If you've seen a driverless Waymo on a Los Gatos street this fall, why can't you open the app and call one to your door?
Waymo did come to Los Gatos. The Los Gatan reported on August 19, 2026 that the company had expanded into town for the first time. It made driverless rides available to around 100 residents in the North 40 neighborhood. That's the whole rollout so far. Most of the town has Waymos driving through it, but the rides belong to one neighborhood on the northern edge. The Town Council can't change that, because state agencies decide where the line goes next.
Where the service line sits, as of the latest local report
The same Los Gatan report says the service area extends south to Pollard Road and Lark Avenue. It also says Los Gatos residents can request pickups and drop-offs within the North 40 neighborhood through the Waymo app. The Los Gatan's Waymo coverage hasn't added a later story since that August report. Waymo's own Bay Area page sends riders to its live service map for exact coverage. Check that map before you count on a ride, because boundaries can move without a press release.
Here's how the reported picture breaks down for someone living in town:
| What you want to do | What the reporting supports |
|---|---|
| Get picked up or dropped off in the North 40 | Available, per the Los Gatan's August 19 report |
| Get a ride from downtown, Los Gatos Boulevard south of the North 40, or the hillside neighborhoods | Not described as part of the rider service area |
| Ride from San Jose Mineta International Airport | Available since November 12, 2025, to destinations inside the Bay Area service area |
| Take a freeway route | Restored gradually starting July 29, 2026, after a pause in May |
The bottom three rows have more to them, and they lead back to who controls the map.
Why the Town can't move the boundary
Los Gatos doesn't approve or deny autonomous vehicles. The Los Gatan reported that town officials will have little say over when and where Waymo's boundaries are drawn. The California Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Public Utilities Commission oversee autonomous vehicle approval and deployment.
Mayor Rob Moore learned that firsthand. San José Spotlight reported in May 2026 that after meeting with a Waymo representative, he was surprised to find local municipalities have no authority over autonomous vehicle operations. By August, the service was in town, and he described the situation to the Los Gatan this way:
"I think one of the big challenges is that the town didn't ask for this, and yet our police officers, for instance, have to get up to speed very quickly on how to deal with this technology."
He also told the Los Gatan that Waymo "already exists in Los Gatos," and that the Town would have to work out how to make the technology benefit people in town. The Town can shape how Waymo operates on its streets. The state decides whether Waymo operates on them at all.
The Waymos driving past your house
This explains a common sight. A Waymo rolling down a Los Gatos street outside the North 40 isn't proof that service has reached that street. The Los Gatan reported that Waymo's autonomous specialists were seen in the driver's seat outside the company's boundaries. Waymo's website says those trained drivers often sit behind the wheel during certain testing and validation phases to monitor the technology.
Waymo's communications manager, Sandy Karp, told the Los Gatan that "Waymo regularly drives in and around the cities where we operate with human specialists present." She described the fully autonomous Bay Area service area as stretching from San Francisco to San Jose and including "parts of Los Gatos."
The state has already approved much more ground than Waymo is serving. On August 14, 2026, the Los Angeles Times reported that California regulators had approved a much larger Waymo operating territory across 18 counties, with expansion expected to roll out gradually. The DMV's map of Waymo's approved areas shows where Waymo is permitted to operate. The app shows where you can actually book a ride. Today, those two maps don't match.
What the Town is working on in the meantime
Los Gatos can't redraw the boundary, so its work so far has gone into preparation. Here's the reported groundwork:
- Police training. Los Gatos police have received formal training from Waymo representatives on handling encounters with autonomous vehicles during calls and traffic duties, according to a Town email cited by the Los Gatan.
- Fire department outreach. Moore said Waymo has also contacted Santa Clara County's fire department to familiarize firefighters with the technology.
- Pickup and drop-off zones. Moore told the Los Gatan that police and public works will work with Waymo on pickup and drop-off zones and times, particularly in congested areas such as downtown and near schools. He pointed to downtown's summer traffic and to San Francisco, where he said Waymos have worsened traffic during power outages and emergencies.
- A transit connection. In May, Moore told San José Spotlight he hopes autonomous vehicles could add to public transit. He pointed to the light rail station in Campbell, which some residents struggle to reach without a car, and said Waymo could serve as a "first mile, last mile" option.
Each of these points ahead to service outside the North 40. Pickup zones downtown matter only once downtown is inside the boundary, and a light rail link requires rides that reach Campbell. Both depend on decisions made in Sacramento and at Waymo, not at Town Hall.
Where the network leads once you're in it
For North 40 residents, and for anyone in town once the boundary grows, the payoff is how far the network reaches. San Jose Mineta International Airport announced that on November 12, 2025, it became the first commercial airport in California to offer Waymo service to the public. Arriving passengers can ride to the destination of their choice within the Bay Area service area. The airport described that early service area as mainly Central San José, including Santana Row and Westfield Valley Fair.
Waymo has also announced freeway rides for its Bay Area service, along with curbside service at SJC. Freeway rides haven't run continuously. TechCrunch reported on July 29, 2026 that after a pause in May, Waymo was gradually restoring freeway routes following software updates for construction zones. The app will show whether a particular trip from the North 40 uses a freeway or reaches the airport. Don't assume it will before you've booked one.
The rest of the West Valley got earlier notice. San José Spotlight reported in May that Waymo planned to begin operating in Cupertino, Campbell, Willow Glen and Vista Park "in the coming weeks." Campbell Mayor Dan Furtado told the outlet at the time, "All I know is Waymo is planning to come, I only know what I've read in the news." He said Campbell's city manager was setting up a meeting with a Waymo representative for a later date.
Before you open the app
- North 40 residents can request pickups and drop-offs within the neighborhood, according to the August report.
- Elsewhere in Los Gatos, check Waymo's live service map before you plan around a ride.
- A Waymo with someone in the driver's seat may be testing or validating a route rather than carrying riders.
- Questions about pickup spots downtown or near schools go to the Town, which has said it's working with Waymo on zones and times.
Wherever Waymo extends its boundary, that street will have a new way to get to the airport, Santana Row or the light rail.
Transportation like this changes how a street gets used, and that can affect how buyers see a home over time. If you're curious how that might play out where you live, the Brian Flack Team is glad to talk it through, with Los Gatos roots and current local comps. Start with your instant home valuation.
