13:03 28-12-2025

Tesla’s Robotaxi adds cleaning fees: $50 for light messes, up to $150 for biohazards

Tesla is adding a decidedly down-to-earth detail to its Robotaxi service, one every ride-hailing user will recognize: a cleaning fee. Reports indicate there will be two tiers for passengers, with the amount tied to how much time and effort it takes to put the car back in shape.

Minor messes like crumbs, dirt tracked in on shoes, or small spills fall under light cleaning, which may incur a $50 charge. But if a rider leaves behind a serious mess — including “biohazard” situations such as vomit, or if someone smokes in the cabin — a higher rate kicks in: up to $150.

The fee itself isn’t unusual; it’s a common tool for keeping service quality high and maintaining trust in a shared fleet. What stands out is how this update exposes the practical side of autonomous operations. Tesla champions a vision of seamless autonomy where cars drive, recharge, and service themselves, yet at this stage even robotaxis still rely on people for hands-on tasks like cleaning (and often charging). In that light, cleanliness surcharges are a pragmatic way to cover inevitable costs until a fully automated ecosystem becomes everyday reality.