New York robotaxi rules
Autonomous vehicles may be tested in New York, but driverless passenger service is not allowed. A plan to open the door outside New York City was dropped in February 2026, and Waymo stopped testing in the city when its permits ran out at the end of March.
Updated . By the Robotaxi Atlas desk.
A testing pilot with a hand on the wheel
The state's pilot program is for testing only, and New York law still requires a hand on the wheel.
New York City gave Waymo a permit on Aug 22, 2025 to test up to eight vehicles with a safety driver in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn. Those city and state permits expired on Mar 31, 2026, and the testing ended. Streetsblog NYC said Waymo had "quietly stopped testing."
The withdrawn state proposal
Governor Hochul's budget included a proposal to allow robotaxis outside New York City. Large cities were left out, so it never covered the city itself. The proposal was withdrawn on Feb 19, 2026, and TechCrunch quoted the reason as "the support was not there to advance this proposal."
What it means for riders
Nobody can book a robotaxi anywhere in New York State. Waymo still appears with announced plans on the New York City page because of its earlier plans and testing history, and no launch is scheduled. Service could only return after the state changes its rules.
Cities affected
- New York City Announced
Questions people ask
Can you ride a robotaxi in New York City?
New York City has no robotaxi service. Waymo's city testing permits expired on Mar 31, 2026, and state law still requires a hand on the wheel.
What happened to New York's robotaxi proposal?
Governor Hochul withdrew the budget proposal on Feb 19, 2026. It would have allowed robotaxis outside New York City, and the state pilot is still limited to testing.
Was Waymo ever allowed to test in New York City?
Waymo received a New York City permit on Aug 22, 2025 to test up to eight vehicles with a safety driver in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn. It expired on Mar 31, 2026.