Waymo Takes Its Self-Driving Cars to Virginia | WIREDSkip to main contentMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuAccountAccountNewslettersBest Power BanksBest Smart RingsRouters vs. ModemsChoose the Right LaptopSmart SprinklersDeals DeliveredSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoLivestreamsMerchSearchSearchAarian MarshallGearMay 27, 2026 7:00 AMWaymo Takes Its Self-Driving Cars to VirginiaThe company is mapping Alexandria and, soon, Arlington—right across from the power center of Washington, DC.Photograph: Eric Thayer/Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storySelf-driving cars aren’t yet permitted to operate in Virginia. But Alphabet-owned Waymo began transporting its cars to the state last week, a Waymo representative told Virginia officials, to map Arlington and Alexandria, in the northern part of the state.For most autonomous vehicle companies, mapping, or the creation of sensor-aided and ultra-precise digital representations of streets and the features around them, is the first step required to launch a local robotaxi service. Drivers will operate the mapping vehicles for now, Waymo says.Ethan Teicher, a spokesperson for Waymo, confirmed the move to WIRED and called it “an important preparatory step should the Commonwealth authorize fully autonomous ride-hailing.” Still, he said, the company does “not currently have plans for a commercial service there.”In a public meeting last week with a Virginia Department of Transportation working group, Waymo policy adviser Rich Harrington said that Waymo vehicles had touched down in Alexandria and would soon come to Arlington, both just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Moving from mapping to a full-blown robotaxi service takes 12 to 18 months and “a lot of money,” he told state government officials. Harrington said Waymo had briefed local officials before the move. (Ellen Kamilakis, a spokesperson for Virginia’s Department of Transportation, said the agency could not respond to WIRED’s request by press time.)Virginia’s Autonomous Driving Work Group is working to understand how policymakers might craft regulations for autonomous vehicles in the state. The state Senate is currently considering a bill to create a path for autonomous vehicles to be licensed to carry paying passengers or cargo. Still, the law’s sponsor—state senator Saddam Salim—doesn’t expect it to allow self-driving cars to operate there before 2028, he told local publication Arlington Now.The mapping effort is evidence of Waymo’s sprawling and global ambition—and a test of its lobbying might. The company is currently carrying paying passengers in 11 US metros and completing some 500,000 rides every week. It’s working to expand service to 20 more cities, including London and Tokyo. Twenty-seven US states currently permit the deployment of driverless taxis on public roads, with five more—including Virginia neighbor Washington, DC—allowing driverless testing.But Waymo has also faced fierce opposition in a handful of mostly blue states and cities, where lawmakers and labor unions have fretted about the job impacts of driverless cars. The skepticism has extended to places around Virginia. A bill that would have authorized driverless car companies to carry passengers failed to pass through the Maryland state legislature last month. A DC bill that would allow autonomous vehicles on public roads but create unique permits and fees for them is under consideration by the city council. In 2025, Waymo announced its intent to launch service in Baltimore and DC, but a year on, timelines for those operations are still unclear.Waymo’s existing services aren’t without their speed bumps. Last week, the company paused operations in cities across Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia, all of which faced storms and flooding. Earlier this month, the company recalled software related to its vehicles' behavior on flooded roads, and said its ride-hailing service would temporarily avoid operating on flooded, high-speed roadways. The company is developing a “final remedy” for the issue, it told federal regulators.Despite the setbacks, the company is "actively working” to bring its service to Washington, DC, Teicher said in a written statement, and it’s “continuing to lay the groundwork for a service in Baltimore."Eventually, maybe, laws could allow passengers to ride driverlessly through the entire DMV. For now, though, the cars’ presence, even driven manually, could have an upside for Waymo: getting its vehicles in front of national policymakers, who are currently considering laws that might ease rootaxis’ introduction in more places.CommentsBack to topTriangleYou Might Also LikeHow to find us: Add WIRED.com to your preferred sources in GoogleHow the Canvas hack threatened thousands of schoolsBig Story: I've covered robots for years—this one is eerily lifelikeOrbs, saucers, and flashes on the moon—here’s what’s in the UFO filesTake our survey: What does “home” mean to you?Aarian Marshall is a staff writer covering transportation systems and cities. Before joining WIRED, she wrote for The Atlantic’s CityLab. Marshall is based in San Diego and is developing opinions about tacos. ... 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Waymo, an Alphabet-owned company, has initiated the process of transporting its self-driving vehicles to Virginia to map the areas of Alexandria and, subsequently, Arlington, in preparation for potential autonomous ride-hailing services. This mapping effort is positioned as a foundational step, as mapping and creating ultra-precise digital representations of streets are prerequisites for launching a local robotaxi service. Ethan Teicher, a Waymo spokesperson, characterized this movement as an important preparatory step should the Commonwealth authorize fully autonomous ride-hailing, though he explicitly stated that the company currently has no plans for a commercial service in the state.

Policy and timeline considerations for deploying autonomous vehicle services are complex. Rich Harrington, a Waymo policy adviser, indicated during a meeting with the Virginia Department of Transportation that transitioning from the current mapping phase to a full robotaxi service would require 12 to 18 months and substantial financial investment. This effort underscores Waymo's expansive, global ambition, as the company currently operates passenger services across eleven U.S. metros, completing approximately five hundred thousand rides weekly, and is pursuing expansion into twenty more cities, including London and Tokyo. While twenty-seven U.S. states currently permit driverless taxis, the regulatory landscape remains fragmented, with Virginia’s Autonomous Driving Work Group actively working to formulate appropriate regulations.

The development of autonomous vehicle technology has encountered significant public and legislative friction. Waymo has faced opposition in various locations, particularly in states and cities where lawmakers and labor unions have expressed concerns regarding the socioeconomic impacts of driverless transportation. This skepticism is reflected in the legislative environment, evidenced by the failure of a bill authorizing driverless car companies to carry passengers to pass through the Maryland state legislature. Furthermore, attempts to establish frameworks in other major metropolitan areas have faced delays, such as the ongoing consideration of a city council bill in Washington, D.C. regarding autonomous vehicle permits and fees.

Operationally, Waymo's service has faced recent disruptions. The company temporarily paused operations in cities across Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia due to severe weather events involving storms and flooding. Following these incidents, the company recalled software related to vehicle behavior on flooded roadways, implementing a temporary measure to avoid high-speed, flooded sections. Waymo is engaged in developing a final remedy for these issues while continuing its efforts to advance services, including working to bring its service to Washington, D.C., and continuing groundwork for service expansion in Baltimore. Overall, the presence of Waymo vehicles, even when operated manually during the mapping phase, holds potential benefits for Waymo by engaging national policymakers who are actively deliberating laws concerning autonomous vehicle introduction.