Tesla idle fees class action settlement

By Top Class Actions | August 13, 2026

Category: Legal News

Tesla has agreed to a class action settlement to resolve claims it charged “idle fees” to customers who purchased vehicles with free lifetime Supercharging.

The settlement also covers three subclasses of consumers who purchased vehicles described in Tesla’s Motor Vehicle Purchase Agreement as “Supercharger Enabled,” “Supercharger Hardware” or “Supercharger Hardware & Access” before Dec. 16, 2016.

Tesla is an electric vehicle manufacturer that sells vehicles around the country. Many Tesla vehicles are equipped with Supercharging capabilities, allowing them to be charged quickly at designated charging stations.

According to a class action lawsuit, Tesla charged “idle fees” to customers who purchased vehicles with free lifetime Supercharging. The plaintiff in the case says these fees were not disclosed to customers and violated their agreements with Tesla.

The Tesla idle fees class action lawsuit also says the company threatened to disable Supercharging access for vehicles if customers refused to pay these fees.

Tesla has not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to a class action settlement to resolve these allegations.

Under the terms of the Tesla settlement, the company will not disable Supercharger access for class members and will restore access if it was previously disabled. The company will also waive any unpaid idle fees.

Class members who no longer own an eligible Tesla vehicle may instead receive a $10 payment by submitting a valid claim form and attesting that they are a class member.

Class members who submit a valid claim form may receive a refund for all Supercharger “idle fees” they paid through the date of the settlement. These fees are charged when a vehicle remains plugged into a Supercharger for a specified period of time after charging is complete.

Class members may also receive a payment if their vehicle was disabled due to unpaid idle or other fees. Class members whose vehicles were disabled for less than 30 days will receive a $50 payment. Class members whose vehicles were disabled for 30 or more consecutive days will receive a $350 payment.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Sept. 25, 2026.

The final approval hearing for the Tesla idle fees class action settlement is scheduled for Dec. 2, 2026.

To receive settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by Sept. 25, 2026.

Who’s Eligible

The Tesla settlement benefits California residents who received a Tesla vehicle before Dec. 16, 2016, and continued to own the vehicle after Dec. 16, 2016, and who were citizens of California as of June 21, 2021. The settlement includes three subclasses of consumers who purchased a vehicle described in Tesla’s Motor Vehicle Purchase Agreement as “Supercharger Enabled,” “Supercharger Hardware” or “Supercharger Hardware and Access” before Dec. 16, 2016.

Potential Award

Up to $350

Proof of Purchase

Tesla vehicle identification number

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.