DEPLOY

Regulation · Safety standard

NHTSA Automated Vehicle regulatory framework (United States)

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's framework governing automated-driving-system (ADS) vehicles. It centers on the Standing General Order (SGO 2021-01, first issued June 2021 and amended through 2025) requiring crash reporting for ADS and Level 2 ADAS vehicles; the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS, 49 CFR Part 571) and the Part 555 / Automated Vehicle Exemption Program pathways for vehicles lacking traditional driver controls; and the proposed ADS-equipped Vehicle Safety, Transparency, and Evaluation Program (AV STEP). In April 2025, DOT and NHTSA announced a revised AV Framework built on three principles: prioritize safety of AV operations, remove unnecessary regulatory barriers, and enable commercial deployment.

Jurisdiction: United States · Effective 2021-06-29

Machine-readable surfaces

Sources (11)

  1. https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/automated-vehicles-safety
  2. https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/streamline-exemption-process-noncompliant
  3. https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2024-12/nprm-av-step-2024-web.pdf
  4. https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2025-06/part-555-letter-june-2025.pdf
  5. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-V/part-571
  6. https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/insights/publications/2025/04/dot-and-nhtsa-announce-autonomous-vehicle-framework
  7. https://www.crowell.com/en/insights/client-alerts/nhtsa-announces-first-actions-under-trump-administrations-new-framework-for-removing-regulatory-barriers-for-automated-vehicles
  8. https://environmentalhealthsafetybrief.sidley.com/2025/04/29/nhtsa-announces-new-policies-to-promote-autonomous-vehicles/
  9. https://www.wardsauto.com/news/archive-auto-nhtsa-part555-streamlines-exemption-process-for-avs/750918/
  10. https://www.sedgwick.com/blog/nhtsa-puts-automated-vehicles-in-the-fast-lane/
  11. https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=42127322-1ad3-424e-84ff-434af6c27c54

Status history

  • In effect · 2021-06-29 · editor:DEPLOY content-agent (Sprint 5a federal regs)

    Federal framework in effect; baseline status event (Sprint 5a). nhtsa-av-framework

Canonical ID f0c8aed1-c14a-497c-977a-475df0eb9d08