Waymo began welcoming its first public riders in Denver on September 1, 2026, according to its own blog post. The company says tens of thousands of residents have signed up and that it will add riders gradually while working toward opening to everyone. Riders request trips through the Waymo app, and Waymo says Denver riders are among the first to use its newest vehicle platform with its sixth-generation driver.
What works and what to watch
| Works well | Be careful |
|---|---|
| ColoradoBiz reports a service area of about 60 square miles, including LoDo, RiNo, Capitol Hill, Cherry Creek and the sports venues. | The Colorado Sun described the initial area as about 50 square miles in an August report, so the exact size may have changed. Denver International Airport service was not yet available; the airport said it was in talks with Waymo. |
| Fares are described as comparable to other ride-hailing services, and tipping is not expected (Colorado Sun). | Per RideWise, the average 2026 Waymo ride cost $19.69, about 13% more than Uber and 27% more than Lyft. That is a national figure, not a Denver price. |
| Waymo Premier costs $29.99 a month and offers early access in new cities, priority pickup and five free cancellations monthly. | Access is gradual, from a large sign-up list. Not everyone can ride yet. |
| Denver Fire planned training with Waymo to reduce cases where an autonomous vehicle blocks an emergency response. | The Colorado Sun noted one Denver incident in the prior year, when a human had switched off autonomous mode. Waymo has not published Denver crash data. |
The safety numbers, and where they come from
Waymo’s reported results come from other cities. Waymo (June 2026, via the Colorado Sun) reports 94% fewer serious-injury-or-worse crashes over 220.6 million miles through March 2026 in its five existing operating areas, compared with a human benchmark. That compares Waymo with estimated human drivers in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin and Atlanta. It is a company analysis, and winter conditions are not represented in the data.
An independent review by IIHS (July 23, 2026) found 68% fewer police-reportable crashes over about 50 million miles from 2021 to 2024. That figure comes from IIHS, not Waymo, and IIHS used a smaller mileage base and an earlier period. It also said federal crash reporting needs improvement. The Colorado Sun also reported 91% fewer rear-end collisions, but that number has not been traced to a primary document.
Benefits for seniors or people with disabilities in Denver are unconfirmed, and whether more competition lowers ride prices in Denver is unconfirmed. Waymo’s average fares run above Uber and Lyft nationally, per the Colorado Sun.
The verdict
Denver now has a driverless service with a big service area, a stated fare approach and fire department training. It also has no local safety record, an unconfirmed price and an invitation queue. Take the headline crash numbers as evidence from other cities, not a promise for a Denver winter.
Why It Matters to You
If you live in Denver, you can sign up in the Waymo app and wait for an invitation. Waymo is adding riders gradually and hasn’t given a date for opening to everyone. Waymo Premier offers early access in new cities for $29.99 a month, if you want to jump the line. Don’t count on airport pickups yet, and check the app for actual fares before you plan a trip.
Quick answers
Are there self-driving taxis in Denver? Yes. Waymo began welcoming its first public riders in Denver on September 1, 2026, and riders request driverless taxis through the Waymo app. Access started gradually from a large sign-up list. Our Waymo city-by-city guide has the current status.
Can anyone ride a Waymo in Denver? Not yet. Waymo is adding public riders gradually from a large sign-up list, per its September 1 post.
How much does it cost? Waymo has not published a Denver price list in the sources cited here. The Colorado Sun reported a national 2026 average of $19.69 per ride and a $29.99 monthly Premier plan. The service does not include Denver International Airport yet.
Is it safer than a human driver in Denver? Nobody has published Denver-specific results. Waymo’s reported safety figures come from other cities.
Sources
- Waymo: Welcoming our first riders in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa (Sep 1, 2026)
- ColoradoBiz: Waymo launches public robotaxi service in Denver (Sep 1, 2026)
- The Colorado Sun: Waymo in Denver explainer (Aug 21, 2026)
- IIHS: Waymo’s driverless cars crash less often than people (Jul 23, 2026)
- Waymo: From the road, June 24, 2026 (Jun 24, 2026)