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How to Set Up a Tesla for a New Driver

Set up a new Tesla driver with a separate profile, linked key, app access, phone-key setup, and a practical review of optional driving controls.
Entry516 Date Time5 min MechanicCarCody Team
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Set up a separate driver profile, link the new driver’s key to it, confirm their access in the Tesla app, and review any optional driving limits together. The menu examples below come from the Model 3 owner’s manual; controls and labels can differ by model, year, market, configuration, and software. Check the manual for the specific vehicle before following a step.

1. Create a separate driver profile

A driver profile stores personal vehicle preferences, including seat, steering wheel, and exterior mirror positions. Using a separate profile helps avoid changing another driver’s saved setup.

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  1. On the Model 3 example, open Controls > Profiles > Add New Driver.

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  2. Choose a Tesla-app profile or a local profile, then follow the on-screen prompts.

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  3. With the new profile selected, adjust the seat, steering wheel, and mirrors. Save the positions when prompted.

  4. If useful, associate Easy Entry with the profile so the vehicle can move to an easier entry or exit position. Confirm the available options in the vehicle’s manual.

Tesla notes that some settings save automatically. Which settings are saved and the exact menu path may vary, so use the vehicle’s own manual for confirmation. Tesla Model 3 Owner’s Manual: Driver Profiles

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2. Link the driver’s key to their profile

Linking a key lets the vehicle select the associated profile when it detects that key as the driver approaches and opens the door. This is more reliable than assuming the car will always choose the right profile automatically.

  1. Select the new driver’s profile and set the preferred driving position.

  2. When the vehicle prompts you to save the position, save it to that profile.

  3. Follow the vehicle’s key-linking prompts for the key the driver will use. Test the setup by locking and unlocking the vehicle with that key and checking that the intended profile is selected.

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The precise process depends on the vehicle and key type. Check the manual for the specific Tesla rather than assuming the Model 3 instructions apply unchanged. Tesla Model 3 Owner’s Manual: Driver Profiles

3. Give the new driver Tesla app access if needed

If the driver needs vehicle access through the Tesla app, they need their own Tesla Account. Tesla’s support instructions also call for the latest version of the app for both the owner and the additional driver.

  1. In the Tesla app, use the driver-management flow to add the person. App labels and screens can change, so follow the current prompts.

  2. The new driver accepts the invitation using their Tesla Account.

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  3. Confirm that the driver can see the vehicle in their app before relying on app-based features.

App access and having a physical key are distinct matters; confirm the access the driver actually needs. Tesla Support: Add or Remove Drivers

4. Set up phone access and keep a physical backup

For the Model 3 phone-key flow, the driver must be logged into the Tesla app, Bluetooth and location access must be enabled for the app, and Allow Mobile Access must be enabled in the vehicle. Phone-key setup also requires starting Set Up Phone Key in the app while inside or near the vehicle.

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  1. Install or update the Tesla app and sign in to the driver’s Tesla Account.

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  2. Enable Bluetooth and location access for the app in the phone’s settings.

  3. In the vehicle, check that Allow Mobile Access is enabled.

  4. While inside or near the vehicle, start Set Up Phone Key in the app and follow its prompts.

  5. Test access, then make sure the driver knows where the vehicle’s key card is and how to use it.

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A phone key depends on the phone, app, permissions, account session, and vehicle mobile-access setting. Tesla documents a key card as another way to access and drive the vehicle, making it a useful physical backup if phone access is unavailable. Check the vehicle manual for the exact phone-key and card instructions. Tesla Model 3 Owner’s Manual: Keys

5. Decide whether to use optional driver controls

Controls such as Parental Controls, PIN to Drive, and Speed Limit Mode serve different purposes. Review their behavior and availability in the specific vehicle, then decide with the driver which—if any—are appropriate.

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Parental Controls

The Model 3 manual describes Parental Controls as a way to limit speed, reduce acceleration, require listed safety features, and receive curfew notifications. The exact options may depend on the vehicle’s configuration and software.

PIN to Drive

PIN to Drive requires entry of a four-digit PIN before the vehicle can be driven. Set it up only if the owner can manage the PIN and the driver knows what to do when prompted.

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Speed Limit Mode

Speed Limit Mode caps the vehicle’s speed at a selected value and automatically sets acceleration to Chill while it is active. Tesla warns in the Model 3 manual: “Speed Limit Mode is not a replacement for good judgment, driver training, and the need to closely monitor speed limits and driving conditions.”

Parental Controls cannot be enabled while Speed Limit Mode is enabled, according to the Model 3 manual. These controls are not substitutes for driver training or supervision, and availability can vary by region, configuration, options, and software. Tesla Model 3 Owner’s Manual: Safety & Security Settings

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6. Walk through the setup with the driver

Before the new driver uses the car independently, have them try the setup themselves while you are present. This checks both that the settings work and that they know what to do when something does not.

  • Switch to their profile and confirm the driving position and mirrors.

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  • Use their linked key and verify that the intended profile loads.

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  • Confirm app access and phone-key operation if they will use those features.

  • Show them the key card and explain how to use it according to the vehicle manual.

  • If any driving controls are active, explain what they change and how the driver will recognize them.

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Common setup problems

The wrong profile loads

Check that the intended profile is selected when the driving position is saved and that the correct key is linked to it. If the menu differs from the Model 3 example, consult the manual for that vehicle and software.

The phone key does not work

Check that the driver is logged into the Tesla app, Bluetooth and location access are enabled, and Allow Mobile Access is on in the vehicle. Restart setup from Set Up Phone Key while inside or near the car and follow the app prompts.

The driver cannot see the vehicle in the app

Confirm that the owner added the driver through the current app flow and that the invite was accepted with the driver’s Tesla Account. Tesla’s support instructions specify the latest app version for both parties.

A control cannot be enabled

Check whether another setting conflicts with it—for example, the Model 3 manual says Parental Controls cannot be enabled while Speed Limit Mode is enabled. Feature availability also varies, so verify the vehicle’s configuration and manual.

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