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Before you request an autonomous robotaxi, confirm seven things in the operator’s current app or rider rules: that the service covers your entire trip, the quoted fare and wait, who may ride and how many people fit, child-seat requirements, the exact pickup and drop-off points, accessibility arrangements, and how to get help. These details vary by operator, city, vehicle and day. A few minutes of checking can prevent a cancelled trip, an unsafe curbside wait or a vehicle your group cannot legally or comfortably use.
1. Confirm that the robotaxi covers your whole trip
Autonomous service is limited to defined operating areas, and the boundary may change as an operator expands, pauses or adjusts service. Enter the actual pickup and destination in the current app rather than relying on a map, an old news article or a friend’s previous ride. A trip can be available from one side of a city but not cross a particular road, airport zone, private development or neighboring suburb.
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Waymo states that fully autonomous rides are available only in its current service areas and directs riders to the app for trip eligibility. Even inside a service area, a ride may be unavailable because of safety, technical, weather, public-health or other operational conditions. If the app cannot offer the destination, do not assume you can persuade the vehicle to continue beyond its approved area; arrange another mode for the uncovered segment.
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Check the complete route, not just the pin
- Enter the precise street address, building entrance or venue name for both ends.
- Check whether the route includes a restricted facility, toll road, event closure, unpaved access road or private driveway.
- Look for an in-app notice that the trip is only partially autonomous or that a transfer is required.
- Save a conventional backup if arriving at a fixed-time appointment matters.
2. Review the fare, estimated wait and cancellation terms
The app’s quoted fare and estimated arrival time are the only useful figures for your specific trip. They can change with demand, traffic, weather, operating hours and the vehicle supply in your area. Compare the total price and pickup estimate with another available service before you request, especially when your group has luggage or a time-critical connection.
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Read the cancellation and no-show language on the booking screen. In Waymo’s described first-trip flow, the vehicle provides an arrival alert and a waiting-time display. If the rider misses the pickup window, the trip is cancelled and a no-show fee may apply. Keep notifications enabled, watch the timer and be ready at the designated curb before the vehicle arrives.
Questions to answer before tapping Request
- What is the fare shown now, and does it include any clearly disclosed fees?
- How long is the stated wait, and where will you stand during it?
- What happens if you cancel, miss the vehicle or change the destination?
- Can the app still locate you if you move away from the pickup pin?
3. Verify who can ride and how many seats you need
Count every passenger, including infants and children, before booking. Capacity is a vehicle rule, not a suggestion: a car that seats four adults cannot safely carry a fifth person on a lap or in the cargo area. Waymo currently publishes a four-rider limit. Other operators may use different vehicle configurations, so check the current capacity shown for the vehicle or service you are requesting.
Age rules also differ. Waymo publishes requirements for riders who travel alone; the exact rule should be checked in its current rider guidance before a minor is sent without an adult. Do not assume that a child who can ride alone in a conventional taxi can do so in an autonomous vehicle, or that an adult must be present for every operator.
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For Waymo rides, children under eight require a car seat or booster seat brought by the rider. The seat must be installed in the back according to its manufacturer’s instructions, and Waymo says it does not provide car seats. Bring a restraint that fits the child’s height and weight, verify that it can be installed securely in the available seat, and leave enough time to install it before the pickup timer expires.
This is a Waymo-specific published rule, not a universal robotaxi standard. Before booking another service, look for its current child-restraint policy and any restrictions on rear-facing seats, booster use, installation help or the number of young children. If the policy is unclear, contact support before requesting rather than hoping the vehicle will supply equipment.
4. Plan the pickup and the final walk
A robotaxi may stop at a safe, mapped curb rather than directly outside your door. Waymo gives the example of a store parking lot instead of the storefront entrance. The app’s pin, walking directions and arrival instructions are therefore part of the trip, not optional details.
Use the map to identify the exact side of the street, parking-lot aisle, entrance or loading zone. Avoid crossing a busy road with children, luggage or a mobility device unless you have confirmed that the route is safe. NHTSA’s general ride-hailing guidance recommends waiting away from moving traffic where a vehicle can stop safely and asking for a safe drop-off. Apply the same discipline at both ends of an autonomous ride.
Make the curb workable for your group
- Choose a well-lit place with a clear pedestrian path and room to open doors.
- Do not wait in a travel lane, bike lane, fire lane or moving traffic.
- Check for stairs, steep ramps, construction, snow, flooding or locked gates between the pin and the entrance.
- At the destination, confirm that the proposed stop leaves you on the correct side of the road and near an accessible entrance.
5. How do I book a robotaxi?
The exact labels vary by app, but the booking sequence is similar. Complete the route, party and accessibility checks before you submit the request.
- Open the operator’s current rider app and sign in with the account that will take the trip.
- Enter pickup and destination addresses. Move the pins if the suggested entrances are wrong, then read the walking directions to each point.
- Set the passenger count and review any age, account or rider-eligibility notice.
- Check the quoted fare and estimated wait. Read cancellation, no-show and destination-change terms displayed before confirmation.
- Request the vehicle only after confirming that every passenger, restraint and mobility need can be accommodated.
- Follow arrival instructions. Keep notifications on, go to the designated waiting point and monitor the pickup timer.
