Highly automated vehicles: laws and regulations
It is often assumed that higher levels of driving automation will come with improved safety, but that is not a guarantee. In addition, highly automated vehicles — those with an automated driving system (ADS) that falls within Levels 3-5 on the automation scale created by SAE International — are challenging to regulate due to the pace of innovation. Read more about automation, including the definitions of the SAE levels, on our advanced driver assistance page.
The following table summarizes laws, regulations and policies specific to testing or deployment of highly automated vehicles; although many aspects of a state’s general motor vehicle code are also relevant, we did not attempt to capture that information.
This material has been prepared for general information purposes only. It is not guaranteed to be current and should be independently verified. Do not rely on it when considering how a law may apply to your circumstances.
May 2025
| State | Type of operation | Exceptions from the licensed driver requirement | Liability coverage requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | deployment | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver in vehicle | liability coverage of at least $100,000 (Level 4 and Level 5 private vehicles), $1 million (Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles operated by commercial entity), or $2 million (automated commercial motor vehicle) |
| Alaska | none | ||
| Arizona | deployment | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles must have the same liability coverage required for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Arkansas | deploymentFootnote 1 | licensed driver required in vehicle for first 6 months of ADS program operation | liability coverage of $750,000–$5 million, depending on vehicle type and commercial purpose |
| California | deploymentFootnote 2 | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver in vehicle | liability coverage of at least $5 million |
| Colorado | deployment; Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles | not addressed | not addressed |
| Connecticut | testing only; Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles | none; vehicle with ADS requires licensed driver in vehicle | liability coverage of at least $5 million |
| Delaware | none | ||
| District of Columbia | testing only | licensing not addressed; vehicle with ADS initially requires a "test operator" in vehicle; "autonomous vehicle testing entity" may request and receive authority to use "remote operator" | liability coverage of at least $5 million |
| Florida | deployment | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles operating in on-demand network must have primary liability coverage of at least $1 million and additional benefits as required for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Georgia | deployment; Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles must have the same liability coverage required for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Hawaii | testing only; Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles | none; Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles require licensed driver in vehicle | same liability coverage requirements as for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Idaho | none | ||
| Illinois | none | ||
| Indiana | none | ||
| Iowa | deployment | vehicle with ADS does not require licensed driver in vehicle | same liability coverage requirements as for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Kansas | deployment | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles require licensed driver in vehicle for first 12 months unless vehicle is not intended to carry human occupants or if vehicle lacks manual controls for driver operation | same liability coverage requirements as for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Kentucky | deployment | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver in vehicleFootnote 3 | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles must have the same liability coverage required for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law (motor carriers); Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles must have liability coverage of at least $1 million that satisfies existing insurance law (others) |
| Louisiana | deployment; commercial motor vehicles onlyFootnote 4 | Level 4 and Level 5 commercial motor vehicles do not require operator to be present in vehicle | liability coverage of at least $2 million |
| Maine | testing only | vehicle with ADS does not require licensed driver in vehicle | liability coverage of at least $5 million |
| Maryland | testing | none; vehicle with ADS requires licensed driver in vehicle | same liability coverage requirements as for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law plus at least $5 million |
| Massachusetts | testing only | none; vehicle with ADS requires licensed driver in vehicle | same liability coverage requirements as for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law plus $1 million per occurrence and $2 million annual aggregate commercial general liability, $1 million auto liability, and $10 million umbrella liability |
| Michigan | testing of any "automated motor vehicle" and deployment of "on-demand networks"Footnote 5 | vehicle with ADS appears not to require licensed driver in vehicle | same liability coverage requirements as for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Minnesota | none | ||
| Mississippi | deployment | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles must have the same liability coverage required for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Missouri | none | ||
| Montana | deployment (effective 10/01/25) | not addressed (effective 10/01/25) | not addressed (effective 10/01/25) |
| Nebraska | deployment | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require operator to be present in vehicle | same liability coverage requirements as for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Nevada | deployment | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver in vehicle | liability coverage of at least $5 million |
| New Hampshire | deployment; Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver in vehicle | liability coverage of at least $5 million (testing); same liability coverage requirements as for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law (deployment) |
| New Jersey | none | ||
| New Mexico | deploymentFootnote 6 | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver in vehicle | same liability coverage requirements as for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law, plus Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles must have liability coverage of at least $5 million |
| New York | testing only | none; vehicle with ADS requires licensed driver in vehicle | liability coverage of at least $5 million per vehicle |
| North Carolina | deployment | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles must have the same liability coverage required for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| North Dakota | deployment | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver | same liability coverage requirements as for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Ohio | testing only | vehicle with ADS does not require licensed driver in vehicle | same liability coverage requirements as for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Oklahoma | deployment | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles must have liability coverage of at least $1 million |
| Oregon | none | ||
| Pennsylvania | deployment | vehicle with ADS does not require a licensed driverFootnote 7 | liability coverage of at least $1 million |
| Rhode Island | none | ||
| South Carolina | none | ||
| South Dakota | deployment | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles must have the same liability coverage required for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Tennessee | deployment; Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver | Level 3 vehicles must have the same liability coverage required for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Texas | deployment; Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver | same liability coverage requirements as for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Utah | deployment | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver | same liability coverage requirements as for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Vermont | testing only | none; vehicle with ADS requires licensed driver in vehicle | liability coverage of at least $5 million |
| Virginia | none | ||
| Washington | testing only; Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require a licensed driver if testing or operating without "human operator" present | liability coverage of at least $5 million |
| West Virginia | deployment | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles do not require licensed driver | Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles must have the same liability coverage required for nonautomated vehicles under existing insurance law |
| Wisconsin | none | ||
| Wyoming | none |