Passengers could book taxi and bus-style self-driving vehicles later this year, as applications open today (22 May 2026) for operators to run cars across Great Britain.
The pilot scheme will enable firms – including self-driving technology company Wayve – to bring cutting-edge technology to British roads, creating thousands of jobs and unlocking billions for the economy by 2035.
Services could enhance journeys by supporting greater freedom and independence for older and disabled people, as well as expanding travel options across both work and leisure.
Self-driving technology could transform roads, with human error currently contributing to 88% of collisions on UK roads.
Safety will be central to the pilot scheme, which will gather real-world evidence on how self-driving vehicles operate on everyday roads, from navigating busy urban streets to interacting with traffic and carrying passengers safely.
Services will be subject to rigorous approval checks by government, including strict safety assessments to ensure the technology is protected against cyber and security threats.
Roads and Buses Minister, Simon Lightwood said:
“Self-driving vehicles represent a transformative opportunity for Britain, opening up independent travel for disabled people and older adults, whilst driving growth and creating high-skilled jobs across the UK.
“This pilot scheme brings that future closer, giving passengers the opportunity to experience self-driving travel first-hand while ensuring safety always comes first.”
Local transport authorities, such as Transport for London, will also need to provide local consent to ensure services reflect local priorities.
The Government is working closely with safety and accessibility experts as it develops the regulations needed to safely bring self-driving vehicles to British roads.
Learnings from the pilots will support development of self-driving vehicle regulations, which are currently being progressed by Government, following a Call for Evidence which closed in March.
Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery, Uber, said:
“This is an exciting and important step toward launching autonomous vehicles in the UK.
“London has long been a pioneering city for Uber, where we’ve launched some of our biggest innovations, and we can’t wait to give people in the capital the chance to experience autonomous rides this year.”
Ben Loewenstein, Waymo Head of Policy and Government Affairs for the UK and Europe, said:
“The UK is leading the way in enabling the safe deployment of pilot autonomous vehicle services. We hope to soon become part of London’s transport network and demonstrate the safety, accessibility, sustainability benefits of battery-electric autonomous vehicles through the government’s pilot scheme. We are working closely with the Department for Transport and Transport for London to ensure our operations align with their goals.
“Waymo is serving riders in eleven major metropolitan areas in the US, providing over 500,000 rides each week. We are excited to bring our world-leading, fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the UK, and help make transport in London safer and more accessible.”
