Who is liable if an autonomous vehicle causes an accident?

What the Law Says

The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 establishes a clear liability framework for accidents involving vehicles operating in self-driving mode. It shifts responsibility away from the human user and onto the entity legally authorised to deploy the self-driving system.

Before this law, liability for road accidents in the UK generally fell under the Road Traffic Act 1988 or common law negligence — meaning drivers, owners, or insurers could be held responsible. The 2024 Act changes that for vehicles certified as capable of self-driving.

Section 1 introduces strict liability: if an authorised automated vehicle causes damage while in self-driving mode, the authorised self-driving entity is automatically liable — no need to prove fault, negligence, or breach of duty.

The ‘authorised self-driving entity’ is the person or organisation named on the official authorisation granted by the Secretary of State under the Act. This is typically the vehicle manufacturer or the developer of the self-driving software.

Statutory Text

The authorised self-driving entity is liable for damage caused by an automated vehicle while it is driving itself.

— Automated Vehicles Act 2024, s. 1 — Liability for damage caused by automated vehicles

Sources