Tesla Autopark: What is it and how does it work on the Model 3?

Earlier this year, Tesla released their new vision-based Autopark feature to the updated Model S. Now, the company has introduced this feature on the popular Model 3 and Model Y. But what does Tesla Autopark do and how does it work? Let’s find out.

Released on October 6, the latest version of Tesla’s Autopark relies solely on the car’s cameras instead of ultrasonic sensors. The use of cameras to detect obstacles has meant that Tesla’s electric vehicles can now detect painted lines to detect a parking spot rather than needing a car on either side of the parking spot for it to work. But the best part about the latest update has to be the fact that it no longer requires you to be in the car for it to park itself!

How does Tesla Autopark work?

Tesla’s Autopark simplifies parking by combining data from cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and GPS. When looking for a parking spot, keep an eye on the touch screen. A parking icon will appear on the screen when Autopark discovers a spot.

Since Autopark detects spots on perpendicular and parallel lots when the vehicle travels at 15mph and 10mph, respectively, you must drive slowly.

Read: All you need to know about Tesla car insurance discounts

As you get closer to the parking spot, evaluate how safe it is to maneuver the car into the spot. Then, move the car ahead and come to a complete stop at least a car length away. Release the steering wheel, put the car in reverse, then press the “Start Autopark” button on the touch screen. 

When parking is complete, a “Complete” pop-up notification will appear on the touchscreen. Press the brake pedal to pause parking and then hit “Resume” on the display to resume parking.

Unfortunately, Tesla Autopark doesn’t work everywhere. For example, it may not work during inclement weather as rain or fog could inhibit the sensors. It may not work on an inclined road either as the feature is built for flat roads. Last but not the least, it may refuse to function properly if there’s an electrical problem that interferes with the sensors.

Word of caution: Tesla Autopark isn’t fully autonomous

While Tesla’s Autopark is a cool feature that may earn you some brownie points among other car aficionados, you must remember that it is NOT fully autonomous. You’ll need to stay alert and monitor the vehicle while it does its thing.

However, it does have a few tricks up its sleeve that’ll surely impress your friends. Tesla Autopark lets you exit the car before you enter a parking lot and park itself using Tesla’s “reverse summon” technology. When you want the car to come to you from where it parked itself, you simple need to use the “smart summon” feature. 

Sadly, Tesla Autopark comes with a few quirks too! Since the feature is built for improving safety, the car can halt itself at the parking lot if it detects any obstacles in its path. Some users have reported that once the car stops itself from colliding with an object, it may not know how to proceed from there. 

This could be a problem in a busy parking lot as it affects the flow of traffic. Other users have pointed out that one needs to keep the “summon” button pressed on their smartphone until the car comes to you or it may stop as you take your finger off the screen!

Read: 6 tips to help extend the battery life of your Tesla

How to park with Tesla Autopark?

Line up your Tesla

When you’ve found a parking spot, pull forward as you normally would when parallel parking. Line up next to the vehicle ahead of you at a slow pace until a “P” shows up on the instrument cluster. This indicates that the car is ready to parallel park on its own. To begin the next step, shift the vehicle into (R)everse while keeping your foot on the brake.

Initiate Tesla Autopark 

Once the car is properly aligned, a “P” indicator will be displayed on the instrument cluster and centre touchscreen. On the touchscreen, there will also be a blue “START” button. The self parallel parking process will commence when you tap this button. If your foot is on the brake, an alarm message will show.

Sit back and let the magic unfold!

Sit back, relax, and take your hands off the steering wheel at this point. The vehicle will start maneuvering itself into the assigned parking space. At this point, “Autopark in Progress” will be shown in the instrument cluster and on the center touchscreen.

Read: The ultimate guide to washing your Tesla

A chime will ring along with the message “Autopark Complete” once the vehicle has successfully parked itself.

Check out Tesla’s Autopart function in action below:

How to insure a car with Tesla Autopark?

The main benefit of self-driving cars is that a robot is expected to be a safer driver than a person, which means fewer accidents. Car insurance prices are lower when there are fewer accidents. What does this mean for car insurers? What does this mean for you, the customer, and how can you take advantage of the savings right now? Find out the answers to all these questions and more here.

If you own a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y with the company’s Autopark system, these insurance companies may be the best options for you right now:

Progressive: One of the largest insurers in the country, Progressive offers a product called Snapshot, which is a device that plugs into your car and tracks your driving behavior. 

The device collects data and sends it to Progressive to evaluate whether you are eligible for a discount. Factors like how hard you apply your brakes, or the time of day you most frequently drive and how many miles you drive each year can affect your insurance rates.

Root: Root, too, has an app that tracks your driving behavior for two to three weeks and then calculates the cost of your insurance policy based on the data. If it detects that you are speeding or slamming on the brakes, your rates will rise. 

Read: 10 things driving a Tesla says about you

Tesla owners are also eligible for insurance discounts from Root. According to research, Tesla’s Autopilot is still a work in progress, but its Autosteer function can help lower crash rates by 40%. You’ll get a tiered insurance discount based on how many miles you travel using Autopilot. This gives you an incentive to use the self-driving functions whenever possible.

If you are looking for the best car insurance rates in your state, tap the banner above to use our car insurance tool. Our dedicated team of insurance analysts can help you obtain car insurance quotes from several insurance firms in under 10 minutes! What’s more, we keep your data protected while you get multiple quotes without affecting your credit score.