Waymos Self-Driving Taxi Rides: A Premium Experience Despite Higher Costs
According to a recent study by Obi, Waymo's self-driving taxi rides in San Francisco cost about $6 more than a Lyft and $5 more than an Uber. Despite the higher prices, some people are still willing to pay the extra costs for the unique experience that Waymo offers.
The study, which compared about 90,000 "offer records" between March 25 and April 25 in San Francisco, found that the average price of a Waymo ride was $20.43, which is $5.99 more than an average Lyft ride and $4.85 more than an average Uber ride. The average price of a Lyft was $14.44, while the average price of an Uber was $15.58.
During peak hours, such as the evening rush hour between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., a Waymo was about $11 more expensive than Lyft and nearly $9.50 more for an Uber. However, the study also found that the smallest price gap occurred at around 5 a.m., indicating that the higher prices are consistent throughout the day.
Despite the higher prices, a majority of respondents in a consumer sentiment survey about Waymo said they prefer the experience of Waymo over a regular rideshare with a driver. About 70% of respondents said they would be willing to pay more for a Waymo ride, but it would depend on how much more it would cost.
Around 16.3% of respondents said they would pay up to $10 more for a Waymo ride, while 10.1% said they would pay up to $5. Another 16.3% said they would only pay less than $5 for a Waymo ride. However, 39.1% of respondents said they would only pay the same or less for a Waymo ride, while 26.8% said they wouldn't take one at all.
One factor that may contribute to the popularity of Waymo is that riders don't have to leave a tip, which is preferred by 26% of respondents in the survey. Some Waymo fans have previously spoken to Business Insider about the flexibility and overall experience of having a car to themselves, which they find to be a better value than traditional ridesharing services.
Data published by the California Public Utilities Commission shows that the take-up by riders has quickly grown in the few years since Waymo began to offer paid rides. In August 2023, the number of paid rides for the month was 12,617. By March 2025, the number had increased by more than 5,500% to 708,180 rides. Waymo has now provided more than 10 million paid rides across its operating cities in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin.
A spokesperson for Waymo, Uber, and Lyft did not respond to a request for comment on the study's findings. However, it is clear that Waymo is making a significant impact on the rideshare industry with its unique self-driving technology and customer-centric experience.
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