The Arbitration
Clause Database.
We read the fine print of 22 major companies so you don't have to. 17 of them keep the small claims door open in their own published terms. Every verified entry links to the source and quotes it word for word.
Can companies really block you from small claims court?
Usually not. Of 22 major companies checked in August 2026, 12 have arbitration clauses that expressly allow small claims court as an alternative, and 5 have no forced arbitration clause at all. Amazon reportedly dropped its clause in 2021. United Airlines requires 60 days of written notice before any filing. Insurance and car dealership disputes follow your policy or signed contract instead.
22 companies. Their exact words.
Click a company for the full guide to suing them. Every verified row quotes the clause verbatim and links to the source document.
| COMPANY | SMALL CLAIMS? | WHERE IT SAYS SO | SOURCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbnb Airbnb, Inc. | YES Yes. Written into their own terms. | 23.2, Airbnb Terms of Service · read the quote"You and Airbnb each retain the right to seek resolution of the dispute in small claims court as an alternative to arbitration." | Verify August 2026 |
| Amazon | REPORTED Reportedly yes. Clause dropped in 2021. | Widely reported to have dropped forced arbitration in 2021. Confirm in the current terms. | Verify August 2026 |
| Apple Apple Inc. | YES Yes. No forced arbitration clause. | GOVERNING LAW, Apple Media Services Terms · read the quote"You and Apple agree to submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located within the county of Santa Clara, California, to resolve any dispute or claim arising from this Agreement." | Verify August 2026 |
| AT&T AT&T | YES Yes. Written into their own terms. | 1.3.1 Summary, AT&T Consumer Service Agreement · read the quote"This means that you and AT&T will neither file a lawsuit (in any court other than a small claims court), nor pursue or participate in an action seeking relief on behalf of others." | Verify August 2026 |
| Car dealerships | CONTRACT Depends on the contract you signed. | Your signed purchase or financing contract controls. Read its dispute section. | Your contract August 2026 |
| Comcast (Xfinity) Comcast Cable Communications, LLC | YES Yes. Written into their own terms. | Section 13(e), Xfinity Residential Services Agreement · read the quote"Notwithstanding anything in this Arbitration Provision to the contrary, either you or we may elect to have a Dispute heard in a small claims court in the area where you receive(d) Services from us, if the claim(s) underlying the Dispute is not aggregated with the claim(s) of any other person and if the amount in controversy is properly within the jurisdiction of the small claims court." Opt-out: Opt out via Comcast's online arbitration opt-out form at xfinity.com/arbitrationoptout. | Verify August 2026 |
| Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines, Inc. | YES Yes. No forced arbitration clause. | RULE 24: GOVERNING LAW; ENTIRE AGREEMENT; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY, Delta Contract of Carriage · read the quote"Any and all matters arising out of or relating to the Contract of Carriage and/or the subject matter hereof shall be governed by and enforced in accordance with the laws of the United States of America and, to the extent not preempted by Federal law, the laws of the State of Georgia without regard to conflict of law principles, regardless of the legal theory upon which such matter is asserted." | Verify August 2026 |
| DoorDash DoorDash, Inc. | YES Yes. Written into their own terms. | 14. Arbitration Agreement, (a) Scope of Arbitration Agreement, DoorDash Terms and Conditions (US) · read the quote"You may assert claims in small claims court or tribunal if your claims qualify, so long as the matter remains in such court and advances only on an individual (non-class, non-representative) basis." Opt-out: Opt out within 30 days of first accepting the terms, by written notice to DoorDash. | Verify August 2026 |
| GEICO Government Employees Insurance Company | POLICY Usually. Your insurance policy controls. | Your insurance policy and state law govern disputes, not website terms. | Verify August 2026 |
| Google Google LLC | YES Yes. No forced arbitration clause. | Settling disputes, governing law, and courts, Google Terms of Service · read the quote"These disputes will be resolved exclusively in the federal or state courts of Santa Clara County, California, USA, and you and Google consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts." This covers Google's general Terms of Service. Product-specific terms (AdSense, Google Play, Google Ads) have their own dispute sections; check the terms for your product. | Verify August 2026 |
| Instacart Maplebear Inc. (d/b/a Instacart) | YES Yes. Written into their own terms. | 7.2.3, Instacart Terms of Service · read the quote"Qualifying claims may be brought in small claims court, so long as the claims proceed there on an individual (non-class, non-collective, non-representative) basis and remain there." Opt-out: Opt out within 30 days of first accepting the terms; see section 7.2 for instructions. | Verify August 2026 |
