Yes.
Self-driving cars are legally allowed to be on the roads in Sarasota.
Florida law states that autonomous vehicles are not required to have a licensed human operator. The automated system acts as the driver, and the vehicle must follow all applicable traffic and motor-vehicle laws.
There are also no laws prohibiting self-driving vehicles in Florida from driving on highways.
Autonomous vehicles are fully legal in 21 states, including Florida. Eleven states allow testing or limited pilot programs. Other states lack legislation on self-driving cars and do not outright ban them, creating a legal gray area.
Self-driving cars like Waymo have been proven in some studies to be safer than human ones. A July study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed that Waymo cars had 68% lower police-reportable crash involvement rates than humans.
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Sources
- 2026 Florida Statutes 316.85
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Crash experiences of highly automated vehicles and human drivers
