Child car seats: the law

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1. Using a child car seat or booster seat

Children must normally use a child car seat until they鈥檙e 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first.

Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a seat belt.

You can choose a child car seat based on your child鈥檚 height or weight.

Height-based seats

Height-based seats are known as 鈥榠-Size鈥� seats. They must be rear-facing until your child is over 15 months old. Your child can use a forward-facing child car seat when they鈥檙e over 15 months old.

You must check the seat to make sure it鈥檚 suitable for the height of your child.

Only EU-approved height-based child car seats can be used in the UK. These have a label showing a capital 鈥楨鈥� in a circle and 鈥楻129鈥�.

Weight-based seats

The seat your child can use (and the way they must be restrained in it) depends on their weight.

Only EU-approved weight-based child car seats can be used in the UK. These have a label showing a capital 鈥楨鈥� in a circle and 鈥楨CE R44鈥�.

You may be able to choose from more than one type of seat in the group for your child鈥檚 weight.

Group Seats
0kg to 10kg 0 Lie-flat or 鈥榣ateral鈥� baby carrier, rear-facing baby carrier, or rear-facing baby seat using a harness
0kg to 13kg 0+ Rear-facing baby carrier or rear-facing baby seat using a harness
9kg to 18kg 1 Rear- or forward-facing baby seat using a harness or safety shield
15kg to 25kg 2 Rear- or forward-facing child car seat (high-backed booster seat or booster cushion) using a seat belt, harness or safety shield
22kg to 36kg 3 Rear- or forward-facing child car seat (high-backed booster seat or booster cushion) using a seat belt, harness or safety shield

Manufacturers can now only make booster cushions approved as group 3. This won鈥檛 affect any existing booster cushions in group 2 and you鈥檒l still be able to use them.

Fitting a child car seat

You must only use a child car seat if your car鈥檚 seat belt has a diagonal strap, unless the seat is either:

  • specifically designed for use with a lap seat belt
  • fitted using ISOFIX anchor points

You must also:

  • deactivate any front airbags before fitting a rear-facing baby seat in a front seat
  • not fit a child car seat in side-facing seats

The has information on how to choose a seat and travel safely with children in cars.

Children with disabilities or medical conditions

The same rules apply for children with disabilities or medical conditions, but they can use a disabled person鈥檚 seat belt or a child restraint designed for their needs.

A doctor can issue an exemption certificate if a child is unable to use a restraint or seat belt because of their condition.

2. When a child can travel without a car seat

A child aged 3 or older can travel in a back seat without a child car seat and without a seat belt if the vehicle doesn鈥檛 have one.

In most cases, children under 3 must always be in a child car seat.

The rules are different if:

  • the child is in a taxi or minicab
  • the child is in a minibus, coach or van
  • the child is on an unexpected journey, for example an emergency
  • there鈥檚 no room for another car seat

Taxis and minicabs (private hire vehicles)

If the driver doesn鈥檛 provide the correct child car seat, children can travel without one - but only if they travel on a rear seat:

  • and wear an adult seat belt if they鈥檙e 3 or older
  • without a seat belt if they鈥檙e under 3

Minibuses, coaches and vans

Minibus or coach drivers and companies don鈥檛 have to provide child car seats. You must provide your own if you want to make sure a child has one.

Coaches

Children can travel without a child car seat or seat belt, if they鈥檙e not available.

Minibuses

All children must travel in rear seats (any seats behind the driver) if a child car seat or an adult seat belt isn鈥檛 fitted.

Children aged 3 or older must:

  • use a child car seat if there鈥檚 one available in a minibus
  • use an adult seat belt if child car seats are not fitted or are unsuitable

Vans

The rules for vans are the same as for cars.

Unexpected journeys

If the correct child car seat isn鈥檛 available, a child aged 3 or older can use an adult seat belt if the journey is all of the following:

  • unexpected
  • necessary
  • over a short distance

You can鈥檛 take children under 3 on an unexpected journey in a vehicle without the correct child car seat, unless both of the following apply:

  • it鈥檚 a licensed taxi or minicab
  • the child travels on a rear seat without a seat belt

No room for a third child car seat

Children under 3 must be in a child car seat. If there鈥檚 no room for a third child car seat in the back of the vehicle, the child must travel in the front seat with the correct child car seat.

Children aged 3 or older can sit in the back using an adult belt.