Uber Is Now Offering Self-Driving Cars for Riders. You Read That Right.

If you’ve ever been on the Tomorrowland Speedway in Magic Kingdom, you know that driving doesn’t come easily to everyone.

Tomorrowland Speedway

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could step into a car and let a driving expert take the wheel? Well, a new Uber partnership proves that such a future could be happening sooner than you think!

Over in Phoenix, Arizona, Uber customers are now able to ride in a fully autonomous car, according to CNBC. The change was first announced in May 2023, when Uber introduced a new, multi-year strategic partnership with an autonomous vehicle company called Waymo. Waymo is owned by Google parent Alphabet, per CNBC.

©Uber

So, what exactly does this mean? Well, Uber riders in Arizona who request a ride in an UberX, Uber Comfort, Uber Comfort Electric, or Uber Green (within Waymo’s operating boundaries) may be paired with an autonomous car. Uber explained that customers will receive a notification in the Uber app if paired with a Waymo vehicle, and riders can choose to accept or reject the autonomous car. Uber created a 24/7 customer helpline for passengers in a Waymo car.

Rideshare pick-up sign

According to CNBC, rides will be the same price as the normal rides Uber offers. An Uber spokesperson told CNBC that Uber and Waymo received support from local regulators. If you’re interested in trying out a fully autonomous ride, you can increase your chances of being matched with one by updating your ride preferences in the app.

©Waymo

We’ll have to wait and see if Uber decides to test this new feature out in other cities across America. Who knows — maybe we’ll see self-driving cars in Orlando someday. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest travel news, so stay tuned for more.