| Lyft Lyft, Inc. | YES Yes. Written into their own terms. | 17(i) Exceptions to Arbitration, Lyft Terms of Service · read the quote"This Arbitration Agreement shall not require arbitration of the following types of claims: (1) small claims actions brought on an individual basis that are within the scope of such small claims court's jurisdiction, so long as the action is not removed or appealed to a court of general jurisdiction..." Opt-out: Drivers can opt out of arbitration for driver claims by written notice to Lyft; see section 17. | Verify August 2026 |
| Meta (Facebook) Meta Platforms, Inc. | YES Yes. No forced arbitration clause. | 4.4 Disputes, Meta Terms of Service · read the quote"You and Meta each agree that any claim, cause of action, or dispute between us that arises out of or relates to these Terms or your access or use of the Meta Products shall be resolved exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California or a state court located in San Mateo County." | Verify August 2026 |
| State Farm State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company | POLICY Usually. Your insurance policy controls. | Your insurance policy and state law govern disputes, not website terms. | Verify August 2026 |
| StubHub StubHub, Inc. | YES Yes. Written into their own terms. | 22. Legal Disputes, StubHub User Agreement · read the quote"any and all disputes or claims that have arisen or may arise between you and us... shall be resolved exclusively through final and binding arbitration... rather than in court, except that you may assert claims in small claims court, if your claims qualify and so long as the matter remains in such court and advances only on an individual (non-class, non-representative) basis..." Opt-out: Opt-out available by mailing a written opt-out notice; see the User Agreement for the deadline and address. | Verify August 2026 |
| T-Mobile T-Mobile USA, Inc. | YES Yes. Written into their own terms. | HOW DO I RESOLVE DISPUTES WITH T-MOBILE?, T-Mobile Terms and Conditions · read the quote"YOU AND WE EACH AGREE THAT, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BELOW, ALL CLAIMS AND DISPUTES BETWEEN YOU AND T-MOBILE WILL BE RESOLVED BY INDIVIDUAL BINDING ARBITRATION OR IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT." | Verify August 2026 |
| Ticketmaster Ticketmaster LLC | YES Yes. Written into their own terms. | 14. Disputes and Arbitration, Ticketmaster Terms of Use · read the quote"If a claim is within the jurisdiction of small claims court, either of the parties may (instead of arbitration) choose to take the claim to small claims court in your county of residence or in closest proximity to your residence; you may also choose to take the claim to small claims court in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles." | Verify August 2026 |
| TikTok TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC | YES Yes. No forced arbitration clause. | 8.2 Exclusive venue, TikTok Terms of Service (US) · read the quote"Any claim, cause of action or dispute, arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform shall also be resolved exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California or the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, regardless of whether the claim, cause of action, or dispute arose prior to your agreement to these Terms." TikTok's terms set exclusive venue in California courts (the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California or Los Angeles County state courts), which can complicate filing outside California. | Verify August 2026 |
| Uber Uber Technologies, Inc. | YES Yes. Written into their own terms. | 2(b), Uber Terms of Use · read the quote"Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Arbitration Agreement shall not require arbitration of the following claims: (i) individual claims brought in small claims court so long as the matter remains in such court and advances only on an individual basis;..." | Verify August 2026 |
| United Airlines United Airlines, Inc. | NOTICE FIRST Written notice plus 60 days before you can file. | Rule 3 Application of Contract, United Contract of Carriage · read the quote"Following delivery of such submission, you agree to allow United a period of sixty (60) days to provide a substantive response and to try to resolve the dispute prior to filing any lawsuit, arbitration, administrative or any other proceeding against United related to the dispute." | Verify August 2026 |
| Verizon Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless and Verizon Online LLC | YES Yes. Written into their own terms. | HOW DO I RESOLVE DISPUTES WITH VERIZON?, Verizon Customer Agreement · read the quote"YOU AND VERIZON BOTH AGREE TO RESOLVE DISPUTES ONLY BY ARBITRATION OR IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT AS DISCUSSED BELOW." | Verify August 2026 |
| Walmart Wal-Mart.com USA, LLC and Walmart Inc. | YES Yes. Written into their own terms. | 20.1, Walmart.com Terms of Use · read the quote"As an exception to the foregoing, you or Walmart may bring an action in small claims court in the United States if (i) it is brought on an individual basis; (ii) the claim is within the scope of the small claims court’s jurisdiction; and (iii) the claim is not removed, appealed, or otherwise transferred to or refiled in any court of general jurisdiction." | Verify August 2026 |
Airbnb's arbitration clause expressly allows small claims court (23.2).
