Cal. Veh. Code § 38750: Autonomous Vehicles
[in effect]California · safety standard · safety standard
Jurisdiction
California
Classification
safety standard
Status
in effect
Effective Date
Jan 1, 2013
Primary Sources
1 audited
Statutory Scope & Summary
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. Part of California's broader autonomous-vehicle framework (see california-av-regulations, the comprehensive DMV plus CPUC entity).
Covered Sectors & Application Domains
Regulatory Analysis & Inquiries
6 entriesWhat does Cal. Veh. Code § 38750: Autonomous Vehicles cover?
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. Part of California's broader autonomous-vehicle framework (see california-av-regulations, the comprehensive DMV plus CPUC entity).
Where does Cal. Veh. Code § 38750: Autonomous Vehicles apply?
Cal. Veh. Code § 38750: Autonomous Vehicles is recorded as a safety_standard applying in California on the DEPLOY registry.
When did Cal. Veh. Code § 38750: Autonomous Vehicles take effect?
Cal. Veh. Code § 38750: Autonomous Vehicles is recorded as effective January 1, 2013 on the DEPLOY registry.
Is Cal. Veh. Code § 38750: Autonomous Vehicles still in effect?
Cal. Veh. Code § 38750: Autonomous Vehicles is currently in effect and applies to covered operators in the named jurisdiction.
What types of robots does Cal. Veh. Code § 38750: Autonomous Vehicles apply to?
Cal. Veh. Code § 38750: Autonomous Vehicles is recorded as applying to autonomous vehicles on the DEPLOY registry.
Which robot models on the DEPLOY registry fall under Cal. Veh. Code § 38750: Autonomous Vehicles?
8 robot models on the DEPLOY registry match the form-factor scope of Cal. Veh. Code § 38750: Autonomous Vehicles: Apollo RT6, Argo AI Self-Driving System, Aurora, Aurora Driver and 4 others. Form-factor scope match does not by itself establish compliance status; review the underlying primary sources for each operator.
Primary Sources & Legal Instruments
1 document- California Vehicle Code § 38750 (autonomous vehicles): official statute text, current operative version (amended by SB 480, Stats. 2025 ch. 415, eff. Jan 1, 2026)Official Source
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionNum=38750