How many passengers can a learner driver have on board?

How many passengers can a learner have?

Learner drivers are permitted to carry passengers but the answer pertaining to the number of passengers permitted and the conditions that apply depends on the state or territory in which you live.

But what is certain is that learner driver rules state that the learner driver, supervisor (an individual who holds a valid open licence for the class of vehicle the learner driver is driving and has held that licence for at least one year) and any passengers in the vehicle must be properly restrained by seat belts or approved child restraints.

Are there exceptions? No.

Of course, common sense dictates that the fewer passengers in a car when a learner drive is at the wheel, the fewer distractions there are within the vehicle for that learner driver…

Anyway, here’s our state-by-state/territory guide to 'How many people can a learner have in the car?'

Australian Capital Territory

Can learner drivers have passengers? Yes, as long as they and the driver are all properly restrained with seat belts or, where appropriate, government-approved child restraints.

How many passengers can a learner driver have in the ACT?

A learner driver is permitted to carry up to the legal passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat – and that person must have a valid open licence for the class of vehicle the learner driver is driving and must have held that licence for at least one year.

Does the age of passengers matter (e.g. babies)? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints.

NSW

How many passengers can a learner driver have in NSW?

A learner driver in NSW is permitted to carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat.

Does the age of passengers matter? No, but the driver of the vehicle and all passengers must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints.

Northern Territory

How many passengers can a learner driver have in the Northern Territory?

There are no passenger restrictions for learners or provisional drivers in the NT, other than the learner driver is only permitted to carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, and they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat.

Does the age of passengers matter? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints.

Queensland

How many passengers can a learner driver have in Queensland?

A learner driver in Queensland may carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat.

Does the age of passengers matter? No, but the vehicle’s driver and all passengers must be wearing seat belts properly or, if appropriate, approved child restraints.

South Australia

How many passengers can a learner driver have in South Australia?

Learner's permit holders in South Australia are not subject to any passenger restrictions, other than the legal passenger-carrying capacity of the vehicle which they’re driving at the time.

How many passengers can a learner driver have?

A learner driver is permitted to carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat.

Does the age of passengers matter? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints.

Tasmania

How many passengers can a learner driver have in Tasmania?

A learner driver is permitted to carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat.

Does the age of passengers matter? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints.

Victoria

How many passengers can a learner driver have in Victoria?

A learner driver is permitted to carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat.

Can a learner driver drive with a child in the car in Victoria? Yes, as long as that child is properly restrained with a government-approved age-appropriate child restraint.

Does the age of passengers matter? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints.

Western Australia

How many passengers can a learner driver have in Western Australia?

There is no restriction on the number of passengers a learner driver may have in a vehicle in WA, except, of course, the vehicle must only be carrying the number of passengers it is legally allowed to have onboard.

Also, the learner driver, supervising driver and all passengers must be properly wearing properly wear seat belts or government-approved child restraints.

Does the age of passengers matter? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved baby seats or child restraints.