I read that a Tesla can be tracked (location) if it gets stolen or whatever. But can I track it while it goes across the country on the back of a truck from the seller to me? I can't imagine I just need the VIN and away I go. What's involved?
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Derek Kessler
Active Member
You have to contact Tesla to have a car added to your My Tesla account, and in doing that you will need to send them a copy of your license, vehicle title or registration (for which you'll need possession of the car), and your contact info (email, phone, physical address).
Basically: Nope.
Basically: Nope.
Thanks.
I actually just got off the phone with them. I have to say, I haven't for one second regretted my decision to buy this car until that moment speaking with Ms. Garcia, CSR. What a frustrating conversation. She was combative and of no help whatsoever. What a turnoff.
She stubbornly stated that the "law" doesn't matter, only Tesla's policies. And the policy is what you said... I have to send a "title" in my name, or "registration" but, specifically, not a bill of sale. The problem is the chicken and egg. I suppose it is different elsewhere, but here (as I explained to Ms. Garcia), there is no "title" and the term "registration" differs from province to province. The car is coming from Ontario, where the "registration" document is called a "permit", and is obviously in the seller's name. It has to be in his name. It is coming to BC, where I can't register the car in my name until I present the car, in person, along with a safety inspection, and the Bill of Sale and aforementioned permit both showing the same (seller's) name. At that point I'll have a registration document in my name... not before. But prior to that, I am the "owner"... I'm the owner the moment the Bill of Sale is signed and I can legally drive it in this province for 30 days with just the Bill of Sale + permit. She kept insisting that the Bill of Sale is not a "legal document", which is bunk. Of course it is a "legal document"... as legal as any other. And the combination of the BoS and the previous owner's permit is EXACTLY what proves ownership transfer to the province of British Columbia, and that is what Tesla should accept, realizing that the legal procedure varies from one jurisdiction to another.
So it looks like I can't track it.
Now a new question... can I use the car while Tesla still thinks it is owned by someone else? Because even after I get the car physically, I need to drive it to the inspection facility and then to the insurance agency to get said registration... and then Tesla takes 5 days (according to Ms. Garcia) to put it onto My Tesla account. Tell me I can use my car in the meantime!
I actually just got off the phone with them. I have to say, I haven't for one second regretted my decision to buy this car until that moment speaking with Ms. Garcia, CSR. What a frustrating conversation. She was combative and of no help whatsoever. What a turnoff.
She stubbornly stated that the "law" doesn't matter, only Tesla's policies. And the policy is what you said... I have to send a "title" in my name, or "registration" but, specifically, not a bill of sale. The problem is the chicken and egg. I suppose it is different elsewhere, but here (as I explained to Ms. Garcia), there is no "title" and the term "registration" differs from province to province. The car is coming from Ontario, where the "registration" document is called a "permit", and is obviously in the seller's name. It has to be in his name. It is coming to BC, where I can't register the car in my name until I present the car, in person, along with a safety inspection, and the Bill of Sale and aforementioned permit both showing the same (seller's) name. At that point I'll have a registration document in my name... not before. But prior to that, I am the "owner"... I'm the owner the moment the Bill of Sale is signed and I can legally drive it in this province for 30 days with just the Bill of Sale + permit. She kept insisting that the Bill of Sale is not a "legal document", which is bunk. Of course it is a "legal document"... as legal as any other. And the combination of the BoS and the previous owner's permit is EXACTLY what proves ownership transfer to the province of British Columbia, and that is what Tesla should accept, realizing that the legal procedure varies from one jurisdiction to another.
So it looks like I can't track it.
Now a new question... can I use the car while Tesla still thinks it is owned by someone else? Because even after I get the car physically, I need to drive it to the inspection facility and then to the insurance agency to get said registration... and then Tesla takes 5 days (according to Ms. Garcia) to put it onto My Tesla account. Tell me I can use my car in the meantime!
Yep, there is no precedent for them "shutting off" a car... stolen or otherwise.
MX1028
Member
only your Deliver
If you are looking to track your vehicle that is being shipped from the Fremont factory and want to know where it is... you can contact your Delivery Specialist. They can track your vehicle. They did that for me when we were trying to schedule delivery before Christmas and we had plans to leave. So the DS would give me updates on a daily basis to let me know where the car was.
If you are looking to track your vehicle that is being shipped from the Fremont factory and want to know where it is... you can contact your Delivery Specialist. They can track your vehicle. They did that for me when we were trying to schedule delivery before Christmas and we had plans to leave. So the DS would give me updates on a daily basis to let me know where the car was.
No, not from Fremont. It is being trucked from a private seller. The seller said I could track it along the way via the Tesla App.
MX1028
Member
Only if you have transferred ownership of the vehicle to our account. Tesla would do that. Then you can log into the app via your Tesla account and any car that is under your ownership will show up there. Also the LTE/3G needs to be left on for you to track it. Is the car in TOW mode?
No idea. What's tow mode?
Not that it matters... I've confirmed I can't gain access until after it is physically in my possession and registered in BC. That's kind of stupid though. Had I flown to ON and driven the car back, I'd have to do the entire trip without access to the App! I'm not 100% certain on what the App gives me, but I thought that was a fairly important part of the overall experience.
Not that it matters... I've confirmed I can't gain access until after it is physically in my possession and registered in BC. That's kind of stupid though. Had I flown to ON and driven the car back, I'd have to do the entire trip without access to the App! I'm not 100% certain on what the App gives me, but I thought that was a fairly important part of the overall experience.
App gives you nothing you aren't already used to not having... Remote entry, GPS tracking, Remote climate control... some REALLY first world $hit. It's not a game-ender. I bought used private party, and although they were much more friendly to me than they were to you, it's just a nice-to-have in the end.
I had my Tesla app linked to me as it were transported from southern Norway to Tromsø, by train & truck.
To my surprise, it always showed the Tesla parked at last location, never as being transported.
So I saw it close to railroad loading area, then it spawned a few days later in Narvik, then I saw it there, until it spawned in Tromsø.
For some reason it does not update it's location when being transported, that may be bad for tracking a stolen vehicle.
To my surprise, it always showed the Tesla parked at last location, never as being transported.
So I saw it close to railroad loading area, then it spawned a few days later in Narvik, then I saw it there, until it spawned in Tromsø.
For some reason it does not update it's location when being transported, that may be bad for tracking a stolen vehicle.
That’s exactly what im seeing now, on a brand new S with latest software, being moved across Australia,
Jashev
Member
I sold my 2013 MS 85 and the buyer had it shipped from here in PA to Florida. My app was still active. The bottom line is unless the wheels are moving, the app will not update the car's location. Until it arrived in Florida, my app saw the car where it was picked up by the trucking company so I don't think you are going to miss anything there.
It really doesn't matter much. From my understanding, the car does not update the GPS location while it is being moved on a flatbed. It only updates it's location when it is actually moving under it's own power. At least that is what I have read a few times. I don't have a flatbed available to test it 
Edit: opps - @Jashev and othersbeat me to it. I started typing and forgot to hit save until later.
Edit: opps - @Jashev and othersbeat me to it. I started typing and forgot to hit save until later.
thatisug
Member
My understanding is that the GPS in the Tesla only updates when the car is in Drive. So in park, being towed, GPS will not update.
Source: My experience in having the car towed and this is what Tesla Tech Support informed me.
Source: My experience in having the car towed and this is what Tesla Tech Support informed me.
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