How to ride Waymo: your first driverless ride, step by step

Short answer: download the Waymo app, sign up (you must be 18 or older), enter a destination and accept the price. When the car arrives, check that your initials are on its roof, unlock the doors from the app, buckle up and press Start ride on the rear screen. The car drives you to the door and ends the trip on its own. There is no driver to tip.

The first ride feels strange for about a minute, then surprisingly normal. This guide walks through each step, with the controls and rules worth knowing before you get in. First, make sure Waymo runs in your city: see every Waymo city.

Before you ride: set up the app

1. Download the Waymo app (iOS or Android). In Austin and Atlanta, skip this: Waymo is only available inside Uber (see Waymo on Uber and Lyft).
2. Create an account with your phone number and add a payment card. You need to be at least 18, except for teen accounts in Phoenix and Nashville.
3. Turn on the options you need: showing your initials on the car, accessibility settings, "Minimize walking time" and, in some cities, a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

Booking a ride

1. Enter your destination. If it is outside the service area, the app suggests the nearest point the car can reach.
2. Check the pickup spot. Waymo picks a safe place to stop, which can be a few steps from where you stand. You can move the pin within limits.
3. Look at the price and arrival time. You always see the fare before you book. It is based on the most direct route and doesn't change if the car re-routes. Prices are higher at busy times. See how much Waymo costs.
4. Confirm. The app shows the car on a live map and notifies you when it is close.

You can book for up to four riders, including yourself, but you must ride too: Waymo doesn't let you send a car for someone else.

Finding and unlocking your car

• Look for your initials on the roof dome (or the screen on the newer Ojai vehicle).
• Use "Find my car" in the app for directions, or make the car play a melody or honk. These features also help blind and low-vision riders.
• Unlock the doors from the app. Put bags in the trunk or cabin; nothing can stick out of the car.

Don't keep the car waiting. Waymo holds the car for a short time at the pickup point, and you may be charged if the trip is cancelled because you didn't show up.

During the ride

1. Buckle up and press Start ride on the rear screen (or in the app). Waymo's rules require seat belts for the whole trip.
2. Use the screen to follow the route, change the temperature or the music, and see what the car "sees" around it.
3. Need to stop? Press Pull over on the screen or in the app. The car stops at the nearest safe spot.
4. Need help? Press the Support button to talk to a person at Rider Support. If the car can't continue, Waymo sends help and arranges another way to finish the trip.

Don't touch the steering wheel or pedals, and stay in the car unless there is an urgent reason to leave. Waymo's rules ban smoking, vaping, alcohol and drugs in the car. Read the full list in Waymo rules: pets, food, luggage and fees.

At the end

The car pulls over as close to your destination as it safely can and tells you when to get out. Check for your phone and bags: Waymo's cameras look for items left behind, and you can report a lost item in the app. You'll be asked to rate the ride. There is no tip.

First-ride tips

• Choose a pickup point on a quiet side street. Busy boulevards with no legal place to stop slow everything down.
• For your first ride, sit in the back so you can use the rear screen and its buttons.
• Kids under 8 need their own car seat or booster, installed in the back. Bring it with you: see kids and teens.
• Pets aren't allowed; service animals are always welcome.
• If something feels wrong, press Pull over, then call Support. Safety data is in is Waymo safe?

Frequently asked questions