Waymo Gets State Approval to Drive Across the Whole Bay Area and Into Wine Country

Waymo has state approval to run its driverless taxis across a far larger stretch of California, including the whole Bay Area, wine country and Sacramento. The California Public Utilities Commission signed off on the expansion, and Waymo announced the decision on August 14, 2026.

The company’s current paid service area runs from San Francisco south through the Peninsula to San Jose. Under the new authorization it may operate throughout the Bay Area, from Brentwood in the East Bay to Sea Ranch in Sonoma County, and in Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego, ABC7 reported. Electrek put the approved territory at 18 counties, from Sonoma down to San Diego.

Approval is not the same as service

The permit sets the boundary Waymo is allowed to work inside. It does not mean cars appear in Healdsburg next week. Waymo said it will roll out gradually under its safety framework and keep local officials informed. Scott Moura, a UC Berkeley civil engineering professor who studies autonomous vehicles, told ABC7 that highways, bridges and rural areas with patchy connectivity are where the technology gets tested, and that there may be growing pains.

For visitors, the practical read is that nothing changes today. If you are planning a trip, check the Waymo app for the live service area rather than assuming the map matches the permit.

What has already changed in San Francisco

Waymo has adjusted its own operations around city events this summer. The company restricted service near Golden Gate Park during Outside Lands to reduce traffic around the festival. In July, several of its cars stalled in traffic during Fourth of July celebrations and blocked streets, and city officials have since discussed fining autonomous vehicle companies that impede emergency response.

If you want to ride one now

Waymo operates in San Francisco through its own app, with no driver and a flat published fare quoted before you book. Rides work the way a taxi does: the car pulls to the curb, unlocks for you, and drives the route itself. Cable cars, the Muni Metro and BART still cover most of the routes a visitor needs downtown, and our August guide lists what is on around the city this month.

Photo: Daniel Lu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.