Section 4 — Authorised automation features
Extent: E+W+S
Snapshot: 2026-08-24
Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). Amendments made after 2026-08-24 may not be reflected — always check the official text .
(1) An automated vehicle authorisation must identify the feature or features by virtue of which (in the opinion of the Secretary of State) the vehicle satisfies the self-driving test.
(2) More than one feature may be identified if it appears to the Secretary of State that each can reasonably be characterised as amounting to a distinct capability of the vehicle.
(3) In relation to each feature identified in the authorisation, the authorisation must specify—
(a) whether the mode of operation of the feature is “user-in-charge” or “no-user-in-charge”,
(b) how the feature is engaged and disengaged, and
(c) the locations and circumstances by reference to which (in the opinion of the Secretary of State) the vehicle satisfies the self-driving test by virtue of the feature.
(4) The locations specified in the authorisation may include places other than roads.
(5) If more than one feature is identified in an authorisation, the Secretary of State must discharge the duty in subsection (3)(b) in a way that will make it possible to ascertain which feature (if any) is engaged at any given moment.