How many passengers can a driver with a learner’s permit have in the car?

Explanation

Typically, a driver with a learner’s permit is very restricted in terms of passengers. In most states, the only other person allowed in the front seat is a licensed adult supervisor (often a parent, guardian, or driving instructor). Many graduated driver’s licensing programs do not allow a permitted driver to carry other teen passengers (friends) at all, because young passengers can be very distracting. Some states make an exception for immediate family members: for example, a permit holder might be allowed to have siblings in the car in certain jurisdictions, but even then a licensed adult has to be in the front seat. The general rule is that the focus should be on learning, so the supervising driver’s attention shouldn’t be split by a car full of people. If a teenager with only a learner’s permit drives around with a carload of friends, that would almost always be a violation of the permit rules. It could result in a citation or delay in getting a full license. In short: with a learner’s permit, you usually can’t have any non-supervising teen passengers. It’s best to stick to driving with your instructor or parent until you graduate to an intermediate or full license.