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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 (13)

  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
  12. https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/nhtsa-proposes-national-program-vehicles-automated-driving-systems
  13. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/15/2024-30854/ads-equipped-vehicle-safety-transparency-and-evaluation-program

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

Common questions

What does NHTSA Automated Vehicle regulatory framework (United States) cover?
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.
Where does NHTSA Automated Vehicle regulatory framework (United States) apply?
NHTSA Automated Vehicle regulatory framework (United States) is recorded as a safety_standard applying in United States on the DEPLOY registry.
When did NHTSA Automated Vehicle regulatory framework (United States) take effect?
NHTSA Automated Vehicle regulatory framework (United States) is recorded as effective June 29, 2021 on the DEPLOY registry.
Is NHTSA Automated Vehicle regulatory framework (United States) still in effect?
NHTSA Automated Vehicle regulatory framework (United States) is currently in effect and applies to covered operators in the named jurisdiction.
What types of robots does NHTSA Automated Vehicle regulatory framework (United States) apply to?
NHTSA Automated Vehicle regulatory framework (United States) is recorded as applying to autonomous vehicles, truck on the DEPLOY registry.
Which robot models on the DEPLOY registry fall under NHTSA Automated Vehicle regulatory framework (United States)?
8 robot models on the DEPLOY registry match the form-factor scope of NHTSA Automated Vehicle regulatory framework (United States): 789D AHS, 930E AHS, ARC (Autonomous Relay Convoy), Apollo RT6 and 4 others. Form-factor scope match does not by itself establish compliance status; review the underlying primary sources for each operator.
Methodology: Verified · 13 sources (5 primary) · last reviewed 2026-05-31

Verification posture

Verified

High confidence

Review state

Stable

Last reviewed 2026-05-31

Architectural position

Cohort: av

Sources by quality tier

8
unclassified
Unclassified source
5
primary-regulatory-filing
Regulatory filing

The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.

Methodology surface for NHTSA Automated Vehicle regulatory framework (United States).

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