With news that driverless cars could be on UK roads from as early as 2026, new data shows the public are reluctant to show support.
A survey of 1,000 British adults across the UK, conducted by motoring insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk, reveals two thirds (66%) have a negative opinion of driverless cars.
Limited self-driving technology is already permitted on UK roads, but a human driver must always be at the wheel. The government has now confirmed plans to begin a pilot of driverless taxi and bus services from spring 2026, while a general rollout of fully autonomous domestic vehicles is projected for late 2027. Over four in five drivers (84%) say they wouldn’t be willing to own a driverless car, according to Quotezone‘s new survey, and only 12% of those surveyed have a positive opinion on the technology.
One of the main reasons for the reluctance is concern around safety and accident risk, with nearly a quarter (24%) identifying safety as their biggest worry. Other concerns include the risk of technical failures or malfunctions (18%), lack of human control (17%), and cybersecurity threats such as hacking (12%).
Greg Wilson, car insurance expert and CEO at Quotezone.co.uk said:
“With the current buzz on driverless cars hitting the headlines, we wanted to understand how the public are really feeling about these futuristic vehicles. While driverless technology continues to advance at pace, it seems public trust is still catching up. Many people remain understandably cautious about handing over control to a machine – especially on busy, unpredictable UK roads. Driverless cars bring up a lot of complex questions surrounding insurance and responsibility. For example, who would be at fault in the case of a crash? Would it be the driver, the manufacturer, or the software provider? Insurers will need a robust framework for claims in order to help drivers feel more secure, as 11% of those we surveyed stated insurance and liability issues as a key concern. Following news that the government is planning to begin a pilot of driverless taxi and bus services as early as next spring, we plan to continue to touch base with the UK’s road users and our insurers, to understand the perception and preparation needed for an autonomous future.”
Quotezone helps millions of drivers every year compare and find savings on their car insurance.
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