Tesla Idle Fee Settlement: Refunds Plus $50 or $350 for Supercharger Disabling
The Tesla Idle Fee Settlement: Refunds Plus $50 or $350 for Supercharger Disabling settlement, with individual payouts of $50 to $350 to eligible claimants who a claimant must be a member of the defined class, generally including people who received an eligible tesla in california before december 16, 2016 and continued to own it after that date.. The deadline to file is September 25, 2026. Proof of purchase is not required.
Deadline: September 25, 2026
Total amount allocated for all claims
Estimated amount per eligible claim
No proof of purchase needed — anyone eligible can file a claim
Claimants generally must attest under penalty of perjury that the information is true and that they meet the class requirements. Online filing uses the LoginID and PIN provided in the notice; paper claims must be downloaded, the applicable benefits selected, signed, and mailed/postmarked by the deadline. Tesla’s records are used to calculate eligible paid-idle-fee refunds and to verify Supercharger disabling duration (e.g., whether it is fewer than 30 consecutive days or 30+). The summary indicates most claimants are not instructed to upload purchase receipts; keeping a copy of the submitted claim and any supporting records is recommended.
Settlement Summary
This class action centers on Tesla’s “Supercharger idle fees,” charges imposed when a driver’s vehicle occupies a Supercharger stall after a charging session ends (or while idle). The lawsuit, Shenkman v. Tesla, Inc. (Superior Court of California, Alameda County), alleges that Tesla’s billing and related “idle fee” practices affected certain California customers—particularly those who received an eligible Tesla in California before December 16, 2016 and later experienced Supercharger access being disabled for unpaid idle or related fees. In response to the dispute, the settlement offers multiple forms of relief tied to Tesla’s records: class members may receive refunds of Supercharger idle fees they actually paid through the settlement date, and—or—compensation if their Supercharger access was disabled while fees remained unpaid. The case was filed to challenge how these idle fees were assessed and enforced, and its significance is practical: it creates a structured way for affected owners and certain former owners to recover money and regain or avoid future collection tied to older, unpaid-fee situations during the settlement period. Eligible current owners (notably those meeting the California vehicle and timing requirements) benefit from Tesla’s agreement not to disable Supercharger access, to restore access if it was already disabled, and to waive unpaid idle fees through the settlement date; however, Tesla can still assess and collect idle fees incurred after the settlement agreement was executed. The settlement also uses objective “duration” rules—class members can receive $50 if disabling lasted under 30 days or $350 if it lasted at least 30 consecutive days—showing how the settlement converts disputed enforcement into verifiable, record-based compensation. Claims have a deadline of September 25, 2026, and anyone with more than one qualifying vehicle generally must file separate claims per vehicle. Broader implications extend beyond individual payouts: settlements like this reflect how consumer and privacy-adjacent issues in the charging industry often turn on billing transparency, account enforcement, and whether access to critical services (like charging) is withheld for extended periods. Industry-wide, fast-charging networks increasingly rely on stall-time management and enforcement mechanisms to ensure availability for paying customers, but disputes frequently arise over the clarity of fee triggers, the length of time enforcement persists, and the fairness of linking access to unpaid charges. While this settlement is specific to Tesla and the alleged idle-fee enforcement for particular California customers, it signals the kind of regulatory and litigation pressure that can shape how charging operators draft fee policies and handle access suspensions—especially when consumers’ ability to use essential transportation infrastructure depends on how charges and waivers are applied.
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Eligibility Requirements
- A claimant must be a member of the defined class, generally including people who received an eligible Tesla in California before December 16, 2016 and continued to own it after that date.
- Claimants must have been California citizens as of June 21, 2021 and fit within the specified Liability Subclass based on the purchase agreement.
- For Supercharger access and unpaid-fee relief: the claimant must still own an eligible vehicle received in California before December 16, 2016.
- To receive $50 or $350: the claimant must have an eligible vehicle whose Supercharger access was disabled for unpaid idle or other fees, with the payment amount depending on whether the disabling lasted fewer than 30 consecutive days ($50) or at least 30 consecutive days ($350).
- Unpaid fees and fees Tesla previously waived are not eligible for refunds of paid idle fees.
- For the $10 former-owner payment: the claimant must no longer own a Tesla that has free Supercharging, and must meet the attestation requirements in the claim.
- A separate claim is required for each eligible vehicle; duplicates for the same vehicle are rejected.
- Online claims require the LoginID and PIN from the notice; paper claims must be signed under penalty of perjury and submitted by the deadline.
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Important Notice About Filing Claims
Submitting false information in a settlement claim is considered perjury and will result in your claim being rejected. Fraudulent claims harm legitimate class members and may result in legal consequences.
If you are unsure about your eligibility for this settlement, please visit the official settlement administrator’s website using the link provided above. Review the eligibility criteria carefully before submitting a claim.
Class Action Champion is an independent information resource and is not affiliated with any settlement administrator, law firm, or court. We provide settlement information as a service to help connect eligible class members with legitimate settlements.