless of owner.
- Cars resold through Tesla: Tesla has stripped free Supercharging from cars it resold - a car that had SC01 once may not have it now.
How to verify before you pay
- Ask the seller for a screenshot of the Tesla app or account page showing the car's Supercharging status.
- Have the seller ask Tesla service (or use the app's service chat) to confirm the perk is transferable on that VIN.
- Get it in writing in your bill of sale: "vehicle includes transferable free unlimited Supercharging."
If the deal hinges on free charging, verify it the same way you'd verify the FSD package: on the car's own screens and Tesla's records, never just the ad copy.