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Can a learner driver have passengers?

Learning to drive can leave you with more questions than answers, especially around provisional driver insurance and what you can and can’t do when you’re behind the wheel.

6.05.25

By Alan Boswell Group

A passenger in the back of a car while someone is learning to drive, wondering whether the driver needs specific learner driver insurance.

To help you stay on the right side of the law, we look at what the rules for learner drivers are when it comes to carrying passengers.  

What are the rules on passengers for learner drivers? 

As a provisional licence holder, you must be supervised while practising outside of lessons. Your supervising driver can be a family member or friend, but they must: 

  • be at least 21 years old; 

  • be qualified to drive the car you’re driving (so, if it’s a manual car, they must have a manual driving licence); 

  • have held a full driving licence for at least three years (the licence has to be from the UK, the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein).  

While your supervisor is technically your passenger, they must not use their mobile phone (or any other electronic device) while you are driving. You cannot pay your supervisor either; the only people who can charge for driving lessons are approved driving instructors (ADIs) or trainees.  

Bear in mind that while the minimum legal age for a supervisor is 21 years old, your insurer might insist that supervisors be at least 25.  

While being supervised, you can also carry other passengers in your vehicle up to the stated vehicle capacity.  

Are there any passenger restrictions for learner drivers? 

As long as the number of passengers in your car doesn’t exceed the car’s stated capacity, there are no restrictions (other than one passenger must be your supervising driver).  

So, if your car is a standard five-seater, you can have your supervisor in the passenger seat and up to three people in the back.  

While this is the current situation, there is increasing debate about the potential introduction of a ‘graduated driving licence’, which could see restrictions on new drivers, including how many passengers they can have.  

Can learner drivers have child passengers in the UK? 

The short answer is yes. As a learner driver, you can still carry child passengers in the car. That said, it’s worth considering whether having children in the car while you’re still learning is sensible. 

Safety considerations for passengers 

Driving lessons and private practice take a lot of concentration; having passengers (adults or children) can be distracting. Which means you might not get the most out of your lesson or practice time.  

If you’re very new to driving, having passengers can also make you more nervous, resulting in errors that affect your confidence. From a practical viewpoint, taller passengers can also limit your rearview, and young children’s behaviour can be unpredictable.  

What are the insurance implications of carrying passengers? 

Carrying passengers doesn’t affect your insurance and won’t increase your premium. However, you must not carry more than your car’s capacity. If you do, you could invalidate your policy because you haven’t followed the car manufacturer’s guidelines. 

Frequently asked questions 

Learner driver car insurance designed for you

Having the right learner driver insurance can give you peace of mind, enabling you to focus on driving. Any policy you choose should cover how you use your car, whether for lessons, private practice, or test day. Also, remember to check if there are any age restrictions for your supervising driver.  

To explore your options and to find out more about our tailored learner driver insurance, you can call one of our experts.

Speak to us:  01603 301770

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