DMV Opens 15-Day Public Comment Period on Autonomous Heavy- and Light-Duty Vehicles

Contact: Office of Public Affairs
2415 First Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 657-6437 | [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 3, 2025

December 18, 2025 is the deadline to submit public comment

What you need to know: The California DMV has released revised proposed regulations that would allow truck manufacturers to apply for permits to test and deploy heavy-duty autonomous vehicle technology on California roadways and new requirements for light-duty autonomous vehicles. The 15-day public comment period begins today and ends Thursday, December 18, 2025. The revisions reflect feedback received during the initial public comment period this spring.

Sacramento - The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announces the release of revised proposed regulations that would allow autonomous vehicle companies to apply for permits to test and deploy heavy-duty technology on California roads and new requirements for light-duty autonomous vehicles. A 15-day public comment period begins today and runs through Thursday, December 18, 2025.

"California continues to lead in innovation with public engagement as we shape the future of autonomous vehicle use - from passenger services to goods movement," said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. "These updated draft regulations put safety first at every step, and I want to thank our DMV team and Governor Newsom for the steadfast leadership in advancing a thoughtful, inclusive approach to emerging transportation technologies."

The DMV first released draft regulations in April 2025 for a 45-day public comment period. During that time, the Department received extensive input from a wide range of stakeholders, including industry representatives, local governments, labor organizations, advocacy groups, and members of the public. That feedback informed the revised proposed regulations released today.

The revised proposed regulations for driverless testing and deployment are available on DMV's Autonomous Vehicles webpage. Stakeholders are encouraged to review the updated regulations and submit written comments by the deadline.

Comments may be submitted via email to: [email protected].

Key changes include:

• Review of safety cases submitted to the Department may involve consultation with third-party experts.
• The requirement to submit disengagement reports has been removed and replaced with reporting on Dynamic Driving Task system failures. Manufacturers operating under a testing permit must submit data to the Department monthly, while deployment data must be reported quarterly.
• Revised language clarifies the placement of an AV Noncompliance Notice within the vehicle, permits law enforcement to mail the form to the manufacturer, and requires the manufacturer to submit the form's contents to the Department within 72 hours of receipt.
• Approval is granted for medium-duty autonomous commercial motor vehicles - with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of less than 14,001 pounds, that meet the definition of a bus and are designed to carry no more than 15 passengers - to operate on public roads when providing passenger service in partnership with public entities or private universities.
• Regulatory language related to autonomous vehicle indicators and emergency geofence responses has been aligned with the statutory provisions in Vehicle Code Sections 38750 and 38751.

Before Going to an Office - Try Online First

Most DMV tasks do not require an office visit. The DMV encourages customers to use its online services and other service channels to complete transactions, such as eligible driver's license and vehicle registration renewals. Customers can also use the Service Advisor on the DMV website to learn about options to complete DMV tasks.

Go Paperless - Customers must create a MyDMV account at dmv.ca.gov/mydmv and opt in to receive their paperless vehicle registration, driver's license and identification card renewal notices by email.

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