Question 1

Are riders insured during the trip?

Accepted Answer

It's set by the state, not the company. California and Nevada require autonomous-vehicle operators to carry $5 million in financial responsibility (insurance, a bond, or self-insurance); Texas and Arizona tie autonomous vehicles to the ordinary coverage rules, and there's no federal minimum — insurance is left to the states. Note: that $5M is the operator's ability-to-pay threshold, not a guaranteed payout to you. On rider coverage specifically, only Waymo officially promises "limited medical coverage for riders, regardless of fault"; Tesla and Zoox make no such promise in their published terms. Your own auto policy usually isn't involved, since you aren't driving.

Question 2

What happens if the robotaxi crashes while I'm riding?

Accepted Answer

Operators handle it through their insurance, but the specifics differ by company. Waymo says a risk-and-insurance team reviews every collision, provides limited medical coverage regardless of fault, and gives riders a claims contact (insurance@waymo.com, 1-844-263-9885). Tesla's rider terms make no coverage promise and cap its liability. If the vehicle was at fault, responsibility generally rests with the operator rather than a driver. Check the terms you accepted — Tesla's, for instance, require arbitration with a class-action waiver (with an opt-out window).

Question 3

What if I was in another car — as driver or passenger — and a robotaxi was involved?

Accepted Answer

If the automated system is at fault, you'd generally claim against the operator's insurance, not a human driver. California, Arizona, and Nevada now deem the automated system — or the company that turned it on — the legal "driver." One important distinction, though: those laws mostly settle who counts as the driver for traffic rules; who actually pays in a civil crash claim still runs through ordinary negligence and product-liability law and varies by state. The realistic target is the company through its insurer — but the details depend on where it happened.

Question 4

Who gets the ticket for a traffic violation?

Accepted Answer

It's the company, not you — but the mechanism varies by state, and there's no national rule. California created a special process: an officer issues a "Notice of Autonomous Vehicle Noncompliance" to the manufacturer (not a ticket to a person), and the company reports it to the DMV. Arizona cites the entity that filed the required state paperwork; Nevada points to the vehicle's owner. Federal regulators don't issue traffic tickets at all — that's a state job. States without an AV law have a gap, because their rules assume a human driver.

Question 5

It broke down and I missed a meeting and lost a deal — can I sue the manufacturer?

Accepted Answer

You can sue; recovering business losses is the hard part, and the operators' own terms are why. Tesla's robotaxi terms cap its total liability at the greater of your fare or $100 and exclude indirect and consequential damages; Waymo's terms cap total liability at what you paid for the ride and likewise exclude lost profits. A blown deal falls squarely inside those exclusions, and you'd still have to prove the breakdown caused it. Realistic outcome: a refund, not damages. Tesla's terms also push disputes into individual arbitration unless you opt out within 30 days.

Question 6

Do robotaxis get recalled?

Accepted Answer

Yes, like any car — but a robotaxi recall is usually an over-the-air software update, not a trip to a garage. AV makers have filed software recalls with NHTSA to fix specific driving behaviors, and you can look up any vehicle's recall history on NHTSA's site.

Question 7

Who sees the cameras and ride data?

Accepted Answer

The cars record inside and out and log trip data. Operators publish privacy notices covering what's collected, how long it's kept, and when it's shared — typically with law enforcement only on valid legal process. If that matters to you, read the operator's privacy notice before riding.

Question 8

Can wheelchair users or blind and deaf riders use them?

Accepted Answer

Mixed, and improving. Most robotaxis today are standard vehicles that don't fit a non-folding wheelchair, though operators are piloting wheelchair-accessible vehicles and build in features for blind and deaf riders (audio cues, in-app help). Check the operator's accessibility page for your city.

Question 9

The ride cancelled or never came — do I get a refund?

Accepted Answer

Generally yes — failed or cancelled rides are handled through the app's help and refund flow, like any ride-hail. That's customer service, not a legal claim. (A refund for the ride is a different thing from damages for a missed meeting — see the question above.)

Question 10

I left something in the car.

Accepted Answer

Operators run a lost-and-found through the app or support — report it quickly with your trip details. The interior cameras can help staff locate the item.

Question 11

Can minors ride alone?

Accepted Answer

Usually not. Operators have generally required riders to be adults (18+), though some have begun limited teen accounts in certain cities, tied to an adult's account. Check the operator's rules where you are.

Insurance, accidents & liability

The questions