Making car seat laws simple

Key car seat laws

• Seats must be rear-facing until a child is 15 months or older, after this they can use a forward-facing seat.
• All children must use a car seat until they turn 12 years old, or reach 135cm in height, whichever comes first. Children must then wear seat belts.
• This also applies to children with disabilities or medical conditions, but can be adapted for each child’s needs.
• The responsibility for the safety of children in a car lies with the driver, rather than the children’s parents.

Selecting a seat

You can choose a seat based on your child’s weight or height:

HEIGHT: Approved i-Size seats should have a capital ‘E’ in and ‘R129’ on their label

WEIGHT: Approved weight-based seats should have a capital ‘E’ and ‘ECE R44’ on their label

Only EU-approved seats can be used in the UK and should be checked regularly as the child grows.

Groups for seat weight:

Babies under 10kg should lie flat in a group 0 seat. This should be a rear-facing carrier or seat using a harness.

• Older babies, weighing 9 to 18kg can be seated in a rear or forward facing baby seat, using a harness or safety shield. This is group 1.
• Children weighing 15 to 25kg fit into group 2.
• Group 3 are seats for children 22 to 36kg.
• Both group 2 and 3 can be rear or forward facing seats, including high-backed booster seats or booster cushions using seat belts, harnesses or safety shields.

Before fitting the seat

• No matter what type of seat you opt for, it should be used with a diagonal strap.
• The only exceptions are seats designed for lap belts or fitted using ISOFIX anchor points.
• If your child is traveling in a rear-facing seat in the front passenger’s side, deactivate any surrounding airbags. Do not fit a car seat in side-facing seats.

When can a child travel without a car seat?

TAXIS AND CABS: If the driver doesn’t have a seat the child must sit in the rear. If three years or older they should use a seat belt or travel without a belt if younger.

BUSES AND COACHES: In coaches children can travel without a car seat or seat belt. In minibuses they must sit in the rear and use a seat belt if three years or older, or travel without a belt if younger.

UNEXPECTED JOURNEYS: A child under three cannot travel without a car seat unless it is in a licensed taxi or minicab. Again they must travel in the rear without a seat belt.

For a child aged three years or older they can use a seat belt if the journey is unexpected, necessary and over a short distance.

Contact us

For more information call Slater and Gordon Lawyers on 0330 107 6463 or contact us and we’ll call you.

All information was correct at the time of publication.