01
Enter VIN
Paste the 17-character VIN from the listing, title, door jamb, or windshield.
Hardware · Optics
Know the car before you buy.
Instant HW3 / HW4 estimate and Supercharging entitlement from a Tesla VIN. Built for used buyers who do not want to overpay.
Try a sample
Process
How it works
02
Pattern analysis
Hardoptic maps factory, model year, and serial against documented HW4 and SC01 windows.
03
Verify on the car
Use the estimate to shortlist. Confirm hardware and Supercharging on the vehicle before you wire money.
Coverage
Supported models
US and export Teslas with prefixes 5YJ, 7SA, 7G2, LRW, XP7.
Supported
Model S
5YJ / 7SA
Supported
Model 3
5YJ / LRW
Supported
Model X
5YJ / 7SA
Supported
Model Y
5YJ / 7SA / LRW / XP7
Supported
Cybertruck
7G2 · all HW4
Not yet
Roadster (legacy)
Pre-Autopilot platform
Not yet
Roadster (new)
Not in production VINs
Not yet
Semi
Commercial, separate stack
Not yet
Cybercab
No public buyer VIN yet
Not yet
Robovan
Not a consumer VIN
Not yet
Optimus
Not a vehicle VIN
No VIN
Don’t have a VIN?
The listing hid it, or you’re standing next to the car. Two checks beat guessing the year.
01
Cameras
Look into the windshield cluster and B-pillar repeaters. HW4 often throws a red or magenta reflection. HW3 looks neutral gray. Sun angle can fake it — use this as a filter, not a verdict.
02
Software screen
Controls → Software → Additional Vehicle Information. Autopilot computer 4 or AI4 is Hardware 4. Computer 3 is Hardware 3. The window sticker will not say this.
Optics
How to identify HW4 cameras
Hardware 4 is a computer and a camera suite. The lenses are the only tell you can see from the parking lot.
HW3
- About 1.2 MP (1280×960). Neutral gray coating.
- Three active front cameras: wide, main, narrow.
- Standard side repeaters and rear camera.
- No consistent red flash in the glass.
HW4 / AI4
- About 5 MP (~2880×1620) with wider dynamic range.
- Front pair is high-res. A third housing is often a dummy.
- Red / magenta tint on front and often B-pillar lenses.
- Lighting lies. Confirm on the software screen.
FSD computer
HW3 vs HW4
Tesla does not print hardware version on the window sticker. The VIN is a strong estimate. The software screen is definitive.
HW3
Full Self-Driving Computer 3
- Standard from 2019 through early/mid 2023 on most models.
- Model 3 / Y now run FSD v14 Lite — not the full v14 stack.
- Cameras look neutral. No red tint on the front cluster.
- Tesla has not announced a HW4 retrofit.
HW4 / AI4
Full Self-Driving Computer 4
- 5 MP camera suite and more onboard compute.
- Runs the full v14 branch. New FSD lands here first.
- Front cameras often show a faint red / magenta lens tint.
- Cybertruck, Highland 3, and late-2023+ Y are HW4.
On the car: Controls → Software → Additional Vehicle Information. Tesla lists the computer as HW3, HW4, or AI4. That line beats any website, including this one.
Why it matters
HW4 vs HW3 for FSD v14
Both still require a driver. HW4 runs the full v14 stack. HW3 Model 3 and Y get v14 Lite — selected behavior, lower compute ceiling.
| Spec | HW3 | HW4 / AI4 |
|---|---|---|
| Official Tesla name | FSD Computer 3.0 | AI4 / Computer 4 |
| Neural processors | 2× | 3× |
| Compute (community) | ~144 TOPS | ~500+ TOPS |
| Process | Samsung 14 nm | Samsung 7 nm |
| Memory | LPDDR4 | LPDDR5 · 16 GB/SoC typical |
| Cameras | 1.2 MP · 1280×960 | 5 MP · ~2880×1620 |
| Front cluster | Wide + main + narrow | High-res pair + dummy |
| Lens tell | Neutral / gray | Red / magenta tint |
| FSD software (2026) | v14 Lite (3 / Y) | Full v14 |
TOPS and bandwidth figures are community estimates, not Tesla specifications. Full comparison
Factory windows
Which Teslas have HW4
Tesla switched factory by factory. Model year alone is not enough — 2023 is the overlap year.
| Line | Switch | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Model Y · Fremont | May–June 2023 | Serials above ~789500–800000 are typically HW4. |
| Model Y · Austin | June 2023 | Serials above ~131200 are typically HW4. |
| Model Y · Shanghai / Berlin | Later 2023 | Switched after US factories. VIN estimate is medium confidence. |
| Model 3 · Highland | Late 2023 / 2024 | Pre-Highland 2023 cars are HW3. Highland refresh is HW4. |
| Model S & X | Early 2023 | North America early 2023. A small late-2022 EU batch may be HW4. |
| Cybertruck | All builds | Every Cybertruck shipped with HW4 / AI4. |
Entitlement
What SC01 actually means
The Tesla app can show “Free Supercharging” for two completely different products. Only one of them survives a private sale.
| Code | What it is | Transfers |
|---|---|---|
| SC01 | Unlimited Supercharging bound to the vehicle. The rare one people pay a premium for. | Yes, private sale |
| SC05 | Unlimited for the current owner only. Looks identical in the app until the title moves. | No |
| SC06 / promo | Time-boxed credits or first-owner promos. Not lifetime. | No |
| Paid | Standard Supercharging. Every Model 3, Y, and Cybertruck. | — |
SC01 exists almost only on Model S and Model X ordered before 15 January 2017. A Tesla CPO or buyback can remove it even if the VIN looks right.
FAQ
Common questions
Can I upgrade a HW3 Tesla to HW4?+
Tesla has not announced a HW3 → HW4 retrofit. Do not price a used HW3 car as if an upgrade is coming. Ask Tesla about that specific VIN if a seller claims otherwise.
Will HW3 get FSD updates?+
Yes, but not the same stack. HW3 Model 3 and Model Y now get the v14 Lite branch (wide release July 2026). It is a distilled v14 — parking, unparking, and some city behavior — not the full HW4 v14 planner. Tesla has not promised HW3 every future feature.
Does HW4 change range?+
No meaningful amount. Battery, wheels, tires, weather, and how you drive matter more than the Autopilot computer.
How do I confirm hardware on the car?+
Controls → Software → Additional Vehicle Information. Look for Autopilot computer 3 or 4 (Tesla may say Full Self-Driving Computer or AI4). That line beats this site.
Is the VIN estimate 100% accurate?+
No. Tesla changed hardware mid-year by factory. Serial ranges overlap. Always confirm cameras and the software screen before you wire money.