Self-Driving Cars: Where Are We Really in 2025? (Levels of Autonomous Driving Explained)

True self-driving cars - the future of personal transportation?

Welcome to the wild world of autonomous driving — where cars claim they can drive themselves, tech companies overpromise like bad Tinder dates, and the rest of us are still stuck behind the wheel with our overpriced lattes and Spotify playlists. So what’s the holdup? And more importantly, where are we on the road to truly self-driving cars?

In this post, we’re going to decode the mystery of the 6 levels of vehicle autonomy, look at what cars like Tesla and Mercedes are actually capable of in 2025, and figure out what "self-driving" car tech means for you, the humble human driver.

Buckle up, buttercup — it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.

Decoding the 6 Levels of Autonomous Driving

Let’s start by clarifying what these levels of autonomy actually are. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) — the smart people who write the rules before car companies rewrite them for marketing — have defined six levels of vehicle autonomy, starting at... you guessed it... zero.http://own.my

Level 0: Human, All Too Human

This is your average car. No automation. No help. Just you, your hands on the wheel, your foot on the pedal, and hopefully your eyes on the road. Maybe you get a beep if you’re about to crash into something, but you're basically on your own. My 2004 Mini Cooper, "Maggie", is a prime example of this level. (Heck, she doesn't even have Bluetooth.)

Level 1: Assisted Driving — A Gentle Nudge

Welcome to assisted driving, where the car can either steer or control speed — but not both at the same time. Think basic lane-keeping or adaptive cruise control. It’s the automotive equivalent of someone patting your hand and saying, “You got this,” while still expecting you to do all the work.

Level 2: Partial Automation — Where Things Get Dicey

Now we’re talking. Level 2 systems can steer and control speed - at the same time! Tesla’s misleadingly named “Autopilot,” GM’s Super Cruise, and Ford’s Blue Cruise fall into this category. These systems are impressive... until it rains, snows, or the lane lines aren’t perfect — in which case they freak out like a teenager parallel parking during a driving test.

They can’t make real-world decisions. They can’t anticipate a rogue mattress flying off a truck. And they definitely can’t handle some distracted ding-dong merging into your lane while texting. That’s still on you.

Oh, and these systems? They watch you. Literally. Cameras track your eyes and head position to make sure you’re not checking emails, turning around to yell at your kids, or falling asleep. Ignore the warnings too many times, and your Tesla will lock you out like a pouty teenager. They call it “Autopilot Jail.” I call it well-deserved.

When used properly, these systems can make long drives less exhausting. But let's be real — they can also lull you into complacency. And complacency behind the wheel is just another word for dangerous. So, if you have these systems in your car - please use them responsibly.

Level 3: Conditional Automation — Things Get Weird

This is where the vehicle starts to monitor the environment and make decisions. The system actually thinks for itself. (Cue the Terminator soundtrack.)

The only certified Level 3 system in the U.S. right now is Mercedes-Benz’s Drive Pilot, available in the S-Class and EQS models — aka cars that cost more than your house. Tesla, of course, claims its “Full Self-Driving” system is Level 3, but they haven’t actually been certified yet. Bless their hearts.

Here’s the kicker: Legal liability for what the car does now starts to shift to the automaker. Yep, you still have to pay attention (and can still get sued), but the manufacturer is finally sharing a bit of that responsibility. Can you hear the lawyers salivating?

Level 4: High Automation — But Only in a Box

Now we’re entering robo-taxi territory. Level 4 vehicles don’t need human input — unless something goes haywire, and even then, a remote operator can take over.

But here’s the catch: they’re geofenced. That means they can only operate in specific areas with high-definition maps and ideal conditions. No backroads, no snowy mountain passes, no sketchy detours down gravel alleyways. Just slow, well-mapped urban grids where nothing too unpredictable is allowed to happen.

