Driverless cars are now becoming more visible across the global automotive industry, most commonly currently in the Chinese and American markets, but are now expected to pop up in the UK’s capital city in early 2026.
Autonomous taxi company, Waymo, has announced that London will be the first European city to see driverless taxis on the streets, joining Uber and Wayve, who are also planning to operate in London*.
However, car leasing experts Nationwide Vehicle Contracts have conducted a new study to reveal which cities around the UK are most ready for driverless vehicles, and Hull ranks number one.
These are the UK cities most technologically ready for driverless cars
By analysing data metrics, including Gigabit Capable Broadband, 5G Rollout and Premises Above 30Mbps, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has been able to determine which UK cities are the most technologically ready to support the UK government in its 2026 trial of driverless vehicles.
Hull receives perfect score for AV readiness
Hull has been ranked as the most ready for autonomous vehicles in the UK. Hull would benefit from driverless cars due to the high number of road collisions per billion miles, which is 967.75, the second-highest number in the UK.
Their perfect index score of 100/100 highlights an immediate readiness for the switch to AVs, thanks to impressive capabilities of 5G rollout, Gigabit Capable Broadband and Premises Above 30Mbps.
Southend-on-Sea has 100% 5G rollout
The coastal city of Southend-on-Sea ranked 45th most in need out of the 50 UK cities analysed, thanks to low rates of train delays (5.6%) and cancellations (0.9%).
However, due to the high number of collisions (689.75 per billion miles travelled), the city could truly thrive with autonomous vehicles; they achieved a score of 99.40 out of 100 thanks to their wireless capabilities and advanced technological connectivity, setting them up perfectly for when AVs roll out.
Leicester receives an almost perfect score for AV readiness
Whilst Leicester didn’t rank highly among the cities most in need of AVs because of low driving test wait times (15 weeks) and low rate of train cancellations (2.1%), placing 38th out of 50; however, its rank for technological readiness is high.
The city received 99.20/100 for technological capabilities. Leicester is in a great position to adopt autonomous vehicles when they are available in the area.
London ranks 36th as the most ready city for driverless vehicles
Despite London being set to home the first self-driving taxis across the UK, the city ranked 36th most ready for AVs out of 59 UK cities.
This was due to a lower (89.40) gigabyte broadband capability and lower than average premises above 30Mbps score (98.34). However, achieving an index score of 96.05/100, shows that the city still has relatively high technological capabilities ready for the rollout.
Keith Hawes, Director of Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, explains: “The latest Waymo announcement is exciting, but London’s real test will begin when the driverless taxis hit the busy roads.
At the moment, driverless taxis operating in the U.S. have the benefit of straighter and wider roads. However, the UK’s ringroads, country lanes and sharp bends are likely to pose greater navigational challenges.
Our recent study shows that although London has relatively high readiness for becoming a driverless city in terms of technology, this lags slightly behind other UK cities at the moment.
Auto expert shares how London must prepare ahead of next year’s rollout
Hawes also reveals how London will need to prepare for driverless cars beyond adequate road surfaces:
- Educate the public – Undoubtedly, the public will have a lot of questions about how AVs work and how to use them safely on the roads. That’s why it is important first and foremost to educate the British public on what this means for them and how they can benefit the most from their introduction.
- New regulations – Next, new legislation and regulations will be absolutely crucial to ensure liability, allow car owners to update insurance and documentation, and guarantee data privacy for public trust.
- Upgrade digital infrastructure – Advanced technologies such as 5G connectivity, new traffic sensors, and smart traffic lights to enable real-time communication with autonomous vehicles (AVs) and certify safety and monitoring are required.
- Reconsider space – Authorities also need to consider space. This could be the repurposing of old parking spaces that are in less demand due to decreased ownership, as well as previous parking and pick-up/drop-off points, which may need to look very different.
Hawes concludes: “Launching robotaxis in the UK is a milestone, but London must now accelerate work on foundational layers. Readiness for this latest automotive innovation isn’t just about the vehicles on the roads – it’s about the ecosystem ready to absorb them.
The most successful UK cities will be the ones that adapt to the AV industry with open arms and preparation, and treat it as an opportunity to reinvent travel in a smarter, safer, and more sustainable way.”