Official Rules of Shotgun Revealed

We all know the front passenger seat in a car is highly coveted, it isn’t just a spot, it’s a battleground. Whether for the extra legroom, the playlist control, or just the satisfaction of not being squished in the back, riding shotgun is serious business. 

And with summer finally here, so are the road trips, in fact our research shows that over a third of Brits are gearing up for a road trip at the moment. And before the journey begins, the real question we all want to know is who gets to ride shotgun?

Who Fights Most Over Shotgun?

According to Tempcover’s latest research, it’s causing serious drama. A quarter (26%) of us admit to heated arguments over front seat rights, with 42% refusing to get in the car if they don’t win. And siblings? Well they’re the worst offenders with nearly half (49%) fighting over shotgun rights. It’s not just the kids who want the top spot, with 30% of parents admitting to squabbling with their own children over the seat of power.

It seems that we Brits will pull out all the stops to claim it too, with 30% of us pretending to be helpful navigators and 28% faking travel sickness in order to ride shotgun. Now that’s dedication to the front seat.

Test Your Shotgun Skills

Think you know your Shotgun etiquette? Why not follow our Rules of Shotgun flow chart to decide whether you take the prestigious front seat, or the cheap seats in the back? 

The Official Rules of Shotgun

To keep the peace this summer, we’ve found the Official Rules of Shotgun, backed by nationwide research, so here’s what really counts:

1. Anyone with a physical need overrules ‘shotgun’ (height, weight, bad back etc)
2. The driver has final say and can overrule ‘shotgun’
3. The first person to call ‘shotgun’ gets the front seat
4. If two people call it at the same time, it’s up to the driver to decide
5. ‘Shotgun’ only lasts for one leg of the journey. It starts again for the return trip
6. ‘Shotgun’ is final – once called, you can’t recall it
7. The ‘shotgun’ winner must be ready to leave at the driver’s preferred time, otherwise ‘shotgun’ rights are withdrawn
8. You must be able to see the car to call ‘shotgun’
9. ‘Shotgun’ resets once people get out of the car (e.g. if you stop at a service station and then continue the journey)
10. Calling ‘shotgun’ more than a certain time before a journey makes it invalid e.g. more than 24 hours before

Heading off on a road trip this summer? 

Got road trip dreams but your car’s more snug than spacious? Join the club, nearly a fifth of Brits (17%) are switching things up and borrowing bigger cars to accommodate larger groups so the potential for car seat drama is higher than ever. Luckily Tempcover is here to help. Whether you're borrowing from a family friend or sharing the drive, Tempcover’s temporary car insurance makes it smooth sailing with fast, flexible policies which are perfect for summer getaways. So everyone gets a turn behind the wheel and riding shotgun.