How to Ride in an Autonomous Vehicle for the First Time

Curious what it's actually like to ride in a self-driving car?

If you live in or visit a city where AV services are operating, here's what to expect on your first ride.

Step 1: Sign up and book a ride

Most AV services work a lot like ride-hailing apps:

1. Download the app and create an account.
2. Add a payment method.
3. Request a ride between two points inside the service area.

You'll usually see:

• An estimated pickup time
• The vehicle type
• A map of your route

Step 2: Meet your car

When the AV arrives, it may:

• Pull up with no one in the driver's seat
• Flash lights or show your name on a display
• Use the app to guide you to the correct side for pickup

You typically:

• Unlock the vehicle using the app
• Open the door and hop in like a normal ride

Step 3: Inside the vehicle

The interior is familiar — seats, seatbelts, screens — but with some differences:

• No driver in the front seat (for fully driverless service)
• A screen that shows your trip progress
• Sometimes a visualization of what the vehicle "sees": other cars, cyclists, pedestrians, traffic lights

There will also be:

• Seatbelts for every passenger (and you're expected to use them)
• Touchscreens or buttons to start the ride, adjust climate, or get help

Step 4: Starting and monitoring your ride

Once everyone is buckled:

1. You confirm "Start Ride" on the screen or in the app.
2. The vehicle checks its surroundings.
3. It smoothly pulls into traffic and follows the planned route.

During the ride, you might notice:

• The car takes turns and stops consistently, without sudden lane changes.
• It leaves more space around pedestrians or cyclists than a typical human driver.
• It's cautious at complex intersections or when visibility is limited.

If anything feels off, there are usually:

• Help buttons to contact a remote support agent
• Options to pull over the vehicle safely

Step 5: Ending the trip

At your destination, the AV will:

• Pull over to a safe location
• Put itself in park
• Prompt you to exit

You simply:

• Gather your things
• Exit the vehicle
• Close the door (it may lock itself)

Payment is handled automatically through the app.

Tips for your first AV ride

• Buckle up. It's still a car on real roads.
• Watch the visualization. It can be reassuring to see how much the vehicle notices.
• Expect caution. The vehicle may pause longer than a human would at some situations.
• Give feedback. Most services actively use rider feedback to improve.

Why it's worth trying

Taking a ride in an AV can turn an abstract debate into something concrete. Instead of wondering "Can these things really drive?" you'll have your own experience:

• How it felt
• How it handled traffic
• How you'd explain it to someone else

From there, the conversation about AVs becomes less about hype and fear — and more about how we want to use this technology in our everyday lives.