UK Government’s Call for Evidence on Automated Vehicle Regulation

A call for evidence on developing the regulatory framework

While the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (AVA 2024) provides a comprehensive umbrella scheme for self-driving vehicles in Great Britain, almost all its provisions are to be brought in by secondary legislation.

To help shape the next stage, the UK government launched a call for evidence on 4 December 2025, open for the three months until 5 March 2026, seeking input on how the automated vehicles (AVs) regulatory framework should evolve. The written statement to Parliament refers to this call as ‘ambitious’.

What is the purpose of the call for evidence?

The Department for Transport (DfT) and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) are inviting responses to their 125 questions. There are two main chapters within the consultation:

• Getting AVs on the road, and
• Once AVs are on the road.

There are also separate sections on accessibility and environmental impacts.

The purpose is expressed as:

‘This call for evidence seeks information that will help inform secondary legislation, guidance and policy development, ensuring the AV regulatory framework remains proportionate, forward-looking and responsive to emerging technologies’.

Read the call for evidence here.

Key questions in the consultation

In this blog we take a brief look at the call for evidence – dipping into the consultation of 125 questions.

For an exploration of key concepts, regulated bodies, and liability shifts within the AVA 2024, read our earlier blog on AVs here.

Chapter 1: Getting AVs on the road

This chapter covers vehicle type approval, authorisation, user-in-charge (UIC) and transition demands, operator licensing, and insurance.

Reference is made to work being carried out by the United Nations (UN) to develop automated driving systems (ADS) regulations. It is noted that, on vehicle type approval requirements for AVs, these requirements will be closely linked to the outputs of the UN work.

The questions include the following:

• Vehicle type approval: In your view, what do you think will be the use-cases of self-driving vehicles deployed in the next 5 years in the UK? (Question 5).
• Authorisation:In your view, what processes should be in place to ensure that authorised vehicles continue to meet the legal safety standard over time? (Question 19)
• UIC and transition demands: In your view, should different scenarios require different transition demand protocols, and why? (Question 33)
• Operator licensing:In your view, how should operators and authorities seek to prevent and respond to crimes committed within a no-user-in-charge (NUIC) passenger vehicle, e.g. taking illegal drugs or sexual assault? No personal information should be provided as part of the evidence. (Question 42)
• Insurance: What, if any, learnings from other insurance models could be applied to any new types of insurance for AVs, and why? (Question 66)

Chapter 2: Once AVs are on the road 

The second chapter covers incident investigation, in-use regulation, and cyber security. For example,

• The records to be kept on AV maintenance and repair (Question 75).
• In relation to automated passenger services (APS), whether a permit holder’s turnover should be considered when setting a maximum monetary penalty limit (Question 90).
• To support the cyber security duties under the AVA 2024, the management of relationships between parties e.g., vehicle manufacturers, ADS suppliers, and no-user-in-charge operators (NUICOs) (Question 116).

Accessibility and environmental impacts

The standalone section on accessibility within the call for evidence is put in the context of where else this is being thought about, and talks first about the APS permitting scheme consultation launched in July 2025, a chapter of which considers accessibility.

It is within this context that only one question in this section is asked, namely:

• Whether there are any wider considerations regarding accessibility that should be taken into account in the deployment of AVs (Question 121).

The environmental impacts section (four questions) includes:

• What evidence, if any, can you supply on how AV production— particularly in the UK—will affect the environment, including carbon and other emissions? (Question 123)

Who should respond?

The call for evidence states that the DfT is keen to hear from a diverse range of respondents. This includes, though is not limited to:

• those working within the AV industry, including technology providers;
• original equipment manufacturers;
• parts suppliers;
• academics;
• road safety experts;
• road users;
• trade unions;
• first responders;
• those with accessibility needs; and
• anyone else with an interest in this area.

Other recent developments in AV regulation 

This call for evidence on developing the AV regulatory framework follows other related consultations and publications:

• The APS permitting scheme consultation (June 2025), mentioned above.
• A flurry of activity on 10 June 2025 involving a press release detailing the bringing forward of pilots of self-driving taxi-like and bus-like services by a year to spring 2026: Driving innovation – 38,000 jobs on the horizon as pilots of self-driving vehicles fast-tracked. These pilots are part of the UK government’s Transport artificial intelligence action plan (a policy paper published by the DfT published the same day).
• Also on 10 June, the launch of a now closed call for evidence: Automated vehicles: statement of safety principles and a consultation on protecting marketing terms so that they can only be used for authorised AVs: Automated vehicles: protecting marketing terms (this is also now closed and the government webpage says feedback is being analysed).

Why does this matter for businesses and operators?

Responding to this consultation is an opportunity to influence how AV regulation will work in practice. Wider considerations include:

• Compliance risks: Future penalties for failing to meet safety or cyber security duties.
• Operating impacts: Transition demand protocols, and licensing requirements.
• Insurance models: How liability shifts could affect cover and costs.
• Accessibility obligations: Design that meets inclusivity standards.

If you operate in the transport, technology or insurance sectors, now is the time to review your position and consider submitting evidence. Early engagement can help shape a regulatory framework that works for your business.

How we can help

As stated in the written statement to Parliament on 4 December 2025:

‘Self-driving vehicles have the potential to increase opportunities and break down barriers for how people and goods move around the country, making transport safer, greener and more reliable. Strengthening road safety, improving accessibility and ensuring safeguarding remain central to this vision’.

Our experienced team of technology solicitors can support you if you would like to learn more about the evolving AV regulatory landscape.