Self-Driving Cars in the UK: What Is Allowed and What Is Coming

You cannot buy a fully self-driving car in the UK today. Cars on sale offer driver assistance, which still needs you to watch the road and stay in control. The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 sets out how genuinely self-driving vehicles will be approved, and the government expects it to be fully in force in the second half of 2027.

What do the levels of self-driving mean?

Carmakers and regulators often describe automation in levels:

• Level 0: no automation. The driver does everything.

• Level 1: one assistance feature, such as adaptive cruise control.

• Level 2: the car can steer, brake and accelerate together, but the driver must supervise all the time.

• Level 3: the car can drive itself in limited conditions, and the driver must take back control when asked.

• Level 4: the car can drive itself in a defined area or set of conditions without a driver needing to take over.

• Level 5: the car can drive itself anywhere a human could.

Most modern cars with lane-keeping and adaptive cruise control are Level 1 or Level 2.

Are hands-free driving systems self-driving?

No. Systems that let you take your hands off the wheel on some motorways still count as driver assistance. They watch the driver with cameras and expect you to keep your eyes on the road and be ready to take over. You remain legally responsible for the car.

What does the Automated Vehicles Act change?

The Act creates a legal framework for vehicles that are authorised as self-driving. When a vehicle is driving itself under that framework, responsibility for how it drives moves from the person in the seat to the company behind the system. The Act also requires self-driving vehicles to be at least as safe as competent and careful human drivers.

The Department for Transport has said the Act is due to be fully implemented in the second half of 2027, and that small pilots of taxi-like and bus-like self-driving services could begin from spring 2026. You can read the government announcement on self-driving vehicles for the detail.

Should you wait for a self-driving car before you change your car?

For most drivers, no. Self-driving private cars are not on sale, and the timeline depends on approvals that have not happened yet. The features that make a real difference today are already common on used cars:

• autonomous emergency braking;

• adaptive cruise control;

• lane-keeping assistance;

• blind spot monitoring;

• parking sensors and reversing cameras.

Our guide to car safety features and what the acronyms mean explains these in more detail.

Do driver assistance systems need looking after?

Yes. Cameras and radar sensors need to be clean and correctly aligned. After a windscreen replacement or front-end repair, some systems need recalibrating to work properly. If a warning light appears for a driver assistance system, have it checked rather than ignoring it.

Common questions

Is it legal to use hands-free driving on UK motorways?

Approved hands-free systems can be used on the roads they are designed for, but you must stay alert and ready to take control. You are still responsible for the car, and rules such as the ban on using a hand-held phone still apply.

Who is responsible if a car with driver assistance crashes?

With today's driver assistance, the driver remains responsible. The Automated Vehicles Act changes this only for vehicles authorised as self-driving, while they are driving themselves.

Will older cars be affected by the new law?

The Act is about approving and regulating self-driving vehicles. It does not stop you driving an ordinary car.

Looking for a car with the safety features that matter?

anycolourcar.com is based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Browse our cars in stock, or call sales on 01226 574410. If a driver assistance warning light has come on, our service centre can take a look: call 01226 574321.

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Updated October 2026.