Key insights:

  • Three-quarters of Americans say they trust driverless taxis “not very much” (34%) or “not at all” (40%).
  • Nearly a third (29%) would only feel comfortable in good weather, while a majority (53%) reject driverless taxis under any circumstances.
  • If given the choice at the same price and convenience, eight in ten (78%) would pick a taxi with a human driver.

We polled 1,002 U.S. adults using YouGov Surveys: Self-serve to understand attitudes toward driverless taxis and found that trust remains low. Only 4% say they would trust one “a great deal” and 18% “a fair amount.” By contrast, three-quarters (74%) express little to no trust, with 40% saying they would not trust one at all.

When asked about conditions, Americans reveal that comfort with driverless taxis is conditional. Three in ten (29%) say they would only feel comfortable riding in good weather. Just 11% say they would be comfortable regardless of conditions, while more than half (53%) say they would not be comfortable in a driverless taxi under any circumstances.

Even if cost and convenience were equal, Americans overwhelmingly prefer human drivers. Eight in ten (78%) say they would choose a taxi with a human driver, compared to just 9% who would opt for a driverless one.

Methodology: YouGov polled 1,002 US adults online on August 29, 2025. The survey was carried out through YouGov Surveys: Self-serve. Data is weighted by age, gender, race, political affiliation, education level and region. The margin of error is 3% for the overall sample.