HEIGHT AND AGE
12 years or 135 cm
GOV.UK says children must normally use a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first. After that, a seat belt.
Check a childWHAT THE RULES SAY
Buckled in right,
every journey.
A seat belt is built for an adult.
Check a child
12 YEARSor 135 cm
That is why UK rules keep children in a car seat or booster until they are 12 years old or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first. The driver is responsible, and the seat has to suit the child and the car.
At a glance
- Right seat for their size
- Fitted as the maker says
- Rear facing at first
- Three checks before you drive
135 cm
Height at which a child moves to a seat belt
Or their 12th birthday, whichever comes first. Children who are 12 or 13, or younger and over 135 cm, must wear a seat belt.
THE LIMIT · GOV.UK
> 60%
Child seats found incorrectly fitted
Of 763 seats inspected at 25 events in summer 2024, only 280 were judged safe. Problems ranged from a loose base to wrong belt routing and children facing forward too young.
SEAT CHECKS · WEST YORKSHIRE
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Clear limits,
tricky fitting.
One figure from the law,
one from real seat checks.
The checks were run by the West Yorkshire Vision Zero Partnership with Good Egg Safety CIC. GOV.UK says a driver can be fined up to £500 if a child under 14 is not in the correct car seat or wearing a seat belt.
A QUICK SEAT CHECK
Who is riding
in the back?
Pick a passenger to see what UK rules say they need. The bar shows how much restraint the rules require for that child.
Based on GOV.UK guidance and Highway Code rules 99 to 102 for cars and vans in Great Britain. General information, not legal advice.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Size first,
then the seat.
The law sets the limits.
Getting the fit right is up to the adult in the front.
General information only, not professional safety advice. If someone is in immediate danger, call the emergency services.
FITTING
Fit it the maker's way
The Highway Code says child restraints must be fitted to the manufacturer's instructions and suit the child. Most seats checked at one set of events were not.
See the numbers
BABIES
Rear facing to 15 months
Height-based seats must face backwards until a child is over 15 months old, and never in a front seat with an active airbag.
Before you drive
FOUR CHECKS TO MAKE
Two minutes,
every time.
These come straight from GOV.UK and the Highway Code. Most take less time than finding the right playlist.
Look for the approval label
UK-approved seats carry a capital E in a circle with R129 (height-based) or ECE R44 (weight-based).
Match the seat to the child
Check the seat's label covers your child's current height or weight, and move on when they outgrow it.
Fit it as the maker says
Follow the instructions for belt routing or ISOFIX, and use the car's diagonal belt unless the seat is designed otherwise.
Airbag off for rear-facing
Deactivate any front airbag before fitting a rear-facing baby seat in the front, and use child locks where fitted.
THE EXCEPTIONS
Taxis, emergencies
and a full back seat.
In a taxi or minicab without the right seat, children of 3 or older can sit in the back with an adult belt, and under-3s in the back without one. On an unexpected, necessary, short journey, a child of 3 or older can use an adult belt.
If there is no room for a third child seat in the back, a child under 3 must travel in the front in the correct seat, while a child of 3 or older can sit in the back with an adult belt. Minibus and coach operators do not have to provide child seats.
Questions
Questions people ask
When can my child stop using a car seat?
GOV.UK says children must normally use a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first. After that they must wear a seat belt.
Can a baby travel in the front seat?
Yes, in the correct seat, but any front airbag must be deactivated before you fit a rear-facing baby seat there. The Highway Code says an active airbag can cause serious injury or death to the child.
Who gets fined if a child is not belted in?
The driver. GOV.UK says you can be fined up to £500 if a child under 14 is not in the correct car seat or wearing a seat belt while you are driving.
What do R129 and R44 mean on a seat?
R129 marks a height-based seat and ECE R44 a weight-based one, each shown with a capital E in a circle. GOV.UK says only seats with these approval labels can be used in the UK.
Can I still use a booster cushion?
Yes, if it suits your child. GOV.UK says manufacturers can now only make booster cushions approved as group 3 (22 to 36 kg), but existing group 2 cushions can still be used.
Sources
Where the facts come from
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