Brits reveal the passenger habits that really grind their gears
New research reveals the biggest car journey irritations – and back-seat drivers top the list
New research from Go.Compare has revealed what really winds up Britain’s drivers – and it’s not traffic jams.
According to the survey of 1,444 UK motorists*, over a quarter (27%) say back-seat drivers are their biggest pet peeve, with passengers who can’t resist commenting on their driving topping the list.
Messy mates came a close second; 26% said passengers who leave rubbish or spill drinks make them see red. And nearly one in five (19%) are fed up with people refusing to wear a seatbelt.
But not everyone’s easily wound up; 17% said they don’t have any passenger pet peeves at all (we salute their patience).
Women are generally less tolerant of bad passenger behaviour than men. 29% of female drivers said they can’t stand back-seat driving compared with 24% of men, and 28% of women get annoyed when passengers leave mess behind, compared with 24% of men.
The top 10 passenger pet peeves:
|
Rank |
The behaviour that drives us mad |
% of drivers annoyed |
|
1 |
Commenting on the driver’s driving |
27% |
|
2 |
Leaving rubbish or mess in the car |
26% |
|
3 |
Not wearing a seatbelt |
19% |
|
4 |
“I’m easy” – no pet peeves at all |
17% |
|
5 |
Eating or drinking in the car |
16% |
|
6 |
Taking loud phone calls |
15% |
|
7 |
Giving rubbish directions |
14% |
|
8 |
Vaping in the vehicle |
13% |
|
9 |
Changing the radio channel without asking |
13% |
|
10 |
Opening windows or changing the temperature |
13% |
Tom Banks, Go.Compare car insurance spokesperson, said: “It’s easy to forget that the driver is in charge of everyone’s safety. Back-seat driving or other distractions can make journeys stressful and even dangerous. So, buckle up, bin your rubbish and maybe keep your playlist suggestions to yourself!
“Drivers can actually be fined if passengers refuse to wear a seatbelt, so it’s worth making sure everyone’s clipped in before setting off. A bit of courtesy keeps everyone calm – and gets you to your destination in one piece.
“Making sure you have the right cover in place is another essential to keep everyone safe, and to make sure you’re protected in case of any accidents. Make sure to compare your cover options online before your renewal is due. This way you can make sure you’re getting the right cover at the best price.”
For more car insurance tips, visit: https://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/guide/top-tips-for-cheaper-car-insurance/.
Contact Information
Rosie Johns
Notes to editors
*The passenger-pet-peeves survey was conducted by Censuswide among 2,002 UK adults of which 1,444 reported that they drive a vehicle between 22 and 24 September 2025. Respondents could select multiple options. Results are nationally representative by age, gender, region and social grade. Margin of error ± 2.2 %.
Press office contact:
For further information please contact:
Lynsey Walden – lynsey.walden@gocompare.com
Kath Chadwick – Kathryn.chadwick@gocompare.com
Or you can call 02920 020360. Keep up to date with Go.Compare on Twitter; @Go.Compare
About Go.Compare
Go.Compare is a comparison website that enables people to compare the costs and features of a wide variety of insurance policies, financial products and energy tariffs.
It does not charge people to use its services and does not accept advertising or sponsored listings, so all product comparisons are unbiased. Go.Compare makes its money through fees paid by the providers of products that appear on its various comparison services when a customer buys through the site.
When it launched in 2006, it was the first comparison site to focus on displaying policy details rather than just listing prices, with the aim of helping people to make better-informed decisions when buying their insurance. It is this approach to comparing products that secured the company an invitation to join the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) in 2008, and it is still the only comparison site to be a member of this organisation.
Go.Compare has remained dedicated to helping people choose the most appropriate products rather than just the cheapest and works with Defaqto, the independent financial researcher, to integrate additional policy information into a number of its insurance comparison services. This allows people to compare up to an extra 30 features of cover.
Go.Compare is part of Future Plc and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). More information can be found here www.gocompare.com or here https://www.futureplc.com/brands/.