Seat belts: the law
When you do not need to wear a seat belt
You do not need to wear a seat belt if you鈥檙e:
- a driver who is reversing, or supervising a learner driver who is reversing
- in a vehicle being used for police, fire and rescue services
- a passenger in a trade vehicle and you鈥檙e investigating a fault
- driving a goods vehicle on deliveries that is travelling no more than 50 metres between stops
- a licensed taxi driver who is looking for customers either by being hailed in the street or by waiting at a taxi rank (known as 鈥榩lying for hire鈥�)
- a licensed taxi driver or a driver of a private hire vehicle who is carrying passengers
Private hire vehicles include minicabs, chauffeur services or limousines.
Medical exemptions
Your doctor may say you do not have to wear a seat belt for a medical reason. They鈥檒l give you a 鈥楥ertificate of Exemption from Compulsory Seat Belt Wearing鈥�. You must:
- keep this in your vehicle
- show it to the police if you鈥檙e stopped
You鈥檒l also need to tell your car insurer.
Talk to your doctor for more information and read 鈥榤edical exemptions from compulsory seat belt wearing鈥�.
Wearing a seat belt while pregnant
You must wear a seat belt if you鈥檙e pregnant, unless your doctor says you do not have to for medical reasons.
Wearing a seat belt if you鈥檙e disabled
You must wear a seat belt if you鈥檙e a disabled driver or passenger, unless you do not have to for medical reasons. You may need to adapt your vehicle.