If the app offers several service types, select the one that matches your group and accessibility needs. A standard autonomous car may not be suitable for a passenger who cannot transfer from a wheelchair, even if the vehicle has enough passenger seats.
6. Know how to board and start the ride
In Waymo’s described first-trip flow, the arriving vehicle is locked. The app alerts you, shows the waiting time, and provides the control to unlock the doors. Once inside, board only from the safe curbside, sit in an available seat, fasten your belt and start the trip through the app or the in-car screen.
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Waymo’s rider rules state: “Wear your seat belt at all times during the trip.” Do not place luggage where it can block a door, belt or emergency access, and do not begin boarding while traffic or another hazard makes the curb unsafe. If the vehicle or app does not identify your ride, do not enter; use the support option shown in the app.
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Allow time for a child-seat installation
Install and check a required seat before the pickup countdown reaches zero. Follow the restraint manufacturer’s belt path, recline and tightening instructions, then check that the seat does not move excessively. If you cannot install it correctly at the designated curb, cancel or contact support rather than travelling with an unsecured child.
7. Arrange accessibility before you request
Do not treat an accessibility request as a note to be handled after dispatch. Confirm the vehicle type, boarding method, space for the mobility device and any assistance limits in advance.
Waymo offers wheelchair-accessible vehicles for riders who cannot ride in its fully autonomous cars. Its booking pathway varies among San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas. These WAV trips are manually driven, and Waymo describes limits on driver assistance outside the vehicle. Availability is trip-specific, so contact the relevant support channel before booking if you need a ramp, a particular wheelchair configuration, help reaching the vehicle or assistance beyond the stated limits.
Other operators may use different vehicle designs and policies. Ask whether your chair can remain occupied, whether it must be folded, how much clear space is available and whether a companion can ride. If the app does not clearly confirm the arrangement, obtain confirmation before you travel to the pickup point.
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Find the support control before the vehicle moves. Waymo says riders can reach Support through the app or the in-car screen. It also lets a rider request a safe pull-over. Its first-trip instructions say: “If you need to exit at any point before you reach your dropoff, you can tap Pull over in the app or on the in-car screen, and we’ll find a safe spot to stop.” A pull-over is not permission to open a door in traffic; wait for the vehicle to select a safe location.
Waymo’s collision guidance says Support will contact the rider, dispatch roadside assistance and contact emergency services when a collision is detected. For Zoox, call 911 for a life-threatening emergency. For other assistance, Zoox provides in-app, in-car, phone or text support. Save the operator’s current emergency instructions and make sure every adult in the group knows where the in-car controls are.
During an incident
- For immediate danger, injury, fire or a medical emergency, use 911 or the local emergency number.
- Follow the vehicle’s prompts and support instructions; do not leave into moving traffic.
- Tell support your vehicle location, the nearest address and any injuries or accessibility needs.
- If you need to end an ordinary trip early, use the in-app or in-car pull-over control and wait for a confirmed safe stop.
9. Compare operators without assuming their policies match
When more than one autonomous service operates in your area, compare the same trip in each current app. The practical differences are often more important than the brand name.
| Check | Waymo | Zoox | What to verify for any operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage and trip eligibility | Fully autonomous rides are limited to current service areas; check the app. | Confirm current service area and trip eligibility in the app. | Whether both endpoints and the complete route are accepted today. |
| Passenger capacity | Currently published limit: four riders. | Capacity not established here; check the vehicle and booking screen. | Seats for every passenger, including infants and children. |
| Child restraints | Riders bring and install a car or booster seat for children under eight; seats are not provided. | Confirm the current child-seat policy before booking. | Age limits, seat types, installation responsibility and rear-seat requirements. |
| Accessibility | WAV options exist in selected cities; booking path and assistance limits vary, and trips are manually driven. | Confirm vehicle type, boarding method and availability directly. | Wheelchair fit, transfer requirements, ramp or lift and companion seating. |
| In-ride help | Support through the app or in-car screen; safe pull-over request available. | 911 for life-threatening emergencies; in-app, in-car, phone and text support for other help. | Emergency controls, support channels and early-exit procedure. |
There is no established like-for-like ranking here for fares, wait times, reliability or independent safety outcomes. Use the live quote, route, capacity and support information for your own trip rather than treating one operator’s published feature as an industry-wide standard.
10. A five-minute pre-departure checklist
- The app accepts the full route and shows a pickup point you can reach safely.
- The quoted fare, estimated wait, cancellation terms and possible no-show fee are understood.
- The passenger count is within the vehicle limit, and every rider meets the operator’s age rules.
- Any child under the applicable age has a correctly sized, correctly installed restraint.
- The group knows where to wait, which side of the road to use and how far the final walk is.
- Accessibility needs are confirmed for this trip, not merely requested in a general profile.
- Notifications are enabled, the phone is charged and the support control is easy to find.
- Each rider knows to buckle up and to remain inside until the vehicle reaches a safe stop.
If any item is uncertain, pause the booking and resolve it through the operator’s current app or support channel. Robotaxi policies, service boundaries, prices, support methods and accessible-vehicle availability can change, so a check made for one ride should not be assumed to apply to the next.
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