Driverless Cars + Insurance???

[Shnev91]

Ok so I don't know if anyone has covered this before but I was thinking about this the other day. (I'm not a supporter at all of a computer making decisions on the road).

The question: If these driverless cars do ever take off, How would they be insured do you guys think??? In my head it shouldn't be up to the person sitting in the car to have to insure them because essentially they're a taxi. Insurance is to cover human error behind the wheel but if the human isn't in control then surely it's up to the manufacturer to trust their car enough to insure every one they sell.

Just want your views on the matter really. I hope they never take off.

Thanks in advance.

[Shnev91]

dacouch said:

Once driverless cars are common place, the insurance premiums for them will be considerably less than normal cars due to the reduction in claims

But you still think the person using the car should have to insure it?

[Shnev91]

SuperPav said:

I'm thinking along similar lines... It's no different to if you're driving today and your brand new car has catastrophic wheel failure due to a manufacturing defect, causing you to plough into the car in front. Your insurance pays out to the third party, then you/your insurers go chasing the manufacturer for the defect, manufacturer then pays you/your insurance.

The real change will be to the manufacturers, who will need different level of cover to protect themselves against such claims where the autonomous system malfunctions.

Thats a good way of looking at it. I'm enjoying this discussion