Emerging Technologies Blog

By September 16, 2014 manufacturers of autonomous vehicles will be able to test their self-driving cars on public roads in California, legally.  That's what the state's Department of Motor Vehicles noted in a new protocol. The requirements for a manufacturer conducting test for self-driving cars in California are :


The manufacturer  is conducting the testing.

The vehicle is operated by an autonomous vehicle test driver  who is an employee, contractor, or designee of the manufacturer, who has been certified by the manufacturer to the department as competent to operate the vehicle and has been authorized by the manufacturer to operate the vehicle.

The manufacturer has in place and has provided the department with evidence of the manufacturer's ability to respond to a judgment or judgments for damages for personal injury, death or property damage arising from the operation autonomous cars on public roads in the amount of $5,000,000

The manufacturer has applied for and  the department  has issued to the manufacturer a manufacturer testing permit to conduct autonomous vehicles testing on public roads in California.