Automated cars are fully legal on Texas roads, and they have been since 2017. Senate Bill 2205 passed unanimously that year, making Texas one of the first states to allow self-driving vehicles to operate without a human driver physically present in the car.
A newer law, Senate Bill 2807, took full effect on May 28, 2026, and creates a mandatory authorization process for companies operating commercial driverless vehicles in the state.
An “automated driving system,” or ADS, is the hardware and software combination that actually controls the vehicle. When it’s engaged, Texas law treats it as the legal driver.
Who Regulates Automated Cars in Texas?
No city in Texas has the power to create its own AV rules. State law explicitly takes over, which means the same rules apply whether a driverless car is operating in Lubbock or Houston.
Three state agencies share the authority:
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV): Issues and revokes commercial AV authorizations and sets insurance and safety standards.
Texas DPS and Local Police: Enforce traffic laws on the road, conduct traffic stops, and respond to crashes.
TxDOT’s Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Task Force: Coordinates statewide AV policy but does not write primary traffic rules.
What Did Senate Bill 2205 Do?
Before SB 2205, there was no clear legal answer to whether a driverless vehicle could operate on a Texas highway.
That law settled it in three ways: it legalized AV operation without a human driver in the vehicle, required every AV to carry liability insurance and a video recording device, and established that state law overrides any local AV restrictions.
A 2021 follow-up, House Bill 3026, refined some definitions but left the core framework intact.
What Is SB 2807 and Who Does It Apply to?
SB 2807 is the law that created a formal authorization requirement for commercial AV operators. Any company running Level 4 or Level 5 automated vehicles for business purposes, such as robotaxis or driverless delivery fleets, must hold active TxDMV authorization starting May 28, 2026.
- Level 4 means the vehicle performs all driving within a specific geographic area or set of conditions without needing human backup.
- Level 5 means full automation in every condition, everywhere.
To receive authorization, a company must certify all of the following:
- The ADS can comply with all Texas traffic laws.
- The vehicle has the required onboard recording device.
- The ADS meets all applicable federal safety standards.
- The vehicle can pull itself to a safe stop, called a “minimal risk condition”, if the system fails.
- The vehicle is properly registered and titled in Texas.
- It carries at least the minimum liability insurance required by state and federal law.
- The company has filed an emergency response plan with the Texas DPS, explaining how first responders should interact with the vehicle.
Authorizations are free, do not expire, and can be revoked if TxDMV determines the vehicle poses a danger to the public.
Do You Need TxDMV Authorization for a Personal Vehicle?
No. The authorization requirement under SB 2807 applies only to commercial operations. If you drive your own car with a driver-assist feature engaged, you are not required to file anything with the state.
Here’s the part that matters: you are still legally the driver. Whatever the vehicle does while you’re in it, Texas law holds you responsible, and that becomes critical if a crash happens.
Do Automated Cars Have to Carry Insurance and a Recording Device?
Yes to both. Every automated vehicle in Texas must carry liability insurance equal to or greater than the state minimum required for human-driven vehicles, and commercial operators may need to carry additional coverage under federal law.
The recording device requirement matters most after a crash. This onboard device, commonly called a “black box”, captures what the ADS was seeing, processing, and deciding in the seconds before impact. That data is often the single most important piece of evidence in a driverless car case, and it can be overwritten or deleted within days if no one acts quickly to preserve it.
As a Texas car accident lawyer, In my experience handling automated vehicle claims in Lubbock and across the South Plains, the insurance question is rarely as simple as confirming a policy exists.
What I see repeatedly is that the commercial operator’s coverage looks sufficient on paper, but the actual claims adjuster disputes whether the incident falls under the vehicle’s base policy or a separate excess layer required for AV fleets.
Clients treated at University Medical Center or Covenant Medical Center after these crashes often wait weeks for the insurer to even confirm which policy applies, while medical bills keep arriving. I tell every client in this position to let me sort out the coverage dispute so they can focus on recovering.
How Are AV Laws Enforced in Texas?
Enforcement operates on two separate tracks.
On-road enforcement: Texas DPS and local police enforce traffic laws on the road, conduct traffic stops, and respond to crashes.
Administrative enforcement: Complaints about unsafe commercial AV operators go to the TxDMV Enforcement Division. Starting May 28, 2026, you can submit a report at txmccs.txdmv.gov/truckstop. For an immediate danger, call 911.
Can Texas Cities Regulate Automated Cars?
No. Texas Transportation Code §545.452(b) explicitly prohibits cities, counties, and state agencies from imposing their own franchise requirements or regulations specific to automated vehicles. Cities like Austin can monitor AV operations and coordinate with companies, but they cannot write their own traffic laws for driverless vehicles.
This matters for one practical reason: if a commercial AV is operating dangerously, the authority to act sits with TxDMV at the state level, not with city hall.
Can You Retake Control, and Does That Affect Liability?
It depends entirely on the vehicle’s level of automation.
Level 2 and Level 3 vehicles: These are driver-assist systems. The human driver is expected to remain alert and take back control when prompted. If the car warns you and you don’t respond, a resulting crash will likely be treated as your fault.
Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles: The ADS is legally the driver. You are not expected to intervene, and if the system fails and causes a crash, responsibility typically falls on the operating company.