Their exact words
"You and Airbnb each retain the right to seek resolution of the dispute in small claims court as an alternative to arbitration."
Widely reported to have dropped forced arbitration in 2021. Confirm in the current terms.
No mandatory arbitration clause in Apple Media Services Terms. Disputes go to court.
Their exact words
"You and Apple agree to submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located within the county of Santa Clara, California, to resolve any dispute or claim arising from this Agreement."
AT&T's arbitration clause expressly allows small claims court (1.3.1 Summary).
Their exact words
"This means that you and AT&T will neither file a lawsuit (in any court other than a small claims court), nor pursue or participate in an action seeking relief on behalf of others."
Your signed purchase or financing contract controls. Read its dispute section.
Comcast (Xfinity)'s arbitration clause expressly allows small claims court (Section 13(e)).
Their exact words
"Notwithstanding anything in this Arbitration Provision to the contrary, either you or we may elect to have a Dispute heard in a small claims court in the area where you receive(d) Services from us, if the claim(s) underlying the Dispute is not aggregated with the claim(s) of any other person and if the amount in controversy is properly within the jurisdiction of the small claims court."
Opt-out: Opt out via Comcast's online arbitration opt-out form at xfinity.com/arbitrationoptout.
No mandatory arbitration clause in Delta Contract of Carriage. Disputes go to court.
Their exact words
"Any and all matters arising out of or relating to the Contract of Carriage and/or the subject matter hereof shall be governed by and enforced in accordance with the laws of the United States of America and, to the extent not preempted by Federal law, the laws of the State of Georgia without regard to conflict of law principles, regardless of the legal theory upon which such matter is asserted."
DoorDash's arbitration clause expressly allows small claims court (14. Arbitration Agreement, (a) Scope of Arbitration Agreement).
Their exact words
"You may assert claims in small claims court or tribunal if your claims qualify, so long as the matter remains in such court and advances only on an individual (non-class, non-representative) basis."
Opt-out: Opt out within 30 days of first accepting the terms, by written notice to DoorDash.
Your insurance policy and state law govern disputes, not website terms.
No mandatory arbitration clause in Google Terms of Service. Disputes go to court.
Their exact words
"These disputes will be resolved exclusively in the federal or state courts of Santa Clara County, California, USA, and you and Google consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts."
This covers Google's general Terms of Service. Product-specific terms (AdSense, Google Play, Google Ads) have their own dispute sections; check the terms for your product.
Instacart's arbitration clause expressly allows small claims court (7.2.3).
Their exact words
"Qualifying claims may be brought in small claims court, so long as the claims proceed there on an individual (non-class, non-collective, non-representative) basis and remain there."
Opt-out: Opt out within 30 days of first accepting the terms; see section 7.2 for instructions.
Lyft's arbitration clause expressly allows small claims court (17(i) Exceptions to Arbitration).
Their exact words
"This Arbitration Agreement shall not require arbitration of the following types of claims: (1) small claims actions brought on an individual basis that are within the scope of such small claims court's jurisdiction, so long as the action is not removed or appealed to a court of general jurisdiction..."
Opt-out: Drivers can opt out of arbitration for driver claims by written notice to Lyft; see section 17.
