Active 65 events
Lifecycle stage Implementation
80 days in stage

Self-driving vehicles regulation

The Department for Transport and Ministry of Justice are developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles (self-driving cars) in the UK, including the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 and a permitting scheme for automated passenger services (APS). The framework addresses liability, safety standards, and operational approval for driverless vehicle deployment on public roads. Current status involves consultation on the APS permitting scheme and development of detailed regulatory guidance.


Showing 65 key signals from 172 total
Family
Signal
Year
Body
Role

Predecessors 1

Earlier instruments and documents in the same policy lineage — superseded by something on this thread, surfaced for context.

2026

15 events
23 Apr 2026 | Impact assessment Regulatory Policy Committee linked direct

RPC opinion: automated passenger services permitting scheme options

Why linked: RPC opinion on APS permitting scheme options — formal regulatory scrutiny of the SI 2026/439 options assessment.

RPC opinion on APS permitting scheme options — formal regulatory scrutiny of the SI 2026/439 options assessment.

23 Apr 2026 | Consultation outcome Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Transport linked

Automated passenger services: permitting scheme — outcome published

Seeks views on the proposed automated passenger services statutory instrument (SI) to support the deployment of commercial self-driving pilots.

31 Mar 2026 | Guidance Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Transport linked direct

Self-driving vehicle pilot scheme: information for applicants

Why linked: Self-driving vehicle pilot scheme: information for applicants (31 March 2026) — practical front door to the regime.

Outlines the application process and safety, operational and reporting requirements for self-driving vehicle pilot deployments.

31 Mar 2026 | Guidance Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Transport linked direct

Automated passenger service permits: local authority and transport body roles

Why linked: DfT guidance specifically on the APS permitting scheme and roles of local authorities under Part 5 of the AV Act — directly on this thread.

An overview of the automated passenger services scheme and the roles of local authorities and transport bodies in considering deployments.

23 Mar 2026 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Why linked: Matched expansion phrase: Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999

These Regulations amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2864). The effect of the amendment is to require that applications under regulation 31(1)(a) (applications for manoeuvres tests, large vehicle off road manoeuvres tests, practical tests, and unitary tests:applicants …

5 Mar 2026 | Consultation (closed) Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Transport linked

Developing the automated vehicles regulatory framework — call for evidence closed — consultation closed

This call for evidence ran from 10:45am on 4 December 2025 to 11:59pm on 5 March 2026. Seeks views on several sections of the Automated Vehicles Act to support development of the regulatory framework.

2025

16 events
16 Dec 2025 | Guidance Forensic Science Regulator linked direct

Regulator's notification 06-2024: use of certified reference materials (CRMs) in analysis for drugs in relation to s5A of the Road Traffic Act 1988

Why linked: Matched expansion phrase: Road Traffic Act 1988

Notification on a procedural error related to the use of certified reference materials in the undertaking of FSA- DTN 102.

4 Dec 2025 | Consultation (closed) Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Transport linked

Developing the automated vehicles regulatory framework — call for evidence closed — consultation opened

This call for evidence ran from 10:45am on 4 December 2025 to 11:59pm on 5 March 2026. Seeks views on several sections of the Automated Vehicles Act to support development of the regulatory framework.

28 Sep 2025 | Consultation outcome Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Transport linked

Automated passenger services: permitting scheme — consultation closed

Seeks views on the proposed automated passenger services statutory instrument (SI) to support the deployment of commercial self-driving pilots.

1 Sep 2025 | Consultation outcome Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Transport linked

Automated vehicles: protecting marketing terms — consultation closed

Seeks views on protecting the use of certain terms in vehicle marketing so they can only be used for authorised automated (self-driving) vehicles.

21 Jul 2025 | Consultation outcome Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Transport linked

Automated passenger services: permitting scheme — consultation opened

Seeks views on the proposed automated passenger services statutory instrument (SI) to support the deployment of commercial self-driving pilots.

10 Jun 2025 | Consultation (closed) Welsh Government linked direct

Automated vehicles: protecting marketing terms

Why linked: Protected marketing terms consultation — directly operationalises Part 4 AV Act 2024.

Seeks views on protecting the use of certain terms in vehicle marketing so they can only be used for authorised automated (self-driving) vehicles.

10 Jun 2025 | Consultation (closed) Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Transport linked direct

Automated vehicles: statement of safety principles

Why linked: Statement of Safety Principles call-for-evidence landing page — directly tied to s.2 AV Act 2024.

Seeks views on what safety standards should be sought for automated (self-driving) vehicles in the UK.

10 Jun 2025 | Consultation outcome Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Transport linked

Automated vehicles: protecting marketing terms — consultation opened

Seeks views on protecting the use of certain terms in vehicle marketing so they can only be used for authorised automated (self-driving) vehicles.

10 Mar 2025 | Policy paper Department for Transport linked direct

Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 regulatory report 2024

Why linked: Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 regulatory report 2024 — predecessor insurance/liability regime report relevant to understanding the liability framework context of the AV Act.

