Passenger authentication and entry for autonomous vehicles

A method for a car riding or car hailing service wherein a vehicle with a processor receives a message from a first mobile device via a first communications channel (e.g. cellular, see server 136, fig 1) and arrives at a location at a specific time (message 516) and wherein after the car has arrived, a second mobile device uses a second communication channel (short range communication , message 536) and a user drags an icon across a user interface to unlock the car. The short range communication may be Bluetooth or Near Field Communication NFC (652, fig 6C). The two devices may be the same device. The device may be a smartphone, a tablet, a smartwatch, a PDA, or a wearable fitness tracker having a touchscreen. If the second device is located beyond a threshold distance from the vehicle, the vehicle door may be unlocked using a PIN pad (personal identification number pad). The vehicle processor may use a camera or an audio signal to capture the identity of the user. The vehicle may be an autonomous vehicle (self-driving car).