Tesla Robotaxi: cities, how to ride and what it costs

Short answer: Tesla Robotaxi takes public riders in limited areas of Austin, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Orlando and Tampa, booked in the Tesla Robotaxi app. Rides are cheap (about $3 plus $1.40 per mile in Austin), the fleet mixes fully driverless Model Ys with cars carrying a safety monitor, and the two-seat Cybercab runs in part of Austin. Las Vegas, Phoenix, Jacksonville and San Antonio are next.

Tesla started its robotaxi service in Austin on June 22, 2025 with a safety monitor in the front passenger seat, and has expanded to Florida and removed monitors from part of the fleet in 2026. Here is how it works for riders as of October 21, 2026.

Where Tesla Robotaxi runs

Status checked October 21, 2026. Service areas change often: the company's app is always the final word.

Tesla's service areas are smaller than Waymo's in the same cities. The app's map shows the current boundary. In Orlando, the zone reaches the area near the airport (MCO) but doesn't serve the terminals.

How to ride

1. Download the Tesla Robotaxi app (iOS or Android) and sign in with a Tesla account. You don't need to own a Tesla.
2. Choose pickup and destination inside the service area. You can only book for yourself, during your area's operating hours.
3. Check the fare estimate shown before you confirm.
4. Find your car on the map and get in. In a Cybercab, the doors open automatically when the car detects your phone.
5. Need to stop? Tap Pull Over on the touchscreen or in the app. Support can call you through the screen.

Prices

Tesla launched with a flat $4.20 fare in Austin, then switched to distance-based pricing. In March 2026 the Austin fare was reported at $3.00 base plus $1.40 per mile, up from $3.25 plus $1.00 per mile. In San Francisco (where the service has a safety driver), Obi measured average rides of $8.31 to $14.59 in spring 2026, about half the price of Waymo but 41% more than in late 2025. Comparison in Tesla Robotaxi vs Waymo.

Safety monitors and driverless rides

Tesla's fleet in Texas and Florida is a mix of cars with no one inside except riders and cars with a Tesla safety monitor. Tesla added unsupervised cars in Austin in January 2026, in Dallas and Houston in April, Miami in July and Orlando and Tampa on July 21, 2026. It doesn't publish the share of rides without a monitor. Its Robotaxi Safety Report counts 3.1 million miles without a monitor from January 22 to October 18, 2026, with zero injuries reported; coverage of the report noted that two events were excluded from the count.

Cybercab

The Cybercab is Tesla's purpose-built robotaxi: two seats, no steering wheel or pedals, and a 20.2 cubic-foot trunk. It has carried riders in a limited area of Austin since September 2026. Its rider guide describes a physical Stop button between the dome lights, an automatic door unlock and a cabin camera that checks occupancy and lost items.

Rules for riders

• Children: in a Model Y, minors aged 8 to 17 can ride with an adult; under 8s can't ride. In a Cybercab, only 13 to 17-year-olds with an adult.
• Pets: not allowed. Service animals are welcome for riders with disabilities.
• Accessibility: the app works with screen readers; wheelchair-accessible vehicle providers are listed on the app's home screen.
• Lost items: report in Ride History; found items are kept for 10 days.

What's next for Tesla

• New cities: Las Vegas, Phoenix, Jacksonville and San Antonio, named in October 2026 without dates. Nevada has approved up to 5,000 Tesla robotaxis in Clark County.
• California: Tesla operates with safety drivers under a charter permit; driverless operation needs separate state permits.

Frequently asked questions