Under which condition is an insurer not liable for a driver operating an autonomous vehicle?

In the context of autonomous vehicles, an insurer's liability can be affected by various conditions, particularly concerning the functioning of the vehicle's software. When there are unauthorized software installations, it signifies that the vehicle's original programming and safety protocols have been compromised. This alteration can lead to unpredictable behavior in the vehicle, which the insurer did not underwrite in the policy. Thus, if the software affecting the vehicle's autonomous functions has been tampered with or improperly installed without the insurer's knowledge, the insurer may deny coverage for any resulting incidents. This aligns with the principle that maintaining the integrity of the vehicle's operating systems is essential for the insurer's liability regarding accidents.

In contrast, while vehicle maintenance, external factors, and driver training are all significant, unauthorized software installations present a clear breach of expected operational safety, directly implicating the vehicle's ability to function properly as intended. This situation distinctly identifies a scenario where the insurer can reject liability based on the evidence of interference with the vehicle's autonomous systems.