When learning to drive you may be wondering if you are able to carry passengers in the car whilst you’re practising.
As long as the person with you meets a certain criteria, you are allowed passengers whilst learning to drive, that are not only the person teaching you.
Before you start offering out rides, though, there are a few important things you need to think about.
Who must be in the car with a learner driver?
Whilst it is legal to have passengers in the car with you, you must ensure you have at least one supervising driver whilst you learn.
The supervising driver must meet the following criteria:
- Are over the age of 21
- Have held a full driving licence for at least three years (from countries in the European Union or European Economic Area)
- Be qualified to drive the type of vehicle they are supervising in
- Hold the correct car insurance or the learner has provisional insurance
- The car is in safe and legal condition
- Display L plates while the learner is driving
- Not use a mobile phone while supervising
Driving without the correct supervision can result in a learner receiving up to six penalty points on their provisional licence and face a fine of up to £1,000.
Is it legal for a learner driver to have child passengers?
It is perfectly legal to drive with children in the car as a learner, as long as there’s a supervising driver with you in the front passenger seat. However, like any qualified driver, you will need to ensure you are following the laws and regulations around car seats for children under the age of 12, or under 4ft, 4in.
Learning to drive can be a stressful process and driving with small children in the car may not be a wise idea, given they can become a distraction when out on the road.
But if you plan on driving with children in your car after you pass your test, it could be advantageous to have child passengers whilst under the supervision of an experienced driver, so you are ready to do so when you receive your full licence.
How many passengers can a learner driver have?
You are allowed to carry as many passengers as your vehicle allows you to, as long as you have a supervising driver, although it is not advisable to do so.
Having multiple passengers in the car can become a distraction. It can become incredibly noisy and may distract you from concentrating on the road. Learning to drive is already an overwhelming experience, and having three extra passengers in the back talking, shouting or possibly singing, is an added distraction you may not need.
FAQs
Does a learner driver need insurance?
Yes, anyone driving in the UK must have the correct car insurance before they get behind the wheel, no matter if the vehicle is yours, or if you are using your parents’ car.
Do I have to be insured to sit with a learner driver?
The learner driver needs to have their own learner driver insurance, but it’s recommended that the supervising driver also has their own car insurance in place, just in case they need to take over driving duties during the course of a lesson.
Can a supervising driver sit in the back?
A supervising driver must sit in the front of the vehicle at all times. This is stated by law.
Who is responsible if a learner driver crashes?
Learner drivers have the same duty of care as other drivers on the road. If a learner driver crashes, they are responsible for the incident.
It’s also important to note that if the supervisor is not in a fit position to take control of the vehicle, they can also be penalised.
Does a supervising driver need to add the learner driver as an additional driver?
As a learner driver, if you are practising in someone else’s car, the vehicle owner’s insurance policy must add them as an additional driver, or you can take out your own temporary insurance on the vehicle as well – but the learner drive must be insured. This will not protect the owner’s no claims bonus.
Learner driver insurance from Adrian Flux
We offer learner driver insurance policies tailored to suit your needs. Call 0808 109 7574 for a swift no-hassle quote. Alternatively, book a callback at a time that suits you.
