_Regulation · Safety standard_

# Cal. Veh. Code § 38750 — Autonomous Vehicles

Canonical ID: `af7ede0f-866c-4f44-81ec-58c256ad08d1`

- **Jurisdiction:** [California](/locations/california.md) — id `fdf937a9-5eeb-4e8d-a514-ef860b351b30`
- **Kind:** `safety_standard`
- **Status (derived):** in_effect
- **Effective:** 2013-01-01

California's foundational autonomous-vehicle statute. Defines 'autonomous technology' and 'autonomous vehicle' (SAE Level 3-5) and requires a manufacturer to obtain DMV approval and meet safety-certification and $5 million insurance requirements before operating on public roads beyond testing. Current text amended by SB 480 (Stats. 2025, ch. 415), effective Jan 1, 2026.

## Sources (1)

1. **California Vehicle Code § 38750 (autonomous vehicles) — official statute text, current operative version (amended by SB 480, Stats. 2025 ch. 415, eff. Jan 1, 2026)** · https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=38750 · 2026-01-01

## Status history

- **in_effect** · 2013-01-01 · editor:DEPLOY content-agent (Sprint 1.5b status-event pass)
    - Cal. Veh. Code Sec. 38750 (SB 1298); in effect since Jan 1, 2013. Baseline status event.

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