An increasing number of studies examine the AV readiness of cities where urban autonomous vehicle street tests have already been performed, leaving a significant gap in understanding the AV-readiness of cities that have not yet undergone such testing. Our research aims to assess the AV-readiness of Hungarian cities without prior urban autonomous vehicle testing. We surveyed 56 cities (91.8 % sample) with public transport and populations over 20,000. The results of the correlation analysis indicate a minimal understanding of the relation between the urban deployment of autonomous vehicles and the need for related urban developments. In the long term, however, there is evidence of the cities' intention to establish the urban conditions for autonomous vehicles. The larger the settlement and the higher the readiness level of current mobility plans and solutions, the sooner the estimated intervention, although these correlations are weak. The larger the size of the settlement and the more it has a mobility plan or an already existing solution, the shorter the timeframe required by the settlement for municipal interventions. Approximately half of the city planners did not associate AV-readiness with legislation and there are significant differences in planning considerations related to the new mobility paradigm.

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The deployment of Self-Driving Vehicles (SDVs) is not merely a technological issue; its success also depends on the readiness of the surrounding environment. In urban spaces, SDVs are expected to reach a critical mass and spatial concentration, posing complex challenges that require extensive planning and preparation. Consequently, SDVs necessitate specific urban development interventions to ensure the safe operation of the technology. Such SDV-specific urban development is crucial for realizing the anticipated benefits of autonomous vehicles while mitigating potential drawbacks, which in turn requires an accurate understanding of urban SDV-readiness. While an increasing number of studies assess SDV-readiness at the national level, little is known at the city level. Our research develops an index to assess the readiness of cities for self-driving vehicles from a policymaker perspective. In 2025, we surveyed municipal policymakers from 50 Hungarian cities with public transport and populations exceeding 20,000. The Urban SDV Readiness Index integrates four dimensions: the current urban mobility context (baseline), the anticipated emergence of SDV-related challenges, the expected timeframe for required interventions, and the ease of overcoming implementation barriers. The overall readiness index of Hungarian cities ranges from 18% to 76% (mean: 45%), with larger cities generally reporting higher readiness levels. The ranking of cities based on the composite index highlights clear leaders and laggards, aligning closely with the cluster classification and providing an accessible benchmark for comparison. Results indicate that, from the perspective of policymakers, many SDV-related developments are expected to materialize only in the distant future. Overall, the index offers a policy-relevant diagnostic benchmark that can support municipalities in identifying readiness gaps and prioritising targeted interventions and capacity-building strategies.