Slovak roads will soon be open to cars in which not only the passenger seat but also the driver's seat will be empty. The National Council of the Slovak Republic has finally approved a new law that establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the introduction and full-scale operation of fully automated vehicles. The new legislation responds to rapid technological progress in the field of autonomous mobility and clearly establishes the conditions under which vehicles without direct human control will be allowed on the roads. The law will take effect on December 1, 2026.
From Testing to Full Licenses
Introducing an autonomous vehicle into regular traffic will be neither easy nor inexpensive. The entire process begins with successful test operations, after which the operator can obtain a permit for trial operations.
Once this is successfully completed, the next key stage begins: obtaining a special license for the operator of a fully automated vehicle. The decision to issue this license is made by the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic based on an official application and a mandatory police report. The Ministry of Transport will clearly define the operating conditions, possible restrictions, and rules for collecting and processing trip data.
Mandatory Control Center and Strict Conditions for Operators
Road safety must be ensured through mandatory, continuous technical supervision. Operators will be required to establish special control centers. These operators will monitor the situation through continuous surveillance and, in the event of a crisis, must be able to immediately bring the vehicle to a minimally safe state—that is, a state in which the vehicle does not pose a threat to life, health, or property.
The law also establishes extremely strict requirements for the monitoring operators themselves. An operator may only be a natural person:
- over 18 years of age,
- who has held a driver’s license of the appropriate category for at least three years,
- and has a proper employment relationship with the license holder.
At the same time, the rule applies that an operator who takes control of a vehicle remotely may operate only one vehicle at a time and may not simultaneously control another.
Severe penalties and hundreds of thousands in fines
Uninvited “pioneers” of autonomous technologies who would like to circumvent the rules will face a harsh financial barrier. The Ministry of Transportation will impose substantial penalties for violations of these obligations:
- License holders themselves face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 euros for violating established obligations.
- Supervisory authorities may be fined between 1,000 and 5,000 euros.
- An equally severe penalty ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 euros also applies to anyone operating a fully automated vehicle without a valid license.
The new legislation also introduces penalties for failing to store required data, compromising its integrity, or negligently maintaining accurate records of individuals, through which the government aims to ensure maximum transparency throughout the entire operation.
