Self-driving taxis and services similar to buses will be permitted on England’s roads from spring 2026.
The Department for Transport (DfT), which made the announcement, said this was a year earlier than previously planned.
It will be the first time companies in the UK will be allowed to trial autonomous commercial services without a human sitting in the driver’s seat to monitor journeys.
A wider rollout of the technology is expected when the full Automated Vehicles Act becomes law from the second half of 2027.
That will also permit the sale and use of self-driving, private cars.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “The future of transport is arriving.
“Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world-leaders in new technology.
“With road safety at the heart of our pilots and legislation, we continue to take bold steps to create jobs, back British industry and drive innovation.”
Development of automated vehicle technology could create 38,000 jobs in the UK and add £42 billion to the economy by 2035, according to the DfT.
