We have developed national Guidelines for Trials of Automated Vehicles (AVs) in Australia. They focus on safety and flexibility to support innovation.
We developed these guidelines in partnership with Austroads.
AVs have the potential to improve road safety, productivity, mobility and environmental outcomes. To achieve these benefits, industry and governments must test AVs in the real world. This helps everyone to understand and improve how AVs interact with other road users and unique environmental conditions.
Currently, vehicles can’t legally operate in highly or fully automated driving mode on public roads. To set up a trial, you’ll need permission and exemptions from local road transport agencies conduct trials.
When you apply for permission to trial AV technology on Australian roads, you must meet these guidelines. You must also meet any relevant requirements in the state or territory you plan to do the trial.
The guidelines:
These guidelines support nationally consistent conditions for automated vehicle trials. First published in 2017 and most recently updated in 2023.
This research report presents lessons learned from four years of automated vehicle trials in Australia.
Australia is open as a test bed for automated vehicle technology. We have created an online industry resource that explains the process for setting up a trial.
Applications can be made for trials:
More on how to set up trials for automated vehicles in Australia