What is the maximum number of people a car can carry?
3 Answers
A standard sedan is officially rated to carry five people, and exceeding this number constitutes overloading. The actual maximum seating capacity of a sedan depends on the interior space. If the cabin is sufficiently spacious, it can accommodate more individuals, with distinctions made between adults and minors. For non-road use, a typical sedan can fit approximately 8 adults, while larger compact or midsize SUV models may accommodate even more. Many manufacturers use this to demonstrate their vehicles' spaciousness. However, for road use, it is advisable to adhere to the vehicle's rated passenger capacity. For example, a 5-seater should carry no more than 5 people, and a 7-seater no more than 7. Article 55, Clause 1 of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law stipulates that passenger vehicles on highways must not exceed the rated passenger capacity, except for children exempt from tickets as per regulations. When the rated capacity is full, exempt children must not exceed 10% of the rated passenger count. The new traffic regulations explicitly state that for vehicles other than medium-sized or larger passenger/goods vehicles, school buses, or hazardous material transport vehicles, exceeding the speed limit by 50% to 70% will result in a 12-point penalty and possible license suspension upon first offense. Exceeding by 70% to 100% warrants a 12-point penalty and license revocation, while exceeding by over 100% incurs the same penalties. Sedans are generally 5-seaters, so legally, they can carry a maximum of 5 people.
Last week when my whole family went out, I realized there's really a lot to consider when it comes to car seating. Generally, a regular family car can only seat 5 people at most - squeezing in one more counts as overloading. Even in my SUV, fitting three adults in the back row feels cramped, and if we bring kids, the child safety seats take up even more space. A 7-seater business van can accommodate two extra people, but the last row becomes really uncomfortable for long rides. Once my friend got fined by traffic police because his minivan carried 8 construction workers when the vehicle registration clearly stated a capacity of 7. If you need to transport more people, it's better to honestly switch to a compliant vehicle - currently, those with 9 seats or fewer can still use blue license plates.
As someone who frequently organizes road trips with friends, I strongly recommend adhering to the manufacturer's designated seating capacity. Last time I drove an MPV with 7 people on a long-distance trip, the car noticeably felt unstable during turns, and the chassis made noises over speed bumps. After checking the information, I learned that overloading not only increases braking distance but also causes significant damage to the suspension. A special reminder: even if a child is held in arms, they still count as a passenger, and an infant car seat also occupies a seat. If you really need to transport more people, it's better to rent a Coaster—those 19-seaters can even use the highway green lane.
