Text size: Watch Exo WorkNeed help?

Real World: Driving

Robotaxis And Self-Driving Cars: Where Things Stand

Driverless taxis already carry paying passengers in several US cities. Waymo says it gives over 500,000 rides a week. In the UK, a new law allows self-driving passenger services, and applications for pilots opened in May 2026. No fully driverless service had been approved there by late August 2026.

Last checked 16 October 2026. Every figure on this page links to its source below.

What Is A Robotaxi?

A robotaxi is a taxi with no driver. You book it on a phone app, it arrives, and AI software steers, brakes and finds its way using cameras, radar and other sensors. Some services still have a safety driver in the seat while they are being tested.

Where Can You Ride One In The USA?

Waymo, owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, is the largest. In February 2026 it said it was giving more than 400,000 rides every week across six US metro areas, and that it carried 15 million rides in 2025 alone. By May 2026 it told the UK government it was serving eleven US metro areas with over 500,000 rides each week.

Waymo in numbers (company figures)

  • 400,000+rides a week, February 2026
  • 500,000+rides a week, May 2026
  • 15 millionrides in 2025
  • 127 millionmiles driven with no driver
Sources: Waymo blog, 2 February 2026; Waymo statement in GOV.UK press release, 22 May 2026. These are Waymo's own figures.

Are Self-Driving Cars Safer?

Waymo says that across 127 million fully driverless miles it has seen 90% fewer serious injury crashes than human drivers would be expected to have. That is the company's own analysis. The UK government says human error contributes to 88% of collisions on UK roads, which is the main argument for the technology. Independent long-term evidence is still building up.

When Will Robotaxis Come To The UK?

The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 set up the legal framework. On 22 May 2026 the Department for Transport opened applications for operators to run taxi, private hire and bus-style self-driving services in a pilot scheme. Local transport bodies such as Transport for London must also give consent.

Progress has been slower than first hoped. The Guardian reported on 26 August 2026 that a London launch of fully driverless taxis looked unlikely this year, and that no vehicles had yet been approved by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Uber and Wayve were licensed to offer rides in London with a human safety driver on board.

What It Means For You

USA

If you visit a city with robotaxis, you will need the operator's app and a payment card. You can usually contact a support person from inside the car. Try a short daytime trip first.

UK

The government says self-driving services could help older and disabled people travel more independently. For now, any London rides are likely to have a safety driver. Check who is responsible if something goes wrong before you book.

Common Questions

Is there anyone in a Waymo car?

In its fully driverless service, no. The car drives itself and riders can contact remote support from inside the car.

Can I take a robotaxi in London now?

Not a fully driverless one, as of late August 2026. Uber and Wayve were licensed to run rides with a safety driver. Fully driverless services need approval under the new pilot scheme.

Are robotaxis safer than human drivers?

Waymo says its data shows 90% fewer serious injury crashes over 127 million miles. That is the company's own analysis, so treat it as a claim while independent evidence grows.

Which law covers self-driving cars in the UK?

The Automated Vehicles Act 2024. Pilots of self-driving passenger services opened for applications on 22 May 2026.

New to all this? Our free AI Starter Guide walks you through the basics, and you can print it.

Read Next

Sources

Last checked 16 October 2026.

Updated 19 October 2026