Driver FixRecommendedSound, Wi-Fi or graphics acting up? Check drivers firstFind missing or outdated drivers fast.Check DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run Scan×
Skip to content
CarCodyAdvertise
Service recordThe Garage

Waymo Robotaxis Expand Into More California Cities—but Permitted Territory Isn’t Open Service

Waymo’s 2026 regulatory filing names additions across the Bay Area, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. Here’s why authorized territory and bookable rides are not the same.
Entry410 Date Time3 min MechanicCarCody Team
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Waymo’s 2026 California regulatory filing adds territory across several regions, including the Bay Area, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. But a place appearing in an approved operating domain does not necessarily mean riders can book a Waymo there today. The filing defines where driverless operations may be authorized; actual passenger access depends on Waymo’s rollout and current service area.

Which California cities are in the expanded territory?

Waymo’s filing with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) describes expanded driverless operational domains covering parts of counties in Northern and Southern California. It names municipalities including Alameda, Antioch, Berkeley, Oakland, Napa, Santa Rosa and Walnut Creek in the Bay Area; Sacramento, Vacaville and Vallejo; Long Beach, Santa Clarita and Thousand Oaks in the Los Angeles region; Anaheim and Irvine in Orange County; and San Diego and Chula Vista. The filing says its examples are not a complete list, and it does not mean every part of each named city or county is included. The CPUC filing is the source for the authorized geography.

That boundary is meaningful: the filing says Waymo’s service operates only within the California DMV-authorized operational design domain (ODD). Riders cannot choose destinations outside the approved geography, and the vehicle software will not route beyond it. The filing also says vehicles are designed to adapt to relevant conditions and stop safely when conditions fall outside the ODD.

Does a newly named city mean you can book a ride there?

No. Regulatory authorization and public availability are separate steps. A permit or ODD map shows where operations are allowed under the relevant approval; it does not confirm that Waymo is accepting public bookings at every location inside that area. Rider onboarding, launch timing and the active service boundary can change independently.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Sale
Veeniix V992 1:14 Scale 2-in-1 Transform RC Robot Car Toy, Red
  • 2-in-1 Transforming Design:Switch between a fast RC car and a cool robot with just one click—double the fun in one toy!
  • Smart Interactive Play:Gesture-sensing transformation, automatic demonstrations mode, and dynamic LED lights with music for an immersive experience.
  • Multiplayer Fun Without Interference:2.4GHz remote control allows multiple kids to play together—race or battle with no signal clashes!
  • Long-Lasting Dual Battery Power:Two 600mAh rechargeable batteries provide up to 60 minutes of continuous playtime.
  • Perfect Gift for Kids:An exciting and innovative toy that sparks creativity—ideal for birthdays, holidays, and special occasions!

Sacramento is a clear example

In a February 5, 2026 announcement, Waymo said it was beginning an initial phase of manually driving vehicles around Sacramento to prepare for service, and that public riders would be welcomed in the future. The announcement gave no public launch date, so it establishes a preparation stage—not that Sacramento rides are currently available. Read Waymo’s Sacramento announcement.

Check your actual trip

Before planning around a robotaxi, check the live Waymo app or its current service-area information. Confirm that both your pickup and destination are within the active rider area; an authorized domain map alone cannot answer that question. Waymo’s dated announcements show why: the company announced Bay Area service expansion to San Jose on December 1, 2025, while its January 22, 2026 Miami update described gradual rider onboarding. These are distinct rollout milestones, not a substitute for a current city-level availability check. Waymo’s announcement archive provides dated rollout updates.

Rank #2
Pinshoon Remote Control Car for Boys 4-12, 2.4GHz RC Transform Robot Toys
  • 【2.4GHz Anti-Interference】Equipped with a 2.4GHz remote controller, this RC car is specially designed for kids aged 4-7. It features sensitive and stable control with strong anti-interference performance. It effectively avoids signal interference from other electronic devices and supports multiple cars for simultaneous battle play, bringing more fun to parent-child interaction and group play.
  • 【360° Drift & Transformation】Adopting a 2-in-1 design of car and robot, it smoothly switches between car and robot forms with one click for double the fun. Kids can enjoy the excitement of racing and the novelty of robot battles. Built with flexible drift wheels, it supports 360° in-place rotation and drift to perform all kinds of cool stunts, combining speed excitement and robot play experience perfectly. Its cool styling and amazing stunt functions easily capture the attention of kids aged 5-8.
  • 【Easy to Operate】With simple button layout and user-friendly design, this remote control car is easy for kids aged 3+. It helps cultivate children’s reaction skills, finger flexibility and hand-eye coordination while bringing endless fun.
  • 【Safe & Durable】Made of high-quality non-toxic ABS plastic, it is tough, durable and resistant to bumps and drops, standing up to kids' repeated play. The cool light effects greatly enhance visual appeal and recreate real driving scenes, allowing kids to enjoy an immersive play experience. Perfect for both boys and girls, it is deeply favored by kids of all age groups.
  • 【Perfect Gift for Kids】This racing RC car makes an ideal gift for boys and girls aged 4–12. It is the perfect present for all special occasions, including birthdays, Christmas, Children’s Day and Easter. A thoughtful surprise for little ones, it brings endless fun and wonderful childhood memories.

