Backseat Rally multiplayer has two different choices: share one car with a Co-Driver, or enter a Multiplayer Race with several cars. Use co-driver mode when one player should drive and another should call the route. Use RACES when the group wants to compete in the same event. For pace-note responses once the team is seated, follow the driving and Co-Driver guide.
Choose the right multiplayer mode
| Mode | Players do | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Co-Driver | The Driver controls the car while the passenger calls upcoming corners, jumps, and dangers. | Learning stages or running a coordinated two-player rally. |
| Multiplayer Race | A host creates a race and other players join as competitors. | Comparing runs with friends in separate cars. |
| AI Co-Driver | The AI occupies the co-driver role and reads the pace notes. | Solo practice while waiting for a friend or learning call timing. |
The two systems are not interchangeable: joining a passenger seat does not automatically create a multi-car race, and hosting a race does not document a shared passenger arrangement for every entrant.
Set up a friend as co-driver
The driver should prepare the car before sending the invitation:
- Press C to open MY GARAGE.
- Select an available car and press Enter for Next.
- On the CO-DRIVER page, select INVITE.
- Choose the friend under Players in this server and select Spawn + invite. The friend must be in the server list.
- Have the invited player press O to accept.
If the friend is not in the server list, invite them into the server first with the Invite friends tile. A player can also join as a passenger by approaching another vehicle and pressing E, or by using PLAY → CO-DRIVE when that option is available.
Before driving to a stage, verify the result rather than relying only on the invitation card. Look for the notification that the player is now the co-driver and check that they are actually in the passenger seat. An invitation marked busy right now indicates the other player is occupied; it is not documented as a separate rejection state.
Use an open seat or AI partner
On the CO-DRIVER page, choose LEAVE SEAT OPEN to let another player enter through the passenger door. You must generate the car first. Until a person joins, the AI can read the route over the intercom.
For a solo session, choose AI CO-DRIVER instead. This keeps the call-and-response part of the rally available, but the driver still controls acceleration, steering, and braking. Check your game audio and voice-chat settings before a friend run: a muted or quiet passenger can make the route calls easy to miss.
Set up a co-driver for a shared Backseat Rally stage
This moment supports the co-driver section by showing how the passenger calls directions the driver cannot see and noting the AI co-driver option.
Start the shared stage
Once the crew is seated, use the normal stage start sequence:
- Drive into the marked START BOX.
- Stop completely and wait for START STAGE.
- Press Enter and wait through the countdown.
- The Driver accelerates and steers; the Co-Driver calls the upcoming route.
If the screen still says STOP IN THE START BOX, the stage has not reached its start state. Move back into the box rather than expecting the AI to begin calling. The available evidence does not establish a separate multiplayer start rule, so use the same start confirmation for a shared car as for a solo run.
Host a multiplayer race
To create a multi-car event, use the driver's seat at Pine Forest:
- Stop the car and press V to open RACES.
- Set Who can join to Everyone, Friends, or Invite only.
- Set Collisions to On or Off.
- Choose 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 racers.
- Choose a Class: Any, D, C, B, A, S, or Stock.
- Check the Entry fee display, then select HOST RACE.
Use the settings as a decision aid rather than leaving every option at its broadest value:
| Setting | What to choose | Practical effect |
|---|---|---|
| Who can join | Friends or Invite only for a private group | Limits access instead of opening the race to everyone |
| Collisions | Off when contact would disrupt the run | Reduces vehicle-to-vehicle interference |
| Racer count | Match the number of expected players | Sets a field size from 2 to 6 racers |
| Class | Any for mixed cars, or a specific class for a restriction | Entrants need a vehicle configuration that matches the selected class |
| Entry fee | Check the displayed value before hosting | Free means the shown configuration has no entry fee |
If you want a private friend race, Friends is the practical default. Use Invite only when the event should be limited to specifically invited players. Turn Collisions off when the group is testing pace rather than contact. When selecting a class, check the class of the current car configuration first; the evidence supports the class choices, but not a complete list of every vehicle's configuration.
Host a multiplayer race in Backseat Rally
This moment supports the race-hosting steps by showing a six-player race with collisions enabled being configured and hosted.
Join an open race
Open RACES and look under OPEN RACES, then select an available event. If the menu says No open races. Host one!, there is no currently listed public race to join, so create one with HOST RACE or ask a friend to host. The supplied evidence does not document whether Free Roam has a separate multiplayer-room system, player limit, or reward rule; do not assume those details from the race menu.
FAQ
How do I play Backseat Rally multiplayer with a friend?
Open MY GARAGE with C, choose a car, press Enter for CO-DRIVER, select INVITE, choose a player in the server, and select Spawn + invite. The friend accepts with O.
Can I play Backseat Rally with an AI co-driver?
Yes. Choose AI CO-DRIVER on the CO-DRIVER page after selecting a car. The AI reads pace notes while you remain responsible for driving.
How do I host a Backseat Rally multiplayer race?
At Pine Forest, stop in the driver's seat, press V to open RACES, configure access, collisions, racer count, class, and the displayed fee, then select HOST RACE. Review the stage guide to check route hazards before choosing the event.
Why can’t I find a race to join?
Check OPEN RACES. If it displays No open races. Host one!, no open event is currently listed. Host a race yourself or have a friend create one.
SourcesReviewed October 31, 2026
https://backseat-rally.wiki/co-driver-setup/
https://backseat-rally.wiki/races/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZqZBCcmEw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg8W5dEqB58
This guide uses the local co-driver and race references plus the supplied tutorial transcripts. They support the invitation flow, passenger and AI options, start-box sequence, and RACES settings. The available evidence does not establish a separate Free Roam multiplayer-room rule, a universal reward effect for multiplayer, or defaults that may change in-game.