Timeline of the accessibility regulations that affect autonomous mobility
If a vehicle has no driver, nobody deploys the ramp, announces the stop or deals with an incident. That is why regulation matters so much in autonomous mobility. This is the timeline, with the official reference for each rule.
Directive (EU) 2019/882, the European Accessibility Act
Sets accessibility requirements for products and services, including passenger transport. It applies from 28 June 2025. Published in the Official Journal of the European Union, L 151, 2019.
Law 11/2023 of 8 May
Transposes the directive's requirements into Spanish law. In force since 28 June 2025. Urban, suburban and regional transport complies only with section IV of its Annex I. Microenterprises are exempt.
Royal Decree 143/2026 of 25 February
Creates the Technical Support and Coordination Unit of the market surveillance authorities for accessibility. Published in the BOE no. 52 of 27 February 2026. In force since 28 February 2026. It regulates the coordination of surveillance. The technical requirements for the vehicle and the service remain in the rules that set them.
Royal Decree 193/2023, goods and services available to the public
Basic accessibility conditions. New public goods and services, from 1 January 2025. Other new private ones, from 1 January 2029.
Royal Decree 1544/2007, accessibility of transport modes
Technical requirements for buses, metro, adapted taxis and other modes. The text does not mention driverless vehicles.
Order TMA/851/2021, urbanised public spaces
Technical document that develops Royal Decree 505/2007. In force since 2 January 2022. It is the rule for the pick-up point: stop, pavements, kerb ramps and surfaces.
To test an automated vehicle in Spain
The Traffic Law, amended by Law 18/2021, has regulated the automated vehicle since 21 March 2022. The DGT sets the framework for testing on open roads in its ES-AV programme (Instruction VEH 2025/07).
European type approval of fully automated vehicles
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1426, in force since 15 September 2022, amended by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/481, in force since 24 March 2026.
This page summarises the rules. Their application depends on the type of service and requires a specific legal review in each case.
Source: Official texts of the BOE and of the Official Journal of the European Union linked in each reference on this page
Share this article
- Share on LinkedIn (opens in a new window)
- Share on Facebook (opens in a new window)
- Share on X (opens in a new window)
The social network links load nothing from them until you click. They open in another window.