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Travelling with children

When travelling with children in a commercial passenger vehicle, there are important restraint and seatbelt requirements you need to follow for their safety.

Under the Road Safety Rules 2017 (the rules), the requirements differ for infants under 12 months, and children aged between 1-6 years of age.

The requirements also differ for unbooked services (taxis offering rank and hail) and booked services (hire cars and rideshare vehicles).

Please read the requirements below for travelling with a child in a commercial passenger vehicle.

Unbooked vehicles (taxis)

Unbooked vehicles (taxis offering rank and hail services) aren’t required to carry child restraints such as capsules, child seats or booster seats.

If possible, it’s recommended that you take your child’s restraint or booster seat with you.  Unbooked vehicles must have at least one point where the straps of a child restraint or booster seat can be securely attached.

Under the Road Safety Road Rules 2017 (the rules), infants under 12 months old must be carried in the back seat of a taxi by the parent or accompanying adult.

Children aged 1 to 6 years of age must also travel in the back seat. They must be wearing their own properly fastened seat belt if no suitable child restraint or booster seat is available (but not sitting on someone's lap).

Booked vehicles (hire cars/rideshares)

The rules covering children travelling in booked vehicles such as hire cars and rideshares differ to taxis. They are the same as private cars.

This means that children up to 7 years of age must be secured in a restraint appropriate to the age and size of the child.

Children aged over 7 years must use either a booster seat or an adult seat belt.

Many hire car and ride share companies can provide a car seat upon request. Please contact the booking service provider of your choice for more information about their services suitable for children.

These points should be read in conjunction with the full Road Safety Road Rules 2017, available at the link below, relating to children travelling in vehicles.

Road Safety Road Rules 2017

For further information, please contact us.