We all love to adventure and explore. For those lucky enough to be able to journey abroad with their kids, travel can provide exciting experiences and create cherished memories which last a lifetime.
But, as with any holiday, safety should always be a consideration. If you’re hiring a rental car, or taking your own overseas, brushing up on the local car seat rules is a must.
That’s why parents and legal guardians travelling abroad may want to learn more about the laws of the country they’re holidaying in. Thinking about taking a trip with the little ones in the near future? Our comprehensive global map will let you know the child car seat dos and don’ts for everywhere and anywhere you might travel.
Quick Pullouts:
*Disclaimer*: While the law is different in every country, we encourage all parents and legal guardians to take the necessary steps to keep their children safe when driving. As a rough guideline, that means using the following types of seat:
Babies (0-2) – Rear-facing
Toddlers (3-4) – Forward-facing
Younger children (5-8) – Booster seats
Older children (9-12) – Backless booster seats
Understanding different child car seats and their safe usage in Australia
Now that you know what rules to follow for your destination, it’s time to brush up on which seats are best for your kids. Remember – even in countries where no official laws exist, it’s always smart (and safer) for young kids to be buckled into a child seat during journeys. In this section we’ll look at the different types of seat available, as well as help you brush up on some general safety tips.
What kinds of car seats should I use for a child?
As every parent knows, little ones sprout up quickly. And as wonderful as it is to see them grow, that does also mean having to regularly change their car seat. There are four main seat options that parents should know about, depending on your child’s age and size:
Rear-facing car seats
Best for infants during the first few years of their lives, these seats offer protection for a child’s head, back, and spine. They can be attached in either the front passenger seat or rear of your vehicle, and usually work for kids as old as four.
Forward-facing car seats
As they continue to grow, a child can be placed in a forward-facing seat. For this to work, they need to be able to sit tall and straight, without moving. That’s why forward-facing car seats are generally only for toddlers and up. Kids who fit into this range tend to be anywhere from three to six years of age, but the exact specifications will depend on their weight and height.
Booster seats
Next comes the booster seat. These allow for a child to sit in the back of a vehicle, with the booster making it easier for them to be safely attached via the car's actual seat belts. Big kids can sometimes put up a fight when asked to sit in a booster, so try to make it feel like a fun or special chair for them, rather than a chore.
Seat belts
Last but not least, kids will eventually grow enough to use the regular seat belts in a car. If you’re confused about whether the seat belt fits a child properly, make sure to carry out the full seat belt test.
The age, height, and weight at which each of these seats needs to be used will change, depending on the country you’re in. That’s why our handy map exists to help you know what rules to follow.
Car seat rules in Australia
Just like most countries, parents and legal guardians in Australia are expected to follow specific guidelines designed to keep their little ones safe. The way that a child is allowed to travel in a vehicle will change depending on their age and height.
So, whether you’re in Melbourne or Darwin, Brisbane or Perth, If you want to make sure you’re protecting children properly when on the open road, keep the following rules in mind:
0-6 months. Very small children need to be seated in a rear-facing child seat, which securely fastens them in without the ability to wriggle out.
6 months to 4 years. At this age, kids can move into a forward-facing seat. This should be secured with an in-built harness.
4+ years. Children can be seated in a booster seat when they reach the age of four. This should make it possible for them to be safely strapped in using the regular seatbelts in your vehicle.
145cm or taller. This is the recommended height at which a child can use a regular seatbelt without the help of any support system.
If you’re ever unsure about whether a seat is the right fit for a child, make sure to check the manufacturer specifications for more info. Other rules to remember are:
Children under four cannot travel in the front of a vehicle with two or more rows of seats
All children aged between four and seven need to be seated in either a forward-facing or booster seat.
If a child is still too small (shorter than 145cm) to ride in a regular seatbelt by the age of 16, it’s recommended they continue to use a booster seat.
National guidelines
The Australian Government has highlighted a number of important safety tips for ensuring little ones are kept safe during car journeys. Their top guidelines to keep in mind are:
The fit is what matters most. The laws around proper child seat usage are very important – but what means more than anything is how snuggly your child fits in their seat. They need to be securely fastened for any booster or support system to work effectively.
Follow the instructions. One of the best ways to make sure little ones are properly strapped in is to closely follow all instructions given on manufacturer labels. These are your port of call for understanding what needs to be done to keep your child safely strapped in.
Buckle up. No matter how old you are, it’s always advised to wear your seatbelt while in a moving vehicle. This can have a huge impact in the unlikely event of getting into an accident.
