United Kingdom: Department for Transport and Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles opened consultation on Automated Vehicles (Permits for Automated Passenger Services) Regulations 2026

On 21 July 2025, the Department for Transport and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles opened a consultation on the draft Automated Vehicles (Permits for Automated Passenger Services) Regulations 2026 until 28 September 2025. The draft Regulations would set out procedural and administrative requirements to operationalise the automated passenger services (APS) permitting scheme under Part 5 of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, covering bus-like services in England, Wales and Scotland and taxi- and private hire vehicle-like services in England. The draft Regulations would set a maximum permit validity period of 5 years and a renewal window opening 6 months and closing 2 months before the permit's expiry date, with an existing permit remaining valid pending determination of a renewal application. The draft Regulations would set out grounds on which the Secretary of State could vary, suspend or withdraw a permit with or without the permit holder's consent. These grounds would include breach of a permit condition, serious or repeated traffic infractions, material misrepresentation, material change of circumstances, and serious safety concerns. The draft Regulations would also establish an internal review mechanism allowing applicants and permit holders to request a review within 28 days of a relevant decision.