• Tesla will fine riders who spill, smoke, or puke in robotaxis.
  • Messes are split into moderate and severe fee categories.
  • Puking or smoking inside triggers the highest cleaning fee.

Tesla’s robotaxi dream promises drivers an effortless, driverless ride around Austin, TX, in a modern, clean EV. But if you don’t keep it clean for the next rider, you could face some stiff fines, according to a new report.

Read: Tesla Robotaxi Driver Caught Asleep Proves Humans Are Still The Weakest Link

The company is reportedly using a two-tier cleaning fee system for riders who leave behind anything from fries to liquid regret. ‘Moderate’ messes like food spills, dirt or minor stains will cost around $50, tech journalist Sawyer Merritt revealed on X.

$150 for bigger spills

But ‘severe’ messes like vomit will cost up to $150. Smoke in the Model Y robotaxis, which will operate until the bespoke Tesla Cybercabs are rolled out, and you’ll also incur the higher fine, despite leaving no visible trace of your crime.

“We prioritize maintaining a clean and comfortable environment for all riders and [are] promoting responsible rider behavior,” reads a statement from Tesla, shared by Merritt on X and picked up by Inside EVs.

“To address incidents where vehicles require additional cleaning after a trip, we will assess the type and severity of the mess and apply the appropriate fee.”

Puke In A Tesla Robotaxi And You’ll Also Suffer A Financial Hangover

Tesla says that riders will receive a notification letting them know that extra cleaning was required, and that they can contest the charges by contacting customer support.

Ride hailing services have charged for messes for years, and Tesla’s robotaxi rivals, as well as those offering rides with human drivers, all expect you to pay for cleaning up anything you left behind that they wouldn’t want the next rider to touch, see, or smell.

If you’re going to puke, do it in a Waymo

But Tesla’s fees in some cases exceed the charges Waymo hits messy riders with. Sully one of Waymo’s cabs and you can get away with a $50 fine, provided you self-report the problem. Fail to do that and Waymo inflates the fine to $100 for your first violation, which is also the default first charge for smoking or vaping.

But further violations could result in you being charged the full cost of cleaning, which we’re guessing could far exceed $100, or Tesla’s maximum $150 penalty, and Waymo says your account standing could be affected. If you’re a serial Saturday night vomiter, taking a robotaxi could become seriously expensive whether it’s Tesla, Waymo or any other company providing the ride.