That’s why you’ll only find Level 4 in shared-use vehicles like Waymo taxis. There are no personal Level 4 vehicles on the market - yet. GM seems determined to change that, pouring all of its autonomous driving R&D into personal cars instead of chasing the robotaxi hype like everyone else. If you're dreaming of your own personal robo-chauffeur, you'll need to be patient — GM is betting it could happen within the next decade, but for now, that dream is still idling in the development garage.

Level 5: The Sci-Fi Fantasy

Ah yes, the holy grail of autonomy. Level 5 is true self-driving. No steering wheel. No pedals. No human required — at all. The car drives anywhere, under any conditions, with zero input from you. Basically, it’s the robot chauffeur of your Jetsons dreams.

Sounds amazing, right? It’s also about as real as a unicorn on roller skates. We’re nowhere near this level of autonomy. The jump from Level 4 to 5 isn’t just a small step. It’s an Olympic pole vault — requiring massive advancements in sensors, software, real-time learning, and infrastructure we simply don’t have yet.

Think about it: the car has to see, interpret, and react to every possible road hazard in real time — from a tumbleweed in Texas to a jaywalking pigeon in Manhattan. And don’t forget: it needs to communicate with other vehicles and the road itself. That’s right — our pothole-ridden, barely-maintained infrastructure needs a glow-up before this becomes reality.

Add in the legal mess of determining liability when no one’s driving — plus the constantly shifting political winds that can’t decide who’s in charge of what — and it’s clear: Level 5 won’t be rolling into your driveway anytime soon. Not in 2025. Not by 2030. Maybe not even by the time your grandkids are old enough to complain about driving themselves.

So Where Are We Now?

If you live in the U.S., we are firmly stuck in Level 2 — with a few tiny toes dipping into Level 3. Cars like Teslas, some Cadillacs, and Fords offer semi-automated driving when the stars align and if you’re still paying full attention.

Level 4 robo-taxis are on the streets — kind of — in very controlled environments, like select neighborhoods in Phoenix or San Francisco. They’re impressive… until they get stuck in construction zones, throw tantrums in traffic, or run over someone’s sandwich delivery.

And Level 5? That’s still the stuff of sci-fi fantasy—think Blade Runner meets a glossy concept video. And when it finally does become reality, let’s all hope it’s more Star Trek and less Terminator.

A Cautionary Tale: Autopilot Isn’t an Excuse

Let’s not forget the tragic story of Walter Huang, a Tesla owner who turned on Autopilot during his commute and was later killed when the car suddenly veered into a concrete barrier. He was reportedly playing a video game on his phone. His family sued Tesla for misleading customers with exaggerated claims about the Autopilot system's capabilities (imagine that), but the bottom line remains: you are still responsible for the actions of your car, even when Autopilot is on. Your life literally depends on it.

So, Are You Ready to Give Up the Wheel?

For some folks, the idea of kicking back while the car does all the work is a dream. Especially if you hate driving in rush hour traffic or are looking for ways to reduce stress on long trips.

For others (like me), driving is more than transportation — it’s fun, it’s freedom, it’s therapy. I don’t want a robot stealing my joy — or my aggressive lane changes. And if the system drives like my grandma with a hangover, we’re gonna have words.

Look, I get it. Not everyone grew up racing cars or enjoys arguing with GPS directions for sport. But even if you’re excited about all this technology, don’t let it lull you into becoming a passive passenger in your own life — or your own car. These systems are tools, not chauffeurs.

Final Thoughts

Self-driving tech is coming, whether we’re ready or not. But full autonomy is still years — maybe decades — away. In the meantime, we’ve got flashy “driver assistance” systems that are more babysitter than butler. Use them wisely. Stay alert. And remember: when it comes to driving, the best autopilot is still your brain — fully engaged and firmly in control.

Until next time — eyes on the road, hands on the wheel, and maybe lay off the video games while you're driving, yeah?

🎙️ Want the full, snarky story? Listen to the full episode of The Straight Shift podcast where I break down the six levels of autonomous driving—and all the ridiculousness that comes with them.

Because sometimes hearing me rant about Tesla in real time is even better than reading it.