No mandatory arbitration clause in Meta Terms of Service. Disputes go to court.
Their exact words
"You and Meta each agree that any claim, cause of action, or dispute between us that arises out of or relates to these Terms or your access or use of the Meta Products shall be resolved exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California or a state court located in San Mateo County."
Your insurance policy and state law govern disputes, not website terms.
StubHub's arbitration clause expressly allows small claims court (22. Legal Disputes).
Their exact words
"any and all disputes or claims that have arisen or may arise between you and us... shall be resolved exclusively through final and binding arbitration... rather than in court, except that you may assert claims in small claims court, if your claims qualify and so long as the matter remains in such court and advances only on an individual (non-class, non-representative) basis..."
Opt-out: Opt-out available by mailing a written opt-out notice; see the User Agreement for the deadline and address.
T-Mobile's arbitration clause expressly allows small claims court (HOW DO I RESOLVE DISPUTES WITH T-MOBILE?).
Their exact words
"YOU AND WE EACH AGREE THAT, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BELOW, ALL CLAIMS AND DISPUTES BETWEEN YOU AND T-MOBILE WILL BE RESOLVED BY INDIVIDUAL BINDING ARBITRATION OR IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT."
Ticketmaster's arbitration clause expressly allows small claims court (14. Disputes and Arbitration).
Their exact words
"If a claim is within the jurisdiction of small claims court, either of the parties may (instead of arbitration) choose to take the claim to small claims court in your county of residence or in closest proximity to your residence; you may also choose to take the claim to small claims court in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles."
No mandatory arbitration clause in TikTok Terms of Service (US). Disputes go to court.
Their exact words
"Any claim, cause of action or dispute, arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform shall also be resolved exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California or the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, regardless of whether the claim, cause of action, or dispute arose prior to your agreement to these Terms."
TikTok's terms set exclusive venue in California courts (the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California or Los Angeles County state courts), which can complicate filing outside California.
Uber's arbitration clause expressly allows small claims court (2(b)).
Their exact words
"Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Arbitration Agreement shall not require arbitration of the following claims: (i) individual claims brought in small claims court so long as the matter remains in such court and advances only on an individual basis;..."
You must send written notice and wait 60 days before filing anything.
Their exact words
"Following delivery of such submission, you agree to allow United a period of sixty (60) days to provide a substantive response and to try to resolve the dispute prior to filing any lawsuit, arbitration, administrative or any other proceeding against United related to the dispute."
Verizon's arbitration clause expressly allows small claims court (HOW DO I RESOLVE DISPUTES WITH VERIZON?).
Their exact words
"YOU AND VERIZON BOTH AGREE TO RESOLVE DISPUTES ONLY BY ARBITRATION OR IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT AS DISCUSSED BELOW."
Walmart's arbitration clause expressly allows small claims court (20.1).
Their exact words
"As an exception to the foregoing, you or Walmart may bring an action in small claims court in the United States if (i) it is brought on an individual basis; (ii) the claim is within the scope of the small claims court’s jurisdiction; and (iii) the claim is not removed, appealed, or otherwise transferred to or refiled in any court of general jurisdiction."
Statuses reflect each company's published consumer terms as of August 2026. Companies change their terms. Always confirm against the linked source before relying on an entry. This is general information, not legal advice.
How we checked
Every entry comes from the company's own published terms: terms of service, terms of use, user agreements, subscriber agreements, or contracts of carriage. We pulled the current document in August 2026, located the dispute resolution language, and recorded the status with a verbatim quote and section number where the document provides one.
We only assert what the document says. Where a company blocked automated access (Amazon) the row is marked as reported, not verified. Where the consumer relationship is governed by a signed contract or an insurance policy rather than website terms (car dealerships, State Farm, GEICO), the row says so instead of pretending a website clause settles it. United Airlines' contract of carriage requires written notice and a 60 day wait before any filing, so that is what the row says.
Found an update we missed? Terms change, and we re-check this page. In the meantime the source link next to every row lets you read the current language yourself.
FAQ: Arbitration clauses and small claims
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