Independent rider's guide. Not affiliated with Waymo, Tesla, Zoox, Uber or Lyft. We don't book rides: book in the official apps. About our independence
When will Waymo come to NYC? Nobody can say yet: no one can book a Waymo in New York City, and no launch date has been announced. Waymo tested here under a city permit that NYC DOT lists as active only through March 31, 2026, for eight vehicles with safety drivers. No other company offers public robotaxi rides in the city.
What Waymo did in New York
NYC DOT requires anyone testing autonomous vehicles in the city to hold a New York State DMV testing permit and a city testing permit, which costs $5,000 a year. Its list of permits shows Waymo's as active through March 31, 2026, with a fleet of eight vehicles, covering Manhattan south of 112th Street and Downtown Brooklyn south to Atlantic Avenue and east to Carlton Avenue (NYC DOT). Checked Nov 11, 2026
Waymo still lists New York among the places "where Waymo is driving" (Waymo), but that list mixes cities with public service and cities where Waymo is only testing or mapping. New York is in the second group.
What would need to happen
For a public driverless service, Waymo would need a current permit and the state and city rules to allow rides without a driver. We'll update this page when NYC DOT's permit list or Waymo's service-area page changes; the launch timeline records every change we verify.
Getting around New York now
Until a robotaxi service opens, use the city's regular ride-hail apps, taxis or transit. If you're traveling to a city where robotaxis already run, the robotaxi cities checker shows which app to download before you go.
Related: Washington, DC · Boston · Robotaxi cities · How waitlists work
Questions riders ask
Is Waymo in New York City?
Not for riders. Waymo tested in New York with a city permit that NYC DOT lists as active through March 31, 2026, for eight vehicles in Manhattan south of 112th Street and part of Downtown Brooklyn.
When will Waymo launch in New York?
No date has been announced. Waymo lists New York among the places it is driving, which covers testing and mapping, not public rides.
Are there any robotaxis in NYC?
No company offers public robotaxi rides in New York City as of our check.
Sources
- Ride with Waymo: where Waymo is driving, Waymo Operator, checked Nov 11, 2026
- Autonomous Vehicles in New York City, NYC Department of Transportation Regulator or airport, checked Nov 11, 2026
We check every fare, city, airport and rule against the operators' own help pages, regulators and reputable reporting, and we date each check. Reported figures are labeled as reported. We don't sell rides, codes or rankings. About us · How we source and check facts