Independent rider's guide. Not affiliated with Waymo, Tesla, Zoox, Uber or Lyft. We don't book rides: book in the official apps. About our independence
Tesla doesn't publish Robotaxi prices. The card riders and trackers have reported in Austin since March 12, 2026 is $3.00 plus $1.40 a mile, so a 5-mile ride is about $10.00 before taxes and fees. Treat it as reported and unconfirmed: the Tesla Robotaxi app shows the real fare before you confirm.
Reported, not official. These figures come from rider quotes collected by Not a Tesla App and BASENOR. Tesla's own app listing says only that it charges "an affordable rate plus applicable taxes and fees" and that pricing "is subject to change" (App Store).
Tesla Robotaxi, Austin (Model Y): a reported card from rider quotes, not published by Tesla; treat it as a rough guide. $3.00 base + $7.00 for 5 mi.
Tesla Robotaxi price per mile
| Trip | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mi | $4.40 | $4.40 |
| 3 mi | $7.20 | $2.40 |
| 5 mi | $10.00 | $2.00 |
| 10 mi | $17.00 | $1.70 |
| 20 mi | $31.00 | $1.55 |
Reported Austin card (Model Y), before taxes, fees and any demand pricing. Checked Nov 11, 2026
With no per-minute charge in the reported card, time in traffic doesn't add to the fare the way it does with Waymo, and the base is small. That's why the cost per mile falls quickly with distance: $4.40 for a single mile, but about $1.70 a mile over 10 miles.
How the reported Austin card changed
| From | Reported card | Reported by |
|---|---|---|
| June 22, 2025 | flat $4.20 per ride at launch | BASENOR |
| March 7, 2026 | $3.25 base + $1.00 per mile | Not a Tesla App |
| March 12, 2026 | $3.00 base + $1.40 per mile | Not a Tesla App |
Trackers built these from rider screenshots and quotes. Tesla hasn't confirmed any of them.
What a price study found
Obi, which compares ride prices across apps, found Tesla was the cheapest option it tracked in the San Francisco Bay Area. In its update for March 1 to April 14, 2026, Tesla's average price had risen 41% from the previous period but was still about half that of a Waymo ride, and the daily average ranged from $8.31 to $14.59 (Obi, May 2026).
That comparison comes with a big caveat. California's utilities regulator says Tesla isn't operating an autonomous vehicle service in the state: it holds a charter-party permit, the same kind a limousine company gets, and the person in the driver's seat is the driver (Electrek). Tesla's own page lists Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Miami, Orlando, San Antonio and Tampa as its autonomous cities (Tesla).
Before you book
- You need a Tesla Account to sign in to the Robotaxi app, and you must be 18 to book or ride alone.
- Enter the number of riders: a Model Y takes up to four, a Cybercab up to two.
- Read the estimated fare and arrival time, then confirm. Check the license plate before you get in.
Related: Robotaxi price estimator · Waymo vs Tesla Robotaxi · Robotaxis in Austin · Rider rules compared
Questions riders ask
How much does Tesla Robotaxi cost per mile?
Tesla doesn't publish a rate. The card reported from rider quotes in Austin since March 12, 2026 is $3.00 plus $1.40 a mile, which works out to $2.00 a mile on a 5-mile trip and $1.70 on a 10-mile trip, before taxes and fees.
Is Tesla Robotaxi cheaper than Waymo?
In San Francisco, Obi's spring 2026 data had Tesla at roughly half the average price of a Waymo ride. Note that Tesla's Bay Area service has a person in the driver's seat; California regulators don't treat it as an autonomous service.
Does Tesla Robotaxi have surge pricing?
Tesla doesn't say. Obi reported in May 2026 that Tesla's average Bay Area ride price swung from $8.31 to $14.59 depending on the day, which suggests prices now respond to more than distance.
Where can I see the exact Tesla Robotaxi price?
In the Tesla Robotaxi app. After you enter a destination inside the service area, the app shows the estimated fare and arrival time before you confirm.
Sources
- Tesla Robotaxi on the App Store, Apple App Store Operator, checked Nov 11, 2026
- Robotaxi, Tesla Operator, checked Nov 11, 2026
- Robotaxi Rider Rules (PDF), Tesla Operator, checked Nov 11, 2026
- Autonomous Rides Are Getting More Expensive: An Update (May 2026, PDF), Obi Data study, checked Nov 11, 2026
- California regulator confirms Tesla is 'not operating an autonomous vehicle service' (Mar. 25, 2026), Electrek News report, checked Nov 11, 2026
- Tesla Robotaxi pricing changes in Austin, BASENOR Tracker report, checked Nov 11, 2026
- Tesla raises Robotaxi price again with 40% increase, Not a Tesla App Tracker report, checked Nov 11, 2026
We check every fare, city, airport and rule against the operators' own help pages, regulators and reputable reporting, and we date each check. Reported figures are labeled as reported. We don't sell rides, codes or rankings. About us · How we source and check facts