Slovakia
Check whether this is an unapproved automated vehicle using ADS in development, production or approval. The driver’s presence alone does not establish the appropriate testing category.
Route to operation › Test drives
Practical scenario · Slovakia / Germany
Who applies, who decides and what to prepare before a test on a public road.
Working scenario · targeted primary source review · checked on 7 September 2026
Development or testing of an automated function on a public road with an on-board driver. The Slovak branch focuses on an unapproved automated vehicle under § 49(1)(c). The German branch concerns testing automated functions under § 1i StVG and § 16 AFGBV. The technical starting points of the two branches differ.
“Safety driver” describes the testing intention here. Specific legal roles and duties are assessed under the relevant regime.
Select a role for an explanation of its tasks. Entries distinguish the Slovak and German testing branches and the conditions for autonomous functions.
Check whether this is an unapproved automated vehicle using ADS in development, production or approval. The driver’s presence alone does not establish the appropriate testing category.
§ 16(3) starts from individual or type approval of the vehicle and subsequent modifications for automated or autonomous functions. The vehicle must be registered and used exclusively for testing.
The manufacturer or its representative applies under this branch for vehicles it develops or produces. The Slovak Ministry of Transport issues permission as type-approval authority.
The Halter — vehicle keeper — applies to the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) for a testing permit. For a territorial restriction, KBA hears the competent Land authority; the Act also addresses affected federal roads.
Prepare identification details, justification of the tests and their necessity, arrangements for conducting them and the Police Force’s favourable opinion on time, area or route. Demonstrate ADS safety through off-road testing or trials abroad.
Submit a development concept: completed and planned modifications, functions tested, state of the art, continuous supervision and provision of specified non-personal data. The Halter and participants in development and testing must be professionally competent and reliable.
The permit holder must ensure staffing and organisational safety conditions and provide the driver with the permit for inspection. Exact driver requirements must be supplemented from road traffic rules and the individual permit.
For automated functions, the Act requires continuous supervision by a reliable driver. The system must be deactivatable at any time and locally overridable by a human. For autonomous functions, the Act uses a different role: an on-site Technische Aufsicht.
Permission lasts no more than one year. It may specify area, route, time, other conditions and data collection. The test vehicle may only be used for testing.
Permission is generally limited to a maximum of four years; it is extended by two years at a time where statutory conditions are met. KBA may add safe-operation conditions, including territorial restrictions.
Check the driver’s permit, liability insurance where required and a valid special registration number. Notify changes in conditions within 15 days; provide collected data if the permit requires it.
The permit is carried during driving and presented for inspection. The permit and issue date are entered in registration document Part I. Data provision should form part of the development concept.
An aid for this project. Checking items does not confirm compliance with statutory conditions or that permission has been granted. Choices are not saved.
Text in force 1–30 September 2026; § 49 and § 135(2). Checked on 7 September 2026.
Open official source ↗The portal identifies the text in force since 2 January 2023; §§ 49–50. Checked on 7 September 2026. Older internal references must be reconciled with the current Act for a specific application.
Open official source ↗Consolidated text retrieved on 7 September 2026; paragraphs 1–3.
Open official source ↗Consolidated text retrieved on 7 September 2026; paragraphs 1–8.
Open official source ↗