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From the driver’s seat to the DJ, who’s in charge on the road?
Who prefers to be the driver or the passenger, and more importantly, who is in charge of the music?
Being a passenger princess is more of a vibe than an official role. But who is most likely to gravitate to the passenger seat without ever touching the steering wheel? To find out, car insurance comparison service iSelect surveyed more than 3,000 Australians, Americans and Canadians to see who prefers to be the driver or the passenger and most importantly, who gets to choose the music!
Australians’ preference when driving in a car
In Australia, the majority (62.5%) of people surveyed preferred to be the driver, compared with only 37.5% who preferred to be the passenger. But when it came to gender, 77% of men preferred to be the driver while 55% of women preferred to be the passenger princess. However, 45% of women still preferred to be the driver whereas only 23% of men reported wanting to take the passenger seat.
When it comes to who gets to choose the music while in the car, most Aussies prefer to share the responsibility between both driver and passenger. In contrast, 40% of Australians said the driver should be the one to control the music, while just 12% said the passenger should be solely in control of the tunes on a drive.
Australian age group preferences when in a car
Across all age groups, Australians showed a stronger preference for being in control and behind the wheel. However, the gap between preferring to drive versus riding shotgun varies only slightly by life stage. Younger drivers, those aged 18 to 24, had the smallest difference in preference: 52% preferred to drive, while 48% preferred to be the passenger. This narrow gap could reflect the early years of driving and may still feel less confident on the roads, making the passenger seat a more comfortable option. The next closest gap was among adults aged 75 years and older, while the majority still prefer driving (59%) to being a passenger, highlighting that independence behind the wheel remains valued well into later life.
Australians closer to their mid‑life (age 35-44 years), the career and family‑focused years, showed the strongest preference for being in the driver’s seat, with 70% choosing to be the driver and only 30% opting to ride as the passenger.
In most age groups, the driver is seen as the most appropriate person to choose the music, particularly among 45–54-year-olds. However, a shared approach becomes more popular among older Australians, with 60% of those aged 55-64 declaring as much, remaining high among those aged 65-74 (56%) and over 75’s (53%). In contrast, giving passengers sole control of the music is consistently the least popular option across all age groups, never exceeding 22%, suggesting a broad preference for either driver authority or shared decision-making over the playlist.
America’s driver vs passenger preference
When it comes to driving, the majority (59%) of Americans preferred to be in the driver’s seat, while 41% said they would go for the passenger seat. Males were the most likely to take the driver’s seat with 73% saying this was their preference while only 27% were happy to be the passenger. Women were more evenly split, with 55% preferring to be the passenger (princess) and 45% preferring to be the driver.
When it comes to who controls the music, most Americans agreed that both the driver and the passenger should have a say. However, males were only slightly leaning in the driver’s favor, with 44% choosing that the driver should control the car’s tunes. In contrast, giving passengers sole control of the music is consistently the least popular option across all Americans, never exceeding 14% for either gender, suggesting a broad preference for either driver authority or shared decision-making over the playlist.
American age group preferences when in a car
It was a more even split when looking at what different age groups preferred while driving in a vehicle. The most even splits were in the young and later in life age groups: 18-34 years and those aged over 75, both reported a more even split in preference for being the driver or the passenger. These findings could suggest that younger drivers are still new to driving and may feel more confident in the passenger seat, whereas those aged over 75 may want to take a back seat after driving most of their lives. Americans closer to mid-life, potentially more family-oriented years, were more likely to opt to be the driver, with 67% of 35–44-year-olds reporting a preference for driving.
When it came to who is in control of the playlist on the drive, it was the later-in-life age group that was most happy to share the responsibility for the music while driving, with 70% of those aged over 75 preferring to take a shared approach to the playlist. The next most significant result was that almost half (49%) of those aged 35-44 years said the driver should choose the music; this could be because they might be driving with children who may not have the same taste in music.
Canada’s driver vs passenger preference
In Canada, the findings show a clear difference in the driving and passenger roles, particularly when broken down by gender. Overall, a majority of Canadians would prefer to be the driver, while 43% would prefer to be the passenger. However, this pattern varies significantly between men and women. Among males, a strong majority of 71% prefer to be in the driver’s seat, with less than a third preferring to be the passenger. In contrast, Canadian women are more likely to be the passenger princess than the driver, with 56% riding as passengers compared to 44% who prefer to drive. These results suggest that men are considerably more likely to take on the driving role, whereas women are more often passengers, highlighting a notable gender-based difference.
It was mostly unanimous that the driver and passenger should share who controls the playlist on a drive, with upwards of 49% reporting this. However, 38% of males stated that the driver should be in sole control of the tunes. In contrast, giving passengers sole control of the music is consistently the least popular option across all Canadians, never exceeding 16% based on gender, suggesting a broad preference for either driver authority or shared decision-making over the playlist.
Canadian age group preferences when in a car
The survey results show a clear age-related difference among Canadians in both driving roles and music choice preferences when in a car. Younger Canadians (aged 18–24) are more likely to be passengers (61%) than drivers (39%), and half of this group reports shared control over music choice, suggesting a more collaborative in-car dynamic. As age increases, the likelihood of being the driver rises, peaking among those aged 35–44 (62%), before gradually declining in older age groups.
Across most age groups from 18 to 64, shared music selection remains common at around 50%, indicating balanced preferences regardless of who is driving. However, among older Canadians, those aged 65–74 and those aged 75 and over both had a shared approach to music choice, which increased significantly to 65% and 76%, respectively. At the same time, individual control by either the driver or the passenger declined. Overall, the findings suggest that younger groups experience more role variation, middle-aged Canadians are more driver-dominated, and older age groups favour shared decision-making, especially when it comes to the playlist.
“Whether you’re behind the wheel, riding shotgun, or having an argument over the playlist, accidents can still occur. From unexpected weather and road conditions to distracted moments, it pays to have a car insurance policy in place. Comprehensive car insurance helps to protect drivers and passengers alike, helping give peace of mind that if the unexpected happens, you’re financially supported. After all, you might not control the road or the playlist, but having insurance is one thing you can control.”
Adrian Bennett
General Manager – General Insurance at iSelect
Written by:
Sarah Grealy
Digital Public Relations Specialist
0413 363 690
Sarah is our Digital Public Relations Specialist, and brings more than a decade of experience in the insurance comparison industry to iSelect.
With a passion for storytelling through data-driven insights, Sarah strives to empower Aussies with practical guides and tips.
About the data
iSelect commissioned PureProfile to conduct this survey in February 2026, with 1,104 respondents across Australia, 1,020 respondents across America and 1,005 respondents across Canada. Some percentages have been adjusted to factor in rounding.
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About 
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