Did the warning come in time? Was it clear enough to act on? Was there even enough time for a human to respond? The answers to those questions are buried in the vehicle’s data logs, and they are what determine fault.
A tactic I see repeatedly in Level 2 and Level 3 takeover disputes on I-27 and US-84 near Lubbock is the operator’s insurer arguing the human driver had ample time to respond, even when the warning came only a second or two before impact.
In my experience, the timestamp data from the vehicle’s own event recorder is what usually settles that argument, not anyone’s memory of how the moment felt. One recurring issue I see in these Lubbock County claims is that the company controlling the software is slow to release that timestamp data until formal discovery forces the issue.
Who Is Liable After a Driverless Car Crash in Texas?
A crash involving a driverless car rarely has one obvious defendant. Multiple parties can share responsibility, and every one of them has financial reasons to avoid paying you.
| Crash Scenario | Likely Liable Party | Type of Claim |
| ADS was fully engaged, no human input | AV Operating Company | Negligence, Commercial Liability |
| Driver ignored a takeover warning | Human Driver | Motor Vehicle Negligence |
| Brakes, steering, or sensors failed | Vehicle Manufacturer | Product Liability |
| ADS software made a bad decision | ADS Software Developer | Product Liability |
Here’s what actually happens after one of these crashes: the AV company says their software worked perfectly, the manufacturer says the operator misused the vehicle, and the software developer says the sensor data was the problem.
Meanwhile, you’re the one left hurt and waiting for answers while they argue about it.
Another pattern I consistently see in driverless car claims across Lubbock County is that the AV operator, the manufacturer, and the software developer all wait to see who the others blame before offering anything close to a fair number.
In my experience handling these cases out of Lubbock, the crash data sitting on a company’s servers is what actually breaks the standoff once a formal preservation letter goes out.
What If the Car and Software Are from Different Companies?
It’s common for a vehicle’s body to come from one manufacturer while the automated driving system was built by a completely different company. You don’t have to sort out who is responsible before calling a lawyer.
The strategy is to name every party that could be at fault and use the discovery process to force all of them to produce their internal data. The real threat of going to trial is what compels these companies to cooperate.
What to Do After a Crash with an Automated Car
Step 1: Get Medical Help and Call 911
Your health comes first. Get medical attention immediately and make sure a police report is filed at the scene.
Step 2: Photograph the Vehicle, Sensors, and Road
Use your phone to document everything. Get photos of the ADS hardware, cameras, the LIDAR unit on the roof, company logos, and vehicle ID numbers, along with the damage, skid marks, and nearby traffic signals and signage.
Step 3: Write Down the Operator’s Name and Vehicle ID
Note the company running the vehicle and any fleet ID number displayed on the car. This is your starting point for any claim.
Step 4: Preserve the Black Box and ADS Data
This is the most urgent step. ADS decision logs, sensor recordings, and event data recorder contents can be automatically overwritten within days. A lawyer must send a formal preservation letter to the operator immediately to prevent the company from claiming the data was lost to routine deletion.
Step 5: Don’t Give a Statement Before You Have Counsel
The operator’s insurance carrier will contact you quickly, and they will sound friendly. They are not. Do not give a recorded statement, do not sign anything, and do not discuss fault with anyone until you have spoken to an attorney.
Step 6: Call Perrin Law for a Free Consultation
Contact Perrin Law, I’m available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You pay nothing unless we win, and I handle every case personally, not a paralegal, not an associate.
Injured by a Driverless Car? Here’s What You’re Up Against
The AV company already has attorneys on retainer. Their team is already building a narrative that the car did everything right. The data that proves otherwise is sitting on their private servers right now, and it won’t be there forever.
I have spent my career taking on corporations and insurance carriers for people who had every reason to believe the system wouldn’t work for them. We have obtained favorable verdicts and earned recognition for our personal injury work in Texas.
At Perrin Law PLLC Injury & Accident Lawyer, I prepare every case as if it’s going to trial, because that is the only posture that makes these companies pay what your injuries are actually worth.
Contact our Lubbock office any time of day or night. The consultation is free, and we don’t get paid until you do.
Texas Automated Car Laws FAQ
Can Police Pull Over a Driverless Car in Texas?
Yes. Texas law enforcement has full authority to stop automated vehicles for traffic violations just like any human-driven car, and TxDMV provides officers with guidance on how to verify a vehicle’s operating authorization during a stop.
Does UM/UIM Coverage Apply If a Driverless Car Hits You in Texas?
Your Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may apply if the AV operator’s liability insurance falls short or denies your claim, but whether it does depends on your specific policy, review your declarations page with a lawyer before making assumptions.
How Long Do You Have to File a Driverless Car Injury Claim in Texas?
In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of a crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, but ADS data can be overwritten in a matter of weeks, so the statute of limitations is no reason to wait.
Are AV Operators Required to Report Crashes to Federal Authorities?
Yes. NHTSA’s Standing General Order requires AV operators to report crashes, sometimes within 24 hours if serious injuries occurred, which creates a federal incident record that is entirely separate from the Texas police report.
What AV Data Should You Demand Be Preserved After a Crash?
Your Texas personal injury attorney should immediately send a formal preservation letter demanding all ADS decision logs, sensor and camera footage, LIDAR data, GPS route history, and the contents of the onboard event data recorder (EDR).