I have passed my driving test (UK) but have a passenger question?

Question

I have recently passed my driving test and have been driving around for a bit. However I have been told by my parents that I am not allowed to take passengers yet. Is this true?

Answer 1

If your parents said you're not allowed to have passengers, you're not allowed to have passengers!

They make the rules, don't they?

Answer 2

If you have a licence for a car you can take passengers so long as it is legal to in your vehicle (ie. there are enough seats!).

Some insurance polices for young/ new drivers may include additional restrictions (such as not carrying passengers or driving at certain times in the evening) but that is not standard. Check with your insurance company if your parents arranged it for you..... or even better, ask them why they think that!!

A long shot, the only other explination would be if for medical reasons you aren't allowed passengers.... but that would be very unusual! I can't think of any other reason, or imagine that being a reason!

Although there might not be a legal reason, maybe your parents don't want you to take passengers, either for safety reasons or because they don't want your mates in their car!

To further reduce your insurance premiums, and improve the standard of your driving, why not take pass plus http://www.passplus.org.uk/about_pp.asp or even the advanced test with the IAM http://www.iam.org.uk/

Safe driving :-)

Answer 3

you can take a passenger even as a learner, if your instructor agrees.

your parents are probably concerned about you showing off to your mates!

Answer 4

Once you have passed your test you are legally permitted to drive on a public road on your own with who ever you want....

Answer 5

There is nothing legally in the U.K. to prevent you from taking passengers  in the car with you from the moment you leave the test center with your pass certificate.

There are a couple of proposals around at the moment to restrict newly licensed young drivers in this way (e.g. not allowing other passengers under 19 after 11 p.m. or something similar), but as yet these are just ideas.