The back seat. It’s always safer for a child under the age of 12 to travel in the back of a vehicle, whenever possible.
Don't accessorise. If an accessory isn’t included as part of the seat, don’t add one on. While these might mean well, they could compromise the effectiveness and safety of the seat itself. If the manufacturer itself has recommended an additional unit, you might be able to make an exception.
Get it regularly checked. You can have your seatbelts and child seat systems checked by an accredited restraint installer. This might cost a small fee, but will provide an immense level of peace of mind knowing your little one’s seat system is fully functional.
Type labelling for universal use
Not all seats fit safely into every car or van. Knowing whether or not one will work for yours depends on its label. Here are what the three different types of label mean:
Universal approval | Semi-universal approval | Vehicle-specific approval |
|---|---|---|
Labels that are universal can be used in any car. | If a model is semi-universal, you’ll need to check your car’s manual to see if the seat will fit. | These seats can only be used in certain vehicles. |
These ratings will be easy to spot on the orange label that’s included on any seats. Fingers crossed your seat is universally approved. If it isn’t, you may need to do a little bit of research to see if it’s safe for your car.
Australian road safety and car seat statistics
While the Australian Government has implemented a 10-year national road safety strategy to reduce the number of fatal collisions on roads across the country, evidence suggests that not all parents are aware of what needs to be done to keep their little ones safe from harm.
This plan was prompted by a number of figures from 2019, which showed just 3% of Aussie parents knew that a child shouldn’t ride in a regular car seat until they’re at least 145cm in height – with many kids being taken out of the proper child seat for their size much earlier than they should be.
The biggest offending group was parents of those aged 7-to-11, where many children were being taken out of booster seats before it was safe to do so. Just 27% of kids in the bracket were found to be travelling using the safest practice methods, with the numbers showing that too many were making the transition to a regular car seat prematurely:
7-year-olds – 35% (of all kids used regular seat belts)
8-year-olds – 56%
9-year-olds – 77%
10-year-olds – 85%
11-year-olds – 93%
As well as this, 47% of all kids aged between seven and 12 were found to travel in the front seat regularly.
Despite this awareness and the enforcement of the proposed 10-year plan, there’s still a gulf between the envisioned end goal and contemporary figures. In 2024, as many as 1,300 people were killed on Australian roads. That represented an increase from the 2023 figure of 1,258, as well as charting as a 12-year high.
The states which experienced the largest year-on-year increases were:
Queensland – 9% (increase in fatal accidents)
Western Australia – 17%
The Northern Territory – 87%
The ACT – 175%
In order to reduce the impact on young children, it’s hugely important for parents and guardians to make sure their little ones are placed securely in the correct seat for their age, height, and weight. Doing this can have a profound impact on the severity of any accident you get into.
Child seat safety tips
A child car seat won’t do much good if a little one isn’t properly strapped in. To make sure a seat is protecting a child as it should, keep these handy tips in mind:
Choosing the best seat type
With so many options to choose between, it might be tricky to work out what’s best for your child. Make sure to know their weight and height when looking for one – as well as brushing up the rules of any foreign country you’re visiting.
Watch your child’s positioning
If a child can wiggle around, or doesn’t seem supported in their seat, it could be that they’re too small for it. Also watch for where the seat belt rests on older children. It needs to be across the chest and on the bony part of their shoulders, rather than behind their back or under their arm.
Check expiration dates
Strange as it sounds, child car seats can expire. You can find this date on the orange label that comes with the seat, or in the instruction manual that was in the box with it.
Check online tutorials to be sure
Watching online tutorials explaining how to safely install the seat that you’re using can be a gamechanger. These step-by-step guides can sometimes be easier to understand than a text-heavy manual, as you’ll be able to watch them over and see exactly what the driver in the video is doing. Look for tutorials provided by the manufacturer or reputable sources.
When using the carrier outside the vehicle
Sometimes it’s easier to keep a child in their seat when moving them outside of a vehicle. This is perfectly safe, so long as you keep them securely buckled, never place them on a raised surface (where they could fall), and immediately take your little one out of the seat once it’s safe to do so at your end destination.
Don’t use non-approved accessories
You may find some brands include accessories to make a journey more comfortable for a child. Make sure you’re only attaching any that are officially licensed to be included on your seat. Unlicensed products could malfunction.
Do the seat belt fit test
It could be that you think your child is ready for a traditional seat belt. If so, this quick test will let you know if a child is ready for this big step or not:
