SC01 explained: does free Supercharging transfer?
Updated October 2, 2026
Every Tesla leaves the factory with a list of option codes, and one of them, starting with SC, records its Supercharging deal. On a used Model S or X it's often the code buyers care about most: SC01 means free unlimited Supercharging that stays with the car when it's sold.
The Supercharging codes
| Code | What it means | Free | Transfers |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC01 | Free unlimited Supercharging (transferable). Free Supercharging is tied to the car and carries over to the next owner. | Yes | Yes |
| SC05 | Free unlimited Supercharging (current owner only). Free Supercharging belongs to the current owner and ends when the car is sold. | Yes | No |
| SC04 | Pay-per-use Supercharging. Standard pay-as-you-go Supercharging. | No | No |
| SC02 | Supercharging enabled (paid). Supercharger access is enabled but not free. | No | No |
| SC03 | Supercharging enabled (paid). Supercharger access is enabled but not free. | No | No |
| SC00 | No Supercharging. Supercharger access was not enabled on this car. | No | — |
Which cars have SC01?
Free unlimited Supercharging tied to the car came with Model S and Model X built before April 15, 2017. A car built on or after that date can't have SC01, whatever its advert says.
A car built before it may have SC01, but not every one still does: Tesla has removed it from individual cars over the years. So the code on the car's own record is what counts, not its age.
Does free Supercharging transfer to the next owner?
It depends on the code. SC01 is tied to the car, so it carries over to whoever buys it next. SC05 is also free and unlimited, but it belongs to the current owner and ends when the car is sold. The other codes aren't free to begin with: the car pays to Supercharge like any other Tesla, or (SC00) can't use Superchargers at all.
A code is what Tesla recorded for the car, and records can be out of date. Before you pay for a car because of its Supercharging, confirm the status with Tesla and get it in writing from the seller.
SC01 and Autopilot hardware
Two SC01 cars can be very different buys. Cars built from about October 2016 carry Tesla's own Autopilot hardware (AP2 and later), which Full Self-Driving can be added to. Cars built from about September 2014 until then have AP1, built on Mobileye hardware that can never take it, and earlier ones have no Autopilot hardware at all. So an SC01 car with AP2 hardware was built between about October 2016 and April 15, 2017. The Autopilot hardware guide explains how to tell them apart.
How to check a car's code
- Buying: enter the VIN. TrueSpec reads the car's factory build record from Tesla's parts catalog and shows its Supercharging code, whether free Supercharging transfers, and the full build sheet.
- Selling: Check my car builds a free verified report from your own Tesla account, with proof that free Supercharging is working, to share with buyers.
- Shopping for one: the SC01 Marketplace lists Model S and X for sale whose SC01 has been checked against Tesla's build record.
Questions buyers ask
What does SC01 mean on a Tesla?
SC01 is the factory option code for free unlimited Supercharging that is tied to the car rather than its owner, so it carries over to the next owner when the car is sold.
Which Teslas have free unlimited Supercharging (SC01)?
Model S and Model X built before April 15, 2017. A car built on or after that date can't have SC01. Not every earlier car still has it, because Tesla has removed it from individual cars over the years, so check the car's code.
What's the difference between SC01 and SC05?
Both mean free unlimited Supercharging, but SC05 belongs to the current owner and ends when the car is sold. SC01 stays with the car.
Does free Supercharging transfer when I buy a used Tesla?
Only if the car's code is SC01. Codes can be out of date, so confirm the car's Supercharging status with Tesla and get it in writing from the seller before you pay.
How do I check a Tesla's Supercharging code?
Enter the VIN on TrueSpec: it reads the car's factory build record from Tesla's parts catalog and shows the Supercharging code and whether free Supercharging transfers. An owner can also make a free verified report from their own Tesla account.
See what Tesla's own record says about a car before you buy it.
Check a VIN →