Keys: phone key, key card and key fob

A Tesla can be unlocked three ways.

Phone key

Your phone, with the Tesla app set up as a key, unlocks the car by Bluetooth as you approach and locks it as you walk away. It's what most owners use every day.

Key card

A credit-card-sized card. On Model 3 and Model Y, tap it on the pillar between the front and rear doors to unlock. To drive, place it on the card reader near the cup holders or wireless charger. It has no battery, so it always works as long as the car has power. Keep one in your wallet.

Key fob

An optional physical fob with buttons for locking, unlocking and opening the boot or frunk. Handy for family members who don't use the app.

Adding and removing keys

In the car's Locks menu you can add new phone keys, key cards and fobs, and remove lost ones. Adding a new key needs an existing key card to authorise it. Remove a lost key straight away.

When you sell the car

Remove your phone key and account, and hand over the key cards.