Roads & Policy · Wales
Self-driving taxi and bus pilot applications opened across Great Britain
Operators were invited to apply for passenger-carrying automated vehicle pilots under government safety, cyber-security and local-consent checks.
Applications opened on 22 May 2026 for operators seeking to run taxi, bus and private-hire-style self-driving vehicle pilots in Great Britain.
The UK Government said passengers could be able to book journeys later in 2026. Operators would have to pass government approval checks, including safety assessments covering cyber and security threats.
Local transport authorities would also need to consent before a service operated in their area. The pilots were intended to gather evidence about automated vehicles on everyday roads and inform regulations still being developed.
The government said the services could widen travel options for older and disabled people. It also attributed 88% of UK road collisions to human error, presenting safety evidence as a central purpose of the trial rather than a settled outcome.
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