Do Tesla Supercharger Miles Expire? How to Check and Extend

Gone are the days of unlimited free supercharging for as long as you own your Tesla. The company implemented these early programs to incentivize and encourage early adopters to use the superchargers as well as to promote the company. So what is the deal now? How long do the supercharger referral miles last?

Tesla Supercharger miles on all Teslas will not last forever and will expire after 6 months. If you used up the supercharger miles beforehand, the next referral will reset to the next 6 months. You can view the expiration date of your Supercharger miles on the Loot Box on your Tesla Mobile app.

Check out the rest of the article to get some additional background, which will give you a clearer understanding of Tesla’s business decisions.

What to Know About Tesla Supercharger Miles

Tesla supercharger miles earned through a referral link expire six months after they’re issued. The miles are applied to your loot box within the Tesla app, and the expiration date appears underneath the display of how many free Supercharger miles you have left. 

Many users were disappointed with this expiration date, as the coronavirus pandemic kept many people at home instead of cruising around in their Teslas. 

Do-Supercharger-Miles-Expire
Superchargers are best for long-distance travel, so many users also struggled to use their free Supercharger miles because they were simply charging at home instead of using Superchargers.

Superchargers are designed to charge Teslas quickly so you can get back to driving. To charge, all users need to do is plug the charging connector into the charge port on their vehicle. Then, you can relax, grab some road trip snacks, or do whatever else you’d like while monitoring your charge status with the Tesla app. 

Speaking of which, I wrote a related article where I asked the question: “Why Can’t I Charge My Tesla to 100%?” I gave some interesting reasons and solutions. Check it out when you’re done reading!

The app also tells you how much charge you’ll need to get to the next Supercharger, so you don’t necessarily need to charge to 100% every time. 

The Trip Planner programmed in all Teslas can inform you where Supercharger stations are on the road. Nearly all of these stations are open 24 hours a day, and if they’re not, this will be indicated on the Trip Planner. 

Tesla owners are either charged per kilowatt-hour or by the minute. Payment is processed in your Tesla account. If you do have free Supercharger miles, this is indicated in your Tesla account, and you won’t be charged. 

The following video explains how to use your free Supercharger miles: 

Extending Tesla Supercharger Miles

It is not possible to extend Supercharger miles obtained from the referral program. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Tesla extended the expiration date by one month, and many Tesla users felt like this was not enough. 

However, many Tesla users also overestimate the value of these miles. One thousand miles (1,609 km) of supercharging costs approximately $50, which is certainly not nothing, but it also isn’t a devastating amount to let go of if you cannot use your free Supercharger miles. 

Some users have tried to get an extension on their miles by speaking to Tesla Customer Support but were unsuccessful in extending the deadline. Believe it or not, Tesla isn’t super inclined to ensure that their users get free miles. 

The End of Tesla’s Referral Program 

Before September 2021, Tesla’s referral program rewarded those who promoted their vehicles and those who purchased their vehicles with 1,000 free Supercharger miles (1,609 km) if someone purchased a Tesla through their referral. 

This program was intended to get their user base to promote and market their products without spending on advertising themselves. 

CEO Elon Musk claims that the referral program had to end because supporting the program added to the cost of the Model 3 Tesla. 

As of September 18, 2021, vehicles were no longer eligible for Supercharger mile rewards. Currently, solar roof and solar panel products are eligible for referral rewards. If someone uses your referral code for these products, you’ll receive $300 for solar panels and $500 for a solar roof. 

Tesla’s Referral Program Timeline

The below timeline outlines what Tesla’s referral program rewards were throughout its history, so readers can understand how free Supercharger miles came to be. Let’s take a look at the history of Tesla’s referral program: 

October 19, 2021

Solar Panel Comeback!

Solar panels are added back to the referral program, with a $300 reward for referrers and buyers. 

October 19, 2021
September 20, 2021

End of referral program

The referral program ends for everything except the solar roof.

September 20, 2021
September 11, 2019

Referrer Miles Doubled

Tesla doubles Supercharger miles to 2,000 (3,218 km) each for referrers and new buyers through the end of October 2019.

September 11, 2019
March 22, 2019

Incentives increased

Referrers and new buyers each get 1,000 free Supercharger miles (1,609 km) and entry to win a Series Model Y or a Roadster signed by Elon Musk and Franz von Holzhuasen

March 22, 2019
January 18, 2019

End of Program

Elon Musk announces that the referral program will end.

January 18, 2019
October 21, 2018

Extended to new buyers

Referrers and new buyers each get six months of free Supercharging

October 21, 2018
September 13, 2018

Extra Creds

Referrers and new buyers get a $100 Supercharging credit when a referral code is used

September 13, 2018
July 19, 2016

Buyers Discounts

Referrers get a $1,000 discount on the Model S and X and an invitation to a Tesla unveiling event

July 19, 2016
January 18, 2019

Official Launch

Tesla launches a referral program that rewards referrers with $1,000 in credit

January 18, 2019

Frequently Asked Questions 

How Do I Check My Supercharger Miles?

Sign in to your Tesla account to check if you have free Supercharging miles. Select “Manage,” and then “View Details.” The details will indicate your Supercharging status and if you have any miles.

How Do I Get Free Supercharger Miles? 

Before 2021, you could get free Supercharger miles through the referral program, but it is no longer possible to get free miles this way. The rewards for car referrals ended on September 17, 2021.

Check out these 20 great gift ideas for yourself or a Tesla fanboy.

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Do Tesla Supercharger Miles Expire? How to Check and Extend 1
Erwin Meyer
Erwin Meyer

A renowned Tesla enthusiast, and successful entrepreneur, enlightens global audiences through his compelling EV narratives. Discover more about his electric journey on his About Me page. Venture to read Erwin's incredible story that's reshaping the future of motoring. Want to spark a conversation with Erwin? Visit his Contact page, and let’s electrify the world together.