Child car seats and travelling by taxi, rideshare or bus

In Australia, there are laws about the use of child car seats in taxis, rideshare services and buses. These laws vary across states and territories.

Taxis: child car seats

If you’re using a taxi, it’s recommended that you take your own child car seat with you.

In some states, taxis can provide a car seat if you order it ahead of time. If the taxi provides a suitable and approved car seat, your child must use it.

In all states and territories of Australia except New South Wales, the following laws apply:

• Taxis must have at least one car seat anchorage point, although they don’t have to provide a car seat.
• Children under one year must travel in the back row of seats and must use a car seat if one is available.
• Children aged 1-7 years must travel in the back row of seats. If there’s no car seat, they must wear a properly fastened lap-sash adult seatbelt.
• Children under 12 years should travel in the back row of seats. If all the seats in the back row are full, the tallest child can sit in the front passenger seat.

In New South Wales:

• All wheelchair-accessible taxis must provide a car seat.
• Children under one year must use a car seat in a taxi.
• For children over one year, the laws listed above apply.

It’s always safest for your child to use a child car seat when travelling by taxi. Planning your journey ahead of time can help with this. You can search online for a taxi service that provides car seats. If you can’t find one, you should use your own car seat in the taxi. It’s best to let the taxi service know beforehand that this is what you plan to do.

Rideshare services: child car seats

In most states and territories, the laws that apply to private cars apply to rideshare services. This means all children under 7 years of age must sit in a child car seat that’s the right size and correctly installed, adjusted to fit and fastened.

Some rideshare services offer car seats for an extra fee. If you use a service that doesn’t provide car seats, you should use your own. If you need to travel with your child and don’t have a car seat, the service might refuse to transport you and your child.

In Queensland and Western Australia, the laws for taxis also apply to rideshare services.

Buses: child car seats

Buses are vehicles with more than 12 seats, including the driver. Children don’t have to use child car seats in buses, but it’s recommended that they do.

Buses aren’t required to have car seat anchorage points and don’t have to provide or install car seats. If you want your child to use a car seat on a bus, check that the bus has an anchorage point. You must also provide and install the car seat yourself.

Road rules for different vehicles in each state and territory might change over time. It’s a good idea to stay up to date with the road rules in your state or territory. This will ensure you and your child stay safe when travelling.