This is the second set of community questions about bringing a Tesla from the USA or Canada to Bulgaria. I’m answering from my experience with a 2023 US Model Y. The expandable AI additions cover technical details and link to the sources.

The first article covers charging, warranty, software and headlights. Equipment, software and administrative requirements depend on the individual car and situation.

Tesla app and phone key

1. Can I use my phone as a key, and what documents do I need to add the car to my Tesla account?

My answer

You can use your phone as a key and control the car remotely once you add it to the app and set up access. To add it, you need to show that it’s yours. Temporary or permanent registration is one option, and Tesla accepts other proof of ownership too. For a company car, Tesla may also ask for a business document.

For me, it took about four to five days altogether. I added the car and it simply appeared in the app. At that point I could not control it remotely because it was at the workshop for software and an SRS error. When I went to the car, I got a prompt saying Set Up Bluetooth Key, or something along those lines, and the phone became a key. I thought you could only add three phones. On this generation of Model Y, three phones can be connected at once, and the car can store up to 19 keys in total, including cards.

AI addition

Adding the car to an account, pairing a phone key and controlling the car remotely are separate steps.

  1. Account ownership. In the Tesla app, open Menu → My Products → Add Product and follow the instructions. Tesla may ask for the VIN, ID and proof of ownership. Depending on the case, acceptable documents can include temporary or permanent registration, a title or a bill of sale. Tesla may also ask for business documents for a company vehicle.
  2. Phone key. With access to the car, enable Bluetooth and mobile access, then follow the pairing prompt. Keep a key card available for setup. Once paired, the phone can unlock the car nearby over Bluetooth without an internet connection for the key itself.
  3. Remote commands. Commands sent from a distance require mobile access and an internet connection on both sides. A car can appear in the app while remote commands are unavailable.

For the Model Y generation covered here, the manual lists up to 19 stored keys in total and up to three connected compatible devices at once. The number of additional drivers in the app is a separate limit.

Sources: Tesla app ownership transfer · Model Y keys · Model Y mobile app.

Home charging

2. Will a three-phase 11 kW wallbox charge my US Tesla at only 3.7 kW?

My answer

If it’s a three-phase 11 kW station with 16 A per phase and the car uses one phase, you’ll get about 3.7 kW. At 32 A on one phase it’s about 7.4 kW, if the car, adapter and wiring allow it. Whether you can run the oven and water heater at the same time depends on how much capacity you have left at home.

I’m not very familiar with this, so check with an electrician. But it’s worth working out whether you would actually need more than 7.4 kW.

When I was considering an EV, I worked out how far I drive every day. If it’s around 100–200 km and the car is plugged in for seven to eight hours, work out how much you can put back in that time. At 3.7 kW, that’s about 26–30 kWh from the station before losses. Whether it’s enough depends on what the car uses.

If you drive considerably farther and need to charge from 20% to 100% every day, then it matters. That’s why I tried to make a home charging calculator.

AI addition

Around 3.7 kW is possible when a three-phase 11 kW wallbox provides 16 A per phase and the car uses only one phase.

Setup Approximate single-phase power at 230 V
11 kW three-phase wallbox, 16 A per phase 3.7 kW
22 kW three-phase wallbox, 32 A per phase Up to 7.4 kW if the installation and vehicle allow it
32 A single-phase wallbox Up to 7.4 kW if the installation and vehicle allow it

A Type 2 adapter cannot add three-phase capability to a single-phase onboard charger. Check the car, adapter and wallbox limits together. At 3.7 kW for eight hours, the wallbox supplies about 29.6 kWh before losses. A 150 km trip at 18 kWh/100 km uses about 27 kWh from the battery, so charging losses and conditions matter.

Have a qualified electrician assess available capacity, phase balance, wiring, protection and load management. Do not combine phases to increase single-phase current.

Sources: Tesla onboard chargers in Europe · Tesla onboard chargers in North America · Tesla Wall Connector.

Transit plates and technical approval

3. How do transit plates and Technotest work for a car imported from the USA?

My answer

For transit plates, go to KAT in the relevant district and check whether you need to bring the car. The plates are valid for up to 30 days. Before driving to Technotest, check the route or area on your temporary movement permit (remember the vignette if you’re using a toll road! 😉).

In Sofia and larger cities you may be able to get the test done the same day. The requirements are online. Rear indicators are one of the checks, so find out what else they’ll inspect on your car.

I’ve also heard about assessments from photos without moving the car. Check with the technical service whether that’s a preliminary assessment and where they’ll carry out the inspection itself.

After that, submit the protocol and the other documents to the Automobile Administration. The register lists a €51.13 fee and a 10-day processing period for the certificate. Take the certificate to KAT.

That’s about it.

AI addition
  • Transit registration. The Ministry of Interior lists validity of up to 30 days. Check the route or area on the temporary movement permit, whether the car must be presented, and the required ownership, customs and insurance documents. Replacement transit plates after expiry require identification of the vehicle. Check whether a vignette applies to the roads you will use. Ministry of Interior, transit registration.
  • Technical inspection. The technical service identifies and examines the vehicle. Lights and indicators are only part of the assessment. Confirm the appointment, required documents and how the vehicle will be inspected. Photos can help with a preliminary assessment, but confirm the inspection arrangements with the authorized service. Technotest, individual approval.
  • Individual approval certificate. The Executive Agency Automobile Administration handles service 1162 for eligible vehicles previously registered outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland. The administrative register lists a 10-day processing period. The agency fee is separate from the inspection fee. Consult the current service entry for the fee, protocol and application documents. Administrative register, service 1162.
  • Final registration. Once the certificate is issued, take it and the remaining required documents to Traffic Police for registration.

Software and conversion

4. How did European navigation maps start working on my US Tesla?

My answer

During my conversion they changed the region on a computer, and everything started working. Updates and maps started downloading and working. I saw a few comments suggesting it can happen automatically or that you can do it yourself.

I don’t know exactly how it works and haven’t looked into it. If someone reading this knows how and would like to show it, get in touch so we can record it and show people.

AI addition

The software version, navigation data and regional configuration are separate. The Model Y manual describes map updates downloading over Wi-Fi when available for the vehicle. An OTA update alone does not establish that the correct European navigation package is installed.

Check Wi-Fi, the available map package, whether the car can find Bulgarian addresses and whether it can plan routes with local charging stops. GPS can show your location even when the local map data is missing. Live traffic and satellite imagery depend on connectivity and feature availability. If maps still fail, have the vehicle’s configuration checked before attempting changes.

Sources: Tesla maps and navigation · Tesla software updates · Project stages.

5. Which Bulgarian FM stations can a US Tesla tune in to?

My answer

US FM channels go 99.1, 99.3, 99.5, for example. A tuner set to that spacing will skip some of our stations, such as one at 99.2. A module was replaced on my car, but I don’t listen to the radio in the car and don’t see it as a big problem. Whether you need to replace anything depends on the tuner and its settings.

AI addition

US FM channels use a 200 kHz spacing. A US tuner may step from 99.1 to 99.3 MHz and skip a local station at 99.2 MHz. Test the frequencies you listen to before paying for any work.

The solution depends on the installed tuner and its configuration. Ask the workshop which component it proposes to change. The FM/HD/DAB tuner and the LTE modem serve different functions. The modem replacement shown in episode 7 covers mobile connectivity.

Sources: US FM frequency allocation · Tesla FM/HD/DAB tuner service documentation.

More from USA Teslata

If you have first-hand experience with a US Tesla or a tested conversion procedure, share it with Tesla from the USA and Canada – Bulgaria.