Tesla Supercharging costs can include more than the electricity added to your vehicle. Depending on your location, how many vehicles are charging and more, congestion and idle fees can increase your total charging fees.
Understanding when these fees apply can you avoid unexpected charges and let you keep your vehicle at the Supercharger longer without paying additional fees.
Fees Beyond the Charging Price
Tesla generally bills Supercharging by the kilowatt-hour, although some locations charge by the minute. That charging price is separate from fees intended to keep stalls available. It is also distinct from Tesla's dynamic Supercharger pricing, which adjusts charging prices based on demand.
What Are Supercharger Idle Fees & Congestion Fees?
Tesla has two types of fees, idle and congestion fees. While these charges are similar, they differ slightly and Supercharger sites either use one or the other, so it’s always helpful to know which fee structure your Supercharger site is using.
Idle fees are charged when a vehicle has finished charging but remains plugged in and continues occupying a stall. Congestion fees, introduced in 2023, begin being assessed when your vehicle reaches 80% state of charge, whether it’s still charging or not.
While the charges are similar, Idle fees discourage drivers from leaving charged vehicles (as set by your charge limit) at a charger, while congestion fees are designed to reduce long charging sessions and improve stall availability during busy periods.
Tesla is transitioning to congestion fees instead of idle fees everywhere and most of the U.S. and most countries now use congestion fees.
When Do These Fees Apply
Idle and congestion fees only apply after your vehicle is done charging (or reaches 80%) and at least half of the stalls are occupied at the Supercharger.
The per-minute fees will double when the station is completely full. Any fees are waived if you move your vehicle within five minutes.
To be safe, you can assume your location uses congestion fees and as long as you move your vehicle with five minutes of it completing charging, you will not be charged.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that these fees only apply when the Supercharger is at least half full. So if your Supercharger only has a couple vehicles charging, you can skip moving your vehicle until you’re ready to go.
How Much Do Idle/Congestion Fees Cost?
Tesla's current fee schedule lists these rates, including tax.
Country | Fee (Less than 50% Full) | Fee (At least 50% Full) | Fee (100% Full) |
|---|---|---|---|
United States | US$0 | US$0.50 | US$1.00 |
Canada | CA$0 | CA$0.50 | CA$1.00 |
United Kingdom | £0 | £0.50 | £1.00 |
Germany | €0 | €0.50 | €1.00 |
Australia | AU$0 | AU$0.50 | AU$1.00 |
New Zealand | NZ$0 | NZ$1.00 | NZ$2.00 |
Fees are charged per minute, with the first five minutes being waived if you move your vehicle. However, the fees also double if the Supercharger site is completely full. There is also no cap on the total congestion fees that can accumulate.
Understanding these fees and when they apply can not only help you avoid unnecessary fees, but they can also avoid you having to run out to move your vehicle if the station isn’t at least half full.
Tesla will typically waive your first idle or congestion fees, but this is over the lifetime of your account. Your best bet is to always charge to 80% or less and move your vehicle when your vehicle is done charging.
Tesla will typically send a notification to your vehicle when it’s done charging and when idle or congestion fees start to accrue, however, these can be easily missed by poor reception or simply not seeing them in time.
