Tuesday 10 January 2017

Government’s plans for driverless car insurance

The government has proposed to change the compulsory motor vehicle insurance to include the use of automated vehicles (AVs).

Following a consultation on driverless cars, the Department for Transport (DfT) said it will make “minimum legislative changes” required to enable the market to develop appropriate AV insurance products.

It believes the single insurer model would protect victims where an AV causes a crash in automated mode.

The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles document states: “The victim will have a direct right against the motor vehicle insurer and the insurer in turn will have a right of recovery against the responsible party to the extent there is a liability under existing laws, including under product liability laws.”

The government also plans to continue to regulate a rolling programme of reform to help facilitate the introduction of innovative new technologies "in a safe, agile and evidence-based manner for the benefit of UK consumers and businesses".

The insurance proposals for AVs will be taken forward into the Modern Transport Bill, which is due to enter the Houses of Parliament this year.

The DfT will continue developing policies and plans to consult again on a set of specific proposals for amendment soon.

Last year vehicle insurers in Britain said they wanted better access to driverless car data.