The Passenger Seat Isn’t a Free Pass
If you're being given a ride, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be mindful of your actions and behavior. If anything, it should make you more careful of your attitude! Being driven around is a privilege, not a right. And if you want more in the future, you'd better make sure your driver enjoys having you around in the car. To make sure you're on the right side of things, here are 20 things you definitely want to avoid doing as a passenger. After all, only the worst kinds will do these.
1. They Slam the Door
They don’t close the door, they punish it. A bad passenger will always slam the door so hard, you can feel the vibration through the steering wheel, like the car just took an insult personally. If you wince every time they get in or out, that’s not an accident.
2. They Leave Their Seatbelt Optional
Ever dealt with a passenger who treats their seatbelt like it's a suggestion rather than a matter of safety? They're the worst! Then they make you the villain for asking them to buckle up, as if you’re enforcing a personal rule instead of basic physics.
3. They Critique Your Driving Like a Backseat Instructor
Every turn becomes a lecture, every lane change a trial. Backseat drivers complain about your choices with the confidence of someone who isn’t responsible for the consequences. It’s impressive how quickly they can turn a calm drive into an evaluation.
4. They Mess With the Controls Without Asking
You glance over and out of nowhere, the A/C is on full blast, the vents are pointed at your face, and the radio’s on a station you didn’t choose. They act like it’s their car because they found the knob first. And the most annoying part? Somehow you’re expected to be grateful for their “improvements.”
5. They Eat the Messiest Food Possible
Only careless passengers bring snacks that crumble, drip, smear, and migrate into every crevice of your car. Then they act surprised when they find out you don’t want sauce all over your seats. If you’re still finding crumbs a week later, you already know their type.
6. They Use the Car Like a Personal Trash Can
Receipts, wrappers, cups, and random napkins seem to quietly multiply whenever you drive them. They leave a little pile behind as if it’s a normal part of transportation. The message is clear: your cleanup time doesn’t count as anyone’s inconvenience.
7. They Hog the Best Space Like It’s Reserved
As soon as they enter your car, they act as if it belong to them. They sprawl, recline, or even claim elbow room with a kind of territorial enthusiasm. If there are other passengers, they act like sharing is beneath them. Watching them spread out while everyone else squeezes in is a special kind of rude.
8. They Turn Every Stop Into a Surprise Errand
You think the destination is set, and then they casually add “just one quick thing” ten minutes before you arrive. That “quick thing” somehow includes a store, a detour, and a mysterious second stop. Your time becomes a free resource they spend without asking.
9. They Open the Window at the Worst Moment
It doesn't matter if you're on the highway, they'll still fling open the window like they’re trying to test wind resistance on your eardrums. The noise drowns out conversation, the air whips everything around, and yet somehow, they still look content with their choice.
10. They Blast Their Phone
It's fine to be on your phone as a passenger, but still, you should be respectful to those around you, especially the driver! The worst kinds of pasengers will watch videos, play games, or take calls on speaker at full volume. Somehow the entire car becomes an unwilling audience to their scrolling habits. When you ask for quiet, they respond like you’re attacking them.
11. They Ask “Are We There Yet?” on Repeat
Some passengers just treat travel time as if it's entirely up to the driver. Even if you give a clear answer, they’ll ask again five minutes later as if the laws of distance might have changed. It’s not curiosity, it’s impatience disguised as a question.
12. They Panic-Gasp at Normal Driving
A routine brake gets a dramatic inhale, and a harmless merge earns an audible yelp. They react like every moment is a near-death experience, even when you’re driving smoothly. All that does is make you feel tense as the driver, even when you're normally confident in your skills.
13. They Micromanage the Route Without Doing the Work
They don’t offer helpful navigation, they offer criticism after the fact. If you miss a turn, they announce it like a referee calling a foul, yet they never opened a map. It’s the combination of confidence and uselessness that makes it unbearable.
14. They Treat the Car Like a Makeup Studio
Ladies, this one's on you. Some passenger princesses will powder, spray, and apply products like the interior is a vanity table. Some makeup might get on the dashboard, the seat, or the window, and the most annoying part is, they might not even apologize for it.
15. They Spill Secrets the Moment They Sit Down
They start talking loudly about private topics as if the car is soundproof. At a stoplight, with windows down, they’ll casually announce something that shouldn’t be public information. You can practically feel nearby drivers learning things they never needed to know.
16. They Start an Argument Because They’re Bored
They pick at small issues, bring up old complaints, or bait you with a “just saying” comment. The car becomes a confined stage for conflict they could’ve avoided anywhere else. It’s remarkable how quickly boredom turns into hostility when someone enjoys stirring the pot.
17. They Refuse to Help With Anything
Even though you've just driven around, annoying passengers won't lift a finger. They watch you juggle bags, open the trunk, and handle parking while they sit and scroll. Even a simple “Want me to grab that?” doesn’t occur to them. The imbalance is obvious, and they pretend it’s invisible.
18. They Make Every Sound a Personal Announcement
When you're dealing with someone who believes the world revolves around them, they won't be afraid to let you know it. Every time they sigh loudly, groan dramatically, or narrate discomfort, they act like they’re filing a report. If the temperature isn’t perfect or the seat isn’t ideal, you’ll hear about it immediately. Their whole presence suggests the ride should adapt around them.
19. They Leave Without Saying Thanks
The quickest way to tell if someone doesn't have any manners? You drop them off, and they step out like you were a rideshare they forgot to rate. No acknowledgment, no gratitude, not even a polite nod. It’s a small omission that says a lot about their character.
Malen Almonacid Trossi on Pexels
20. They Act Entitled to the Ride From the Start
Entitlement is an ugly look no matter where you go, even in a car. Some passengers just assume you’ll drive, assume you’ll wait, and assume you’ll accommodate whatever they want. Any boundary you set becomes, in their mind, a personal inconvenience. By the end, you’re not tired from the miles—you’re tired from the attitude.
