Automated passenger services
Most of the coverage so far has been about whether driverless taxis are coming. They already have a permit scheme, and it opened for applications on 22 May 2026. Here is what is actually on the statute book, with the sources, so you can check it yourself.
The permit scheme does not cover the whole of the UK, and it does not cover the same ground for every kind of service.
| Service | Where the permit scheme applies |
|---|---|
| Taxi and private hire style | England only |
| Bus style | England, Wales and Scotland |
So as things stand, a driver in Cardiff or Glasgow is in a different regulatory position to a driver in Manchester. Same trade, different rulebook. Northern Ireland sits outside all of it, because taxi licensing there is handled centrally by the Driver & Vehicle Agency rather than by councils.
An operator applying for one has to satisfy the authority that it is of good repute and adequate financial standing, that it has the organisational competence to run the service safely, reliably and lawfully, and that it can keep passengers, other road users and the public safe.
A permit can last up to five years.
Waymo began testing on London roads in April 2026, with a safety driver in the vehicle. Uber and Wayve have announced public-road trials of fully autonomous vehicles in London that members of the public will be able to book through an app.
This is not a proposal stage. It is a pilot stage.
TaxiTools was asked to share this, and it is fair that you know by whom. Thomas De Freitas, founder of the Private Hire & Taxi Drivers Network, got in touch and asked us to help get it in front of more drivers. It is not our petition and we are not telling anyone how to vote on it.
Petition 777145 asks the Government to prohibit the commercial operation of fully driverless passenger transport services and to prevent operator licences being issued for them.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/777145
Worth knowing how the thresholds work before you decide. At 10,000 signatures the Government has to publish a written response. At 100,000 it can be considered for debate in Parliament. It closes on 10 February 2027. It is also worth being clear-eyed that it is asking Government to prohibit a scheme it has already legislated for and opened, so the realistic outcome is a stated position rather than a reversal.
Everything above comes from the legislation itself or from the companies' own announcements. Nothing here is from a summary or a search result.
This page explains what the law currently says. It is not legal advice, and it does not tell you what to think about driverless vehicles. If a detail here is wrong or has moved on, tell us and it gets fixed — taxitoolsuk@gmail.com. Last checked 16 August 2026.
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