Waymo announced a new membership program on Thursday called Waymo Premier, a $29.99-per-month subscription tier aimed at the Alphabet $GOOGL-owned robotaxi company's most frequent riders.
The invite-only Waymo Premier program offers frequent riders 10% cash back, priority pickups, and early access to new cities
Robert Nickelsberg / Getty Images
Waymo announced a new membership program on Thursday called Waymo Premier, a $29.99-per-month subscription tier aimed at the Alphabet $GOOGL-owned robotaxi company's most frequent riders.
The invite-only program will initially be available to select riders in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. Subscribers gain early access to Waymo service in new cities, priority pickups, up to five free ride cancellations each month, and 10% of every fare returned as Waymo Cash credits. The cash back rate increases during busy periods, the company said.
In announcing the program, Waymo quoted itself as saying: "You spoke, and we listened to how we can offer an even more elevated experience for you, our top riders. For a monthly fee, members gain access to a suite of exclusive benefits designed to make their journey more seamless and rewarding."
According to Bloomberg, a company spokesperson confirmed that invitations were going out to "tens of thousands" of eligible riders, delivered through the Waymo app and by email. A company spokesperson declined to share the specific criteria used to identify top riders. The program will not be available in Austin or Atlanta, where Waymo operates only through the Uber $UBER app, according to TechCrunch.
A break-even analysis found that, given a Bay Area median fare of $17.25 recorded at the close of 2025, members who ride roughly four times a week would recoup the $29.99 fee through cash back alone.
The $29.99 figure and its associated benefits were shaped by rider input, with Waymo citing direct feedback from its user base as the basis for the program's design.
The program comes as Waymo expands its footprint across the U.S. Weekly paid rides have grown to approximately 500,000 spanning 10 cities, a figure Waymo said in March represents a doubling achieved in less than 12 months. Waymo is also preparing for an international launch later this year, according to CNBC.
A $16 billion fundraise disclosed in February put Waymo's valuation at $126 billion — more than twice what the company was worth in October 2024. Andreessen Horowitz, Fidelity, and T. Rowe Price $TROW joined parent Alphabet among the backers.
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