Tesla has introduced a Vehicle Locator feature in its app update v4.51.5, displaying a directional arrow on the home screen to guide owners to their car. This real-time tool shows the direction and distance, making it easier to navigate large parking lots or unfamiliar areas. The update also includes other enhancements and prepares the app for the Holiday Update.
Tesla's latest app update, version 4.51.5, brings a practical new feature called Vehicle Locator, designed to help owners find their cars in busy environments like crowded parking lots, congested garages, or after events such as sporting matches.
The feature appears as a directional arrow on the app's home screen, functioning similarly to Apple's Find My device locator. It uses the smartphone's accelerometer to provide real-time orientation, pointing users toward their vehicle as they move. In addition to direction, it displays the exact distance in feet or meters, eliminating guesswork compared to earlier versions that only showed the car's address or a static map.
"Interesting. The location arrow in the Tesla app now points to your car when you’re nearby," noted Whole Mars Catalog on X on December 7, 2025. Another user, Some UK Tesla Guy, highlighted its continuous tracking on December 8, 2025: "The nice little touch that Tesla have put in the app – continuous tracking of your vehicle location relative to you. There’s people reporting dizziness testing this. To those I say… try spinning your phone instead. 😉"
This addition stems from the Robotaxi app's interface but adapts it for personal vehicles. Previously, owners relied on mental mapping from the app's location view, which could lead to random walking in expansive areas. The new tool offers precise navigation, potentially reducing frustration in scenarios like post-game parking chaos.
Alongside Vehicle Locator, the update adds Photobooth features, Dog Mode Live Activity, Custom Wraps and Tints for Colorizer, and Dashcam Clip details. It serves as a precursor to the slowly rolling out Holiday Update, enhancing overall app usability for Tesla owners.
