Legal regulations for child car seats
The law stipulates how and up to what age children must be secured when traveling in the car. Here you can read what you should pay attention to and what the consequences will be if you ignore them.
How are children allowed to ride in the car?
Up to a height of 150 cm and an age of 12 years, children must be secured in a suitable child seat when driving in the car. Larger children must also be secured so that the three-point belt fits and secures in the same way as adults. The respective booster seat must have belt hooks to prevent the waist belt from slipping up in the event of an accident. Child seats in all weight groups must always be suitable for the child’s weight and size, be mountable on the intended seat and be approved for the car. You can find everything about age and weight classes for child seats here .
When can a child ride without a child car seat?
If you are wondering when you can do without a child seat, the following rule applies: as soon as your child meets one of the two regulations – either over 12 years old or over 150 cm tall – a child seat is no longer required. Of course, as a parent, you decide when you want to take your child with you without a seat. For example, you could decide against it if your offspring is already over 12 years old, but the seat belt still does not fit optimally because your child is still too small.
The test seal on the child seat
When buying a child seat, parents should always pay attention to the orange test seal, which can usually be found on the side of the seat. Because every child seat must be officially approved. The test seal provides enough information in this regard, such as information on the weight class, the test standard and admissibility. You can find more detailed information on the test sticker in our article “The child seat test seal” .
The i-Size regulation for child car seats
Parallel to ECE regulation 44, according to which a child seat must be built in order to be approved throughout Europe, an alternative test standard called ECE-R 129, also known as i-Size, has been in effect since August 2013. The i-Size control is intended for child seats with an ISOFIX base and is intended to ensure greater safety when transporting the child. The directive states that children up to the age of 15 months must be restrained rearward facing .
This regulation also stipulates that the child seat may not be placed in the direction of travel for a baby weighing nine kilograms or more. The reason for these regulations was that babies were more often than average strapped into the child seat too early in the direction of travel. You can find more detailed information on the ECE-R 129 test standard in the article “What is i Size?” read.
Airbag identification
If your car has a passenger airbag, this must be marked with a warning sticker. If this is not the case, there is a risk of a fine of €5 if the sticker is missing. If you install a rear-facing child seat despite the “active” airbags, you must reckon with a fine of €25. In the event of damage, a violation can lead to a reduction in the damage claim.
The airbag can be switched off manually in many cars. However, you should first read in the vehicle manual whether and how to switch off the passenger airbag. It is also noted there whether a child seat is generally not permitted on the front passenger seat. In any case, the deactivated airbag should be checked again before every journey to avoid possible dangers for your child in the child seat.
Fines and points for security violations
Anyone who has only secured a child in the car with the adult seat belt must reckon with a fine of 30 euros, with several children even 35 euros. If children are transported completely unsecured , a fine of 60 euros for one child and a fine of 70 euros for several children and in both cases a point in Flensburg is due. In addition, 30 euros are due if the child seat used was not built according to the current test standard ECE-R 44/04 or ECE-R 44/03 and is not permitted, is therefore outdated, and if your child actually needs a child seat, but without a seat and only rides with you buckled up.