Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive signaling indicating a phase tracking reference signal (PTRS) configuration for sidelink communications. The indicated PTRS configuration may correspond to a sidelink resource pool associated with a plurality of UEs. The UE may transmit control signaling indicating to change the indicated PTRS configuration to a preferred PTRS configuration for the sidelink communications based on a condition. The UE may receive the sidelink communications based on the preferred PTRS configuration.