Can a Learner Driver Carry Passengers?

To be able to supervise a learner driver in the UK legally, there is a range of criteria that the supervising driver must meet. This not only keeps you and the learner driver legal on the roads, but can also help to maintain a level of safety that only an experienced driver can bring. The supervising driver must:

• Be at least 21 years old: Younger drivers cannot legally supervise a learner driver.
• Hold a full UK driving licence: They must be able to drive the type of vehicle that is being used, which could be a manual car or an automatic; only a driver with a full driving licence will be legally allowed to drive both. They must have held this licence for a minimum of three years, and this can be a licence from Great Britain, Northern Ireland, or an EU/EEA country.
• Sit in the front passenger seat: The supervising driver must be next to the learner at all times.
• Be fit to drive: The qualified driver needs to be alert and attentive and cannot be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Always follow the law: Supervising drivers are responsible for making sure that the learner drives legally, with the correct provisional licence, has their L plates displayed clearly and has the correct learner driver insurance in place.

It's also recommended that all supervising drivers are confident and patient. Although not a legal requirement, having an experienced and diligent supervising driver with you is ideal for giving the learner constructive feedback and for keeping stress levels down.

Yes, a learner driver can legally carry children in the car as well as friends. However, this is only permitted provided that all the other rules are followed. This means that you must still have a supervising driver sit with you in the front passenger seat who meets the legal requirements (they must be over 21, have held a full driving licence for three years etc.), your car must display L plates or D plates if in Wales, and every passenger must wear a seat belt, while child passengers must be using legal and correct child car seats.

When it comes to how many passengers, while you can fill every seat in your car, it's not always a good idea. Remember, the more people you carry, the greater the risk of being distracted behind the wheel.

Motorway driving has different rules for learner drivers compared to normal UK roads. While learner drivers have been permitted to drive on motorways since 2018, it's only allowed under certain and very strict circumstances.

• A provisional licence holder can only drive on a UK motorway when accompanied by an approved driving instructor.
• The vehicle must have dual controls for safety.
• L plates or D plates must be displayed.

These rules mean that if you want to drive on the motorway as a learner driver, you have to be with an approved driving instructor (ADI). Even if your supervising driver meets all the usual criteria, they're not legally permitted to do so.

But can learner drivers have passengers on the motorway? Well, you'll find that all driving instructors will discourage this, preferring a one-to-one approach to motorway training so you can focus on the road.

In most cases, learner driver insurance includes cover for passengers, just like standard car insurance. This means that if you have a valid learner policy and are involved in an accident, your passengers will be covered under the third-party liability section of the insurance.

However, you must:

• Check your policy wording, as some insurers may have restrictions on who you can carry.
• Make sure you have the correct level of cover for the car you’re driving (comprehensive, third-party fire and theft, or third-party only).
• Follow all legal rules. If you break the law (e.g., no qualified supervising driver, no L plates, or passengers without seat belts), your insurer could refuse to pay out.

Bottom line: Passenger cover is usually included, but only if you’re driving legally and within your policy terms.

No. During your test, learner drivers can't carry regular passengers in the car with them. The only people who can accompany you are the driving examiner who'll be conducting the test, and on rare occasions, an optional DVSA-approved observer, who may sit in the back to monitor the examiner’s performance (this is for quality control, not to assess you).

As the examiner acts as your supervisor during the test, you don't need a normal supervising driver present; however, if you're having your test in your own car, you'll still need to meet all the legal requirements, such as learner driver insurance, L plates, and an extra rear-view mirror.

So, we know that it is legal for UK learners to carry passengers; however, it's important to always put safety first. As a learner, you might be excited to share your learning journey with your friends and family in the backseat; however, having extra people in the car can increase the risk of distractions. Whether it's a mobile phone ringing, friends chatting and encouraging you to speed up, or little ones wriggling in their car seats, all these additional factors can make it harder to concentrate.

This could mean slower reaction times, missed road signs or even difficulty keeping to the right speed. Even if you're a confident learner and about to take your test, you may find certain passengers in the car add to your stress and pressure levels, particularly if they're giving unhelpful advice or questioning your decisions.

This is why a qualified driving instructor might recommend starting with just your chosen supervising driver, who'll be sitting in the front passenger seat next to you. Once you've built up your confidence, are comfortable in control of your vehicle, and can manage unexpected situations, you may want to start carrying one supportive additional passenger at a time, but only when you feel ready.