Key insights:

  • 79% of Britons say they trust driverless taxis “not very much” (35%) or “not at all” (44%).
  • 59% say they would not feel comfortable riding in one under any circumstances.
  • If given the same price and convenience, 85% would choose a taxi with a human driver over a driverless one.

As driverless technology advances, public acceptance remains a critical hurdle. YouGov Surveys: Self-serve polled 1,000 British adults to understand how much trust people place in fully autonomous taxis and found that skepticism remains widespread.

Only 3% of Britons say they would trust a driverless taxi “a great deal,” and 14% “a fair amount.” By contrast, almost eight in ten (79%) express little or no trust, with 44% saying they would not trust one at all.

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When asked about the role of weather, some Britons showed conditional comfort. One in five (22%) say they would feel comfortable only in good weather, and 12% say they would be fine regardless of conditions. However, a clear majority (59%) say they would not feel comfortable riding in a driverless taxi under any situation.

Even when cost and convenience are equal, most Britons would still prefer a human behind the wheel. More than eight in ten (85%) say they would choose a taxi with a human driver, compared to just 6% who would opt for a driverless one. Another 6% have no preference, while 3% are unsure.

Methodology: YouGov polled 1,000 GB adults online on October 14, 2025. The survey was carried out through YouGov Surveys: Self-serve. Data is weighted by age, gender, education level, region, and social grade. The margin of error is approximately ±3% for the overall sample.