A system and method for identifying a type of vehicle occupant based on locations of a portable device that include receiving a plurality of communication signals from the portable device and evaluating received signal strength measurements of the plurality of communication signals to determine a tracking pattern that includes a tracked path of the portable device as a user approaches a vehicle, enters the vehicle, and is seated within a particular seat of the vehicle. The system and method also include identifying the user as a driver of the vehicle or a non-driving occupant of the vehicle based on the tracking pattern and controlling at least one vehicle system by executing vehicle settings associated with the driver of the vehicle and the non-driving occupant of the vehicle based on identifying the user as the driver of the vehicle or the non-driving occupant of the vehicle.