Your Guide To Child Car Seat Rules

Confused about child car seat laws? Our handy guide covers everything you need to know, from when to switch to a forward-facing seat to the right age for kids to sit in the front. Stay informed and keep your little ones safe on the road!

Navigating baby and child restraint laws can be overwhelming for parents. Even if you have a big tribe and have installed multiple kids’ car seats in your parenting tenure to date, it can be easy to forget the answers to commonly asked questions. When do you turn your baby from rear-facing to forward-facing? At what age can kids sit in the front seat? We break down all the important information you need to know in this handy guide to kids’ car seat rules.

Car seat laws for kids

Australia’s national child restraint laws state that children under seven years old must be secured in an appropriately fitted child restraint seat. Meanwhile, children aged seven years or older are required to sit in a forward-facing kids’ booster seat. A child can only use an adult lap-sash seatbelt when they are 145cm or taller, or they have taken the 5-Step Safety Test (more on that below!)

Here’s a quick overview of the general car seat laws for children in Australia:​

Up to 6 months: Children must be secured in an approved rearward-facing child car seat.
6 months to 4 years: Children must be secured in either a rearward-facing or forward-facing approved child car seat with an inbuilt harness.​
4 to 7 years: Children must be secured in a forward-facing approved child car seat with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat.​
7 years and older: Children must use a booster seat or a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt once they are 145cm or taller.

Keeping kids safer

In 2021, Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and Kidsafe Australia launched the Best Practice Guidelines for the Safe Restraint of Children Travelling in Motor Vehicles. The guidelines aim to keep children up to 16 as safe as possible when travelling in vehicles.

The guidance importantly talks to the commonly asked question, ‘What happens if a suitable child car seat is not available?’ The advice is that children should use their child restraint or booster seat when travelling in rideshares (e.g. Uber) and rental cars, as well as taxis.

The 5-Step Safety Test for seatbelt fit

Knowing when your child is ready to move out of their booster seat and into an adult car seat can be assessed via a helpful road safety test called the ‘5-Step Safety Test’. Take the test below to check if your child is ready to ride safely without a booster seat:

Back against the seat: Does your child sit all the way back with their back flat against the seat?
Knees bent at the edge: Do their knees bend naturally over the seat edge without slouching?
Lap belt position: Does the lap belt sit low across the hips and not on the stomach?
Shoulder belt fit: Does the shoulder belt sit across the chest and collarbone, not the neck or arm?
Comfortable and safe position: Can your child sit like this for the entire trip without slouching?

Three FAQs on kids’ car seats

1. At what age do kids not need a car seat?

A child must be 145cm or taller when they are no longer required to sit in a kids’ car seat. Take the 5-Step Test above to see if your child is ready to ride without a booster seat.

2. When to turn a baby car seat forward in Australia?

In Australia, infants under six months must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint, which provides better head and neck support in serious frontal crashes. From six months onward, they can transition to a forward-facing restraint.

3. At what age can kids sit in the front seat?

A child aged seven and above may sit in the front seat provided all other seats are occupied by children younger than seven years old. The largest child should sit in the front in an approved restraint or booster.

Always do your research

However, while these laws provide a baseline, some states and territories may have additional regulations. So, to ensure compliance and the safety of your child, be sure to consult the relevant transport authority in your state or territory for the most accurate and up-to-date information.