Robotaxis in the UK: when can you ride in a driverless car?
Wayve, Waymo, Tesla, Bolt and the UK's self-driving law, and what it means for getting a ride.
Last updated
The key facts
- Ride one today?
- Sort of. Since 3 September 2026, Uber riders in London can be matched with a Wayve-driven car, but a licensed driver still sits behind the wheel
- Fully driverless in the UK?
- Not yet, anywhere in Britain. Wayve has declined to give a date
- The law
- The Automated Vehicles Act 2024. The full framework, including self-driving cars you could own, is expected in the second half of 2027
- Pilots without a safety driver
- Applications opened in May 2026; by late October no application had reached TfL
- Who's testing in London
- Wayve with Uber, Waymo and Baidu's Apollo Go. Uber is also testing in Manchester with Pony and Verne
From our reporting: Self-driving cars in the UK: when can you ride in one? The Automated Vehicles Act explained
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Who's who in robotaxis
The companies in our coverage, where they run and what they mean for the UK.
| Company | Where it runs now | UK status | Next milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayve (UK) | London, on the Uber app, with a safety driver | 15 cars licensed by TfL as private hire vehicles at launch | Fully driverless rides: no date given |
| Waymo (US) | More than 4,000 driverless robotaxis in more than a dozen US cities | Testing on London roads | First passengers in Madrid in 2027 and Toronto in 2028 |
| Tesla (US) | Cybercab in Austin; Model Y robotaxi fleets in Dallas, Houston, Miami, Orlando and Tampa | No UK robotaxi plans announced | Cybercab in Dallas and other US cities by the end of 2026 |
| Bolt (Estonia) | Autonomous service in Luxembourg | No UK plans in our coverage | Testing NVIDIA-powered Lucid cars in Madrid in 2027 |
| Baidu Apollo Go (China) | 28 cities worldwide, more than 23 million rides | Testing in London | Not stated in our coverage |
Your questions answered
Can I ride in a driverless taxi in the UK?
Not a fully driverless one. In London, UberX, Uber Electric and Uber Comfort riders can be matched with a Wayve-driven electric Ford Mustang Mach-E at no extra cost, but a licensed private hire driver stays behind the wheel, ready to take over.
Who is liable if a self-driving car crashes?
Under the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, every authorised self-driving vehicle has an "authorised self-driving entity", usually the maker or software developer, responsible for how it drives. While the feature is engaged, the person in the driving seat cannot be prosecuted for driving offences such as speeding. For accidents, the insurer pays first and can then pursue anyone else liable, which could include the manufacturer.
When will fully driverless rides arrive in Britain?
No date is set. Pilots without a safety driver were fast-tracked to spring 2026, but by late October no vehicles had been listed under the Act and no application had reached TfL. The government expects the full regulatory framework to be in place in the second half of 2027.
Will Tesla's Cybercab come to the UK?
Not soon. Tesla has announced no UK robotaxi plans, and a car with no steering wheel or pedals would need approval under the new UK self-driving rules.
Why are London drivers protesting against robotaxis?
In October around 15 demonstrators, including members of the ADCU and GMB unions, protested outside Wayve's King's Cross office over safety, congestion and jobs. TfL says any automated passenger service in London can only operate with its consent.
Are cars with hands-off driving already self-driving?
No. Legally these are driver assistance and you remain the driver. Ford's BlueCruise, approved in 2023, allows hands-off driving on mapped motorway zones, but a camera checks your eyes stay on the road.
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