Progress report on the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

26 Feb 2025 | Guidance Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles linked direct

Automated Vehicles Act implementation programme

Why linked: DfT 'Automated Vehicles Act implementation programme' guidance — the central programme document for delivering the AV Act 2024.

A programme for the safe deployment of automated vehicles and implementing the Automated Vehicles Act 2024.

2024

3 events

2023

2 events

2022

14 events
24 Jun 2022 | Consultation (closed) Ministry of Justice linked direct

Law Commission issues paper on remote driving

Why linked: Law Commission Issues Paper on remote driving — directly adjacent to the AV Act's operator-licensing and user-in-charge boundary.

The Law Commission for England and Wales invites responses to its remote driving issues paper published on 24 June 2022. The Law Commission is considering the law surrounding remote driving, where a person outside a vehicle uses wireless connectivity to …

26 May 2022 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022

Why linked: AEVA 2018 (Commencement No.2) Regulations 2022 — predecessor regime commencement directly relevant to fiscal/operational baseline.

These Regulations bring into force, on 27th May 2022, section 11 of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 (c. 18) (“the Act”). These are the second commencement regulations made under the Act. The first commencement regulations, the Automated and …

25 Apr 2022 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Automated Vehicles) Order 2022

Why linked: Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Automated Vehicles) Order 2022 — direct AV-specific SI bridging existing C&U law to AVs.

This Order provides that the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (S.I. 1986/1078) have effect in relation to automated vehicles as if certain modifications were made to regulation 109(1) (television sets). The effect of these modifications is that regulation …

25 Apr 2022 | Consultation outcome Department for Transport linked direct

Letter to Parliament about a new section to The Highway Code on self-driving vehicles, 25 April 2022

Why linked: Letter to Parliament on Highway Code AV section, April 2022 — direct ministerial correspondence on the operational regime precursor.

Letter to Parliament on Highway Code AV section, April 2022 — direct ministerial correspondence on the operational regime precursor.

26 Jan 2022 | Impact assessment Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Transport Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Ministry of Justice Public Accounts Committee Regulatory Policy Committee Scottish Law Commission evidence

Automated Vehicles – Scottish Law Commission (Joint Report project page)

Why linked: Filled the "Law Commission reports on autonomous vehicle liability (original review grounding the Act)" gap via web research

The Scottish Law Commission's completed project page for the joint automated vehicles review, hosting the same January 2022 joint report (Scot Law Com No 258) along with consultation papers, analysis of responses, and impact assessment.

2021

5 events

2020

2 events

2019

4 events
16 Oct 2019 | Consultation (closed) Ministry of Justice linked direct

Law Commission Consultation on Automated Vehicles: Passenger services and public transport

Why linked: Law Commission second consultation on AV passenger services and public transport — direct ancestor of the APS permitting scheme.

This is a public consultation by the Law Commission for England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission. The consultation questions are drawn from our second consultation paper published as part of a three-year review of automated vehicles. For more …

17 May 2019 | Consultation outcome Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Department for Transport linked

Automated vehicle trialling code of practice: invitation to comment — consultation closed

Opportunity to comment on and amend the 2019 updated 'Code of practice: automated vehicle trialling'.

8 May 2019 | Consultation outcome Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Department for Transport linked

Automated vehicle trialling code of practice: invitation to comment — outcome published

Opportunity to comment on and amend the 2019 updated 'Code of practice: automated vehicle trialling'.

6 Feb 2019 | Consultation outcome Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Department for Transport linked

Automated vehicle trialling code of practice: invitation to comment — consultation opened

Opportunity to comment on and amend the 2019 updated 'Code of practice: automated vehicle trialling'.

2018

1 event
8 Nov 2018 | Consultation (closed) Ministry of Justice linked direct

Law Commissions' consultation on Automated Vehicles: A Preliminary Consultation Paper

Why linked: Law Commissions' preliminary 2018 consultation paper that began the doctrinal work culminating in the Act.

This is a public consultation by the Law Commission for England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission. We are reviewing the regulatory framework for the safe deployment of automated vehicles in the UK. We recommend that consultees read the …

2017

1 event
9 Feb 2017 | Consultation outcome Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Transport linked

Using advanced driver assistance systems and automated vehicle technologies — outcome published

Proposals for people and businesses in the UK to use automated vehicle technologies, and advanced driver assistance systems.

2016

2 events
9 Sep 2016 | Consultation outcome Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Transport linked

Using advanced driver assistance systems and automated vehicle technologies — consultation closed

Proposals for people and businesses in the UK to use automated vehicle technologies, and advanced driver assistance systems.

11 Jul 2016 | Consultation outcome Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Department for Transport linked

Using advanced driver assistance systems and automated vehicle technologies — consultation opened

Proposals for people and businesses in the UK to use automated vehicle technologies, and advanced driver assistance systems.