2016 Model S
Fremont · serial 158204
- Computer
- HW2 or earlier
- Supercharging
- SC01 window · not confirmed
- FSD
- —
- Battery SoH
- —
Free Hardoptic read
Hardware · Optics
Look up any Tesla by VIN.
The app looks the same. The computer does not.
Free Hardoptic read from the VIN. Tesla factory record is $1.29 when you need the factory codes.
Check a VIN
Hardware is not on the sticker
HW3 vs HW4 is a computer and a camera suite. The VIN is the first read.
“Free Supercharging” is not SC01
SC01 stays with the car. SC05 ends when the title moves.
Factory codes vs the app
The Tesla app language is the same for both Supercharging products.
Try a sample
Decoder examples — not testimonials, not paid inspections. Annotated reports →
Same car, two products
Both of these look the same in the Tesla app.
Hardoptic reads the factory code. The test drive does not.
Supercharging
Unlimited · transfersthis owner only
SC01 stays with the car on a private sale. SC05 ends when the title changes. The app language is identical until then.
Full Self-Driving
- Owned / on vehicleFSD stays with the car.
- Rented / subscriptionMonthly, account-based.
- Owned · owner-tiedPurchased FSD that stops at sale.
These look identical on a test drive. Factory codes are the proof.
Scope
Everything the VIN will give up.
Identity
Model, year, plant, drive layout, build clues.
Equipment
Hardware class, Supercharging pattern, factory option codes (Unlock), Autopilot / FSD.
Battery
State of health when published, timestamp, pack capacity, rated range.
Money
Original MSRP, price of each option, what the first owner paid.
Paint, interior, wheels, pack, and SoH are the factory record. Unlock · $1.29.
History
History credits expire 30 days after you buy them. Tesla factory-record credits do not.
Process
How it works
Free VIN check first. Paid Tesla record only if you need the option code. See example reports.
01
Enter VIN
Paste the 17-character VIN from the listing, title, door jamb, or windshield.
02
Pattern analysis
Hardoptic maps factory, model year, and serial against documented HW4 and SC01 windows.
03
Verify on the car
Use the VIN reading 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. Look under good light or at an angle — the red reflection is the fastest clue. Sun can fake it — use this as a filter, not a verdict. Visual guide
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 gives a strong hardware reading. 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 Fremont/Austin and early-2024 Shanghai/Berlin still overlap. Cutover table last reviewed 5 September 2026.
| 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 | 1 Feb 2024 | 2023 and January 2024 builds are HW3. February 2024+ is typically HW4. VIN year alone is not enough. |
| Model Y · Berlin | May 2024 | Pre-May 2024 builds are HW3. May 2024+ is typically HW4. VIN year alone is not enough. |
| 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. Rare. Mostly early S/X ordered before 15 January 2017. Model 3, Y, and Cybertruck never received it. | 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. Tesla CPO or buyback can strip the entitlement even when the year looks right.
Confirm it: Tesla Support with the VIN, the car’s option list (SC01 vs SC05), or a seller screenshot of Free Unlimited Supercharging that still shows after they confirm it is not a CPO / inventory car.
Buyers often price SC01 as a real premium. Do not pay that premium on a guess.
Ownership ≠ access. Free Supercharging works at Tesla-owned Superchargers. Third-party / Supercharger for Business sites are usually pay-per-use even when the car still shows free charging language.
Before you buy
Before you buy.
Money model
- Free VIN check — unlimited Hardoptic reads.
- Unlock factory codes — $1.29.
- Hardoptic History — $7.50.
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. HW3 Model S and X have not received Lite — confirm the version on the car. 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 hardware always exact?+
Tesla changed hardware mid-year by factory. Year is a clue, not proof. This site is a filter — the software screen on the car always wins.
What if I don’t have a VIN?+
Walk the front camera cluster. HW4 often has a red/magenta lens tint. Then open the software screen. The window sticker will not say HW3 or HW4.
Last updated 5 September 2026. Confirm hardware and Supercharging on the car before you buy. Hardoptic is not affiliated with or endorsed by Tesla. The software screen on the car always wins.