What does driverless vehicle insurance cover?
Driverless vehicle insurance covers a range of possible scenarios. As well as offering cover against collisions and accidents, it can also provide specialist protection for:
- Updates or security patches for the operating system, firewalls, electronic mapping and journey planning
- Satellite failures or outages that affect navigation
- Failure to switch to the manual override to avoid a collision or accident in the event of an operating system, navigation system or mechanical failure
- Outside interference with your vehicle’s computer system by hackers, resulting in physical damage, data loss or operational disruption
Who is responsible?
There is still debate over who is responsible for an accident involving a driverless vehicle. It’s important to understand that ‘driverless’ does not mean there is no human in control of the vehicle. All autonomous vehicles can be controlled by a human operator, normally by just taking hold of the steering wheel. The vehicle then reverts control back to the driver.
However, if the system fails, then it can be argued that the driver is not responsible. Despite the somewhat grey area regarding responsibility, driverless car insurance provides that all-important legal and financial protection should the worst happen.
Do I need driverless vehicle insurance?
The UK has now put in place a comprehensive legal framework for driverless (automated) vehicles, centred on the Automated Vehicles Act 2024. The Act separates responsibilities between:
- The user in charge (a human driver who may be able to take control of the vehicle if necessary)
- The authorised self driving system
- The company responsible for the vehicle’s behaviour when in automated mode
While the Act puts the emphasis on the manufacturer, the operator or driver still shares much of the responsibility. Even when operating autonomously, the vehicle must be insured – either by the user-in-charge or the manufacturer, depending on mode and liability. If you are driving the car, the insurance covers you in a similar way to standard road insurance. If the car is operating autonomously, the insurance shifts to the manufacturer, enabling any third party to still make a compensation claim for injury or damage against the manufacturer rather than the individual driver.
Is driverless vehicle insurance more expensive?
Driverless car insurance may currently be more expensive than standard cover (depending on the vehicle and usage) simply because it’s evolving to address a whole new set of potential issues and challenges. But in time, there is a good chance that it will achieve parity or even become cheaper. When that happens, Park Insurance will be there, searching out the best deals on your behalf.
Driving forward with Park Insurance
For over 30 years, Park Insurance has been the trusted go-to team for specialist cover. As we move into a new era of automotive advancement, we are once again at the cutting edge, leveraging our position as preferred brokers to secure the best deals on driverless vehicle insurance. Use our online Get a Quote button for a free, no-obligation quote, or contact our expert team for guidance and quotes tailored to your driverless vehicle.