What do the California records confirm?

The CPUC permit index lists Waymo LLC as a Driverless Deployment permit holder. Separately, the CPUC advice-letter tracker records the disposition of supplemental Advice Letter 4-A as effective August 14, 2026. These records establish regulatory status and an effective disposition; neither one by itself establishes public ride availability in each city. See the CPUC permit index and advice-letter tracker.

The advice letter sought approval for an updated Passenger Safety Plan in connection with the expanded deployment territory and the Ojai platform. Separately, California DMV’s April 28, 2026 announcement described updated autonomous-vehicle rules covering staged testing and deployment permits, first-responder interaction, emergency geofencing, reporting and enforcement. DMV said some provisions took effect immediately while others would be phased in, so the announcement should not be read as giving every provision the same start date. The DMV’s announcement summarizes the changes.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Sale
AMENON Remote Control Car - Transform Robot Toys for Boys Teens, RC Car with LED Lights, 2.4Ghz RC Car 1:18 Rechargeable 360° Rotating Race Transform Car Birthday for Kids
  • 2 In1 RC Transform Car Robot: 1: 18 Scale size. 2 In 1 remote control deformation car and robot. One Button easily transforms back and forth from car to robot. Easy To Control. Cool RC car toys gift for 8 year old boys girls and up
  • 360° Rotation & Dazzling Lights & Realistic Engine Sounds: 2.4Ghz strong remote controller to control 360 degree rotation and directions for the transform car. Cool blue lights design with realistic engine and acceleration sounds
  • Large Capacity Rechargeable Battery: 3 rechargeable batteries with USB cable for RC car(included). and 2 x AA batteries for remote controller(not included). Fully charged and last up for about 45mins to have fun
  • Durable & Safe: Our remote control car for boys are made of durable ABS Plastic material. Anti-fall Car body, strong and resistant to fall. Non-toxic, durable and safe for kids. Kids will be attracted immediately with this transform robot car toys
  • Cool Gifts For Kids: With a cool gift box package. Creative transform RC car toys for boys, girls and kids who obsessed with robots and RC cars. Awesome Christmas and Birthday gift gifts for your little boys and girls
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What the expansion means for California drivers and residents

The filing signals a wider regulatory footprint across multiple California regions, but the practical question is narrower: whether a particular trip can be booked now. The useful distinction is among three stages:

  • Authorized: The trip’s location falls within the regulator-approved operating domain.
  • Preparing or testing: Waymo may be mapping, manually driving or otherwise preparing an area without offering public rides.
  • Open to riders: Waymo’s live service information confirms the user’s pickup and destination are within the active area and eligible for a booking.

Waymo has said it is often asked, “when will Waymo come to my city?” The filing answers part of that question—where the regulator-approved domain is expanding—but not when public service begins at a particular address. Waymo’s August 29, 2025 expansion announcement also reported “hundreds of thousands of weekly fully autonomous trips” and “over 100 million miles of public road experience.” Those are company-reported figures from 2025, not independent regulator counts or a measure of the 2026 California expansion. See Waymo’s 2025 expansion announcement.

Rank #4
Sale
HOSHIPLAY Gesture RC Car, 1:18 4WD Transform Off-Road Stunt Car with Gesture & Remote Control, 360° Flips Drift Vehicle with LED Lights Music, All Terrain Toy Cars Gifts for Boys Girls Age 6-12
  • 【Gesture & Remote Dual Control】 Feel the power in your palm! Switch between hand-gesture sensing and precision remote control to perform amazing flips and turns at top speed.
  • 【High-Speed 4WD Drifting Performance】 Built for thrill-seekers—race, drift, and spin through smooth floors, asphalt, and short grass. Four-wheel drive and anti-slip tires keep it fast and fierce in every direction.
  • 【Instant Transforming & Double-Sided Driving】 One press, two forms! Instantly switch between racing and climbing modes for non-stop action. When it flips, it just keeps going.
  • 【Dynamic Lights & Sound Effects】 The red chassis glows with bold LED lights that match the beat of the built-in music—creating an awesome street-racing vibe.
  • 【Perfect Gift for Future Racers】 Designed for kids aged 6–12 who love cars, speed, and smart tech. A show-stopping gift that sparks excitement and imagination.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

More from the Garage

  1. Entry001Date09 OCT 26Time3 minWhich Brake Pad Should You Buy From RockAuto or Elsewhere?Section: Blog
  2. Entry002Date09 OCT 26Time5 minThe Pros and Cons of Touchless Car Wash SystemsSection: Blog
  3. Entry003Date09 OCT 26Time3 minCan a Trickle Charger or Battery Tender Properly Charge a Car Battery?Section: Blog

Thanks for visiting Carcody

Carcody.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.co

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.