Child Car Seat Regulations in the UK When Hiring a Car

Keeping everyone safe when out on the roads is always important, which is why the wearing of seatbelts is mandatory pretty much everywhere in the world. However, standard seatbelts in the UK have been designed for those at least 1m 35cm (about 4’5″) tall. 

This means they are not suitable for young children, which is why there are specific child car seat laws that must be followed when driving with young children in the UK. But given that the sizes of children covered by the regulations can be considerably different, knowing which car seat you should be using can be quite confusing, especially if you’re new to the country.

In this article, the team at UK Car and Van Rental will be telling you all you need to know about the child car seat regulations that you need to be aware of when hiring a car in the UK.

Which Children Need to Use a Car Seat in the UK?

Under UK law, children must use a suitable child car seat until they are either 12 years old or at least 1m 35cm tall, whichever comes first. However, you can’t just install your child into any available seat and hope for the best – you must use a particular size based on your child’s weight or height.

What are the Different Sizes of Child Car Seats?

There are two sets of standards in operation – one based on the weight of the child and the other based on its height. Both standards are currently equally safe and legal, but at some point in the future, the weight-based standard will be dropped – however, any existing seats will still be able to be used, there will just be no new ones manufactured and sold.

• Weight-based seats (R44)

To identify a legal child car seat in this category, check the label for a capital E in a circle with ‘ECE R44’.

• Height-based seats (i-Size, R129)

Introduced in 2013, and tested to a higher standard than the R44 seats, legal height-based seats can be identified by a label with a capital E in a circle with ‘R129’. These seats must be rear-facing until the child is at least 15 months old.

How Should a Child Car Seat be Fitted?

There are two ways in which a child car seat can be safely and legally fitted, either using diagonal seatbelts or with what are known as ISOFIX attachments. ISOFIX eliminates the need for using the car’s seatbelts and provides a rigid connection between the child seat and the vehicle for improved safety.

Please also note that if you are using a rear-facing baby seat in a front seat, you must deactivate any front airbags. You should also never fit a child car seat in a side-facing seat.

How Can UK Car & Van Rental Help with Car Seats?

Here at UK Car & Van Rental, we can help to remove any worries and keep your children safe by providing appropriate and legal child car seats with your MPV or car hire. Seats are available for all ages up to 12 years, with both ISOFIX and seatbelt enabled seats available.

If you would like to know more about child car seat rules in the UK and how they apply to your car rental or vehicle hire from UK Car & Van Rental, please get in touch with us. Otherwise, you can book your car hire online now.