{"organism":"Page","children":[{"organism":"Container.Raw","children":[{"organism":"Metadata","model":{"title":"Kids’ car seat rules: age, safety & legal guidelines explained","text":"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!","links":[{"name":"Your guide to kids’ car seat rules","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules.html"}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/_jcr_content/root/metadata.shellimg.png/1744862733837/person-holding-a-child-in-a-car-seat.png","alt":"Father buckling son in car seat","width":3840,"height":2160},"date":"2025-04-17T12:30:00Z","tags":[{"name":"Vehicles","value":"vehicles:"},{"name":"Drive Well","value":"shell:business/business-customers/drive-well"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/metadata"},{"organism":"ContentOwner","model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/contentowner"},{"organism":"Container.Header","children":[{"organism":"Container.Raw","ref":"https://www.shell.com.au/_jcr_content/root/header/inherited.model.json","id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/header/inherited","model":{}},{"organism":"Breadcrumb","model":{"links":[{"name":"Home","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/"},{"name":"Motorists","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists.html"},{"name":"Go Well Content Hub","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists/go-well-content-hub.html"},{"name":"Your guide to kids’ car seat rules","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules.html"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/header/breadcrumb"}],"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/header","model":{}},{"organism":"Container.Main","children":[{"organism":"Container.Section","children":[{"organism":"PageHeader","color":"inherited","model":{"title":"Your guide to kids’ car seat rules","text":"\u003Cp\u003EConfused 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!\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","image":{"src":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/_jcr_content/root/main/section/page_header.shellimg.png/1744862758117/a-person-holding-a-child-in-a-car-seat.png","alt":"Father buckling son in car seat","width":3840,"height":960},"date":"2025-04-17T12:30:00Z"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/main/section/page_header"},{"organism":"Container","colspan":8,"children":[{"organism":"Author.Info","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_copy_copy/author","model":{"links":[{"name":"By Shell on April 17, 2025"}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/_jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_copy_copy/author.shellimg.png/1744686415602/shell-pecten.png","alt":"shell-pecten","width":2500,"height":1405}}},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","colspan":7,"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_copy_copy/text","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003ENavigating 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 our handy guide to kids’ car seat rules.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECar seat laws for kids\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAustralia’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!)\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHere’s a quick overview of the general car seat laws for children in Australia:​\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EUp to 6 months: \u003C/b\u003EChildren must be secured in an approved rearward-facing child car seat.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6 months to 4 years: \u003C/b\u003EChildren must be secured in either a rearward-facing or forward-facing approved child car seat with an inbuilt harness.​\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E4 to 7 years: \u003C/b\u003EChildren must be secured in a forward-facing approved child car seat with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat.​\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E7 years and older: \u003C/b\u003EChildren must use a booster seat or a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt once they are 145cm or taller.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKeeping kids safer\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 2021, \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https://neura.edu.au/news-media/media-releases/neura-and-kidsafe-australia-release-updated-national-child-restraint-guidelines\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENeuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA)\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E 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.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe 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.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe 5-Step Safety Test for seatbelt fit\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EKnowing 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 \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https://childroadsafety.org.au/cars/five-step-test/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E‘5-Step Safety Test’\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E. Take the test below to check if your child is ready to ride safely without a booster seat:\u003Cb\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Col\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBack against the seat\u003C/b\u003E: Does your child sit all the way back with their back flat against the seat?\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKnees bent at the edge\u003C/b\u003E: Do their knees bend naturally over the seat edge without slouching?\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELap belt position\u003C/b\u003E: Does the lap belt sit low across the hips and not on the stomach?\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EShoulder belt fit\u003C/b\u003E: Does the shoulder belt sit across the chest and collarbone, not the neck or arm?\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EComfortable and safe position\u003C/b\u003E: Can your child sit like this for the entire trip without slouching?\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ol\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cb\u003E3 FAQs on kids’ car seats\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E1. At what age do kids not need a car seat?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA 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.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2. When to turn a baby car seat forward in Australia?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 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.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E3. At what age can kids sit in the front seat?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA child \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https://www.shine.com.au/resources/motor-vehicle-law/car-seat-laws-australia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eaged seven\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E 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.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAlways do your research\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHowever, 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.\u003C/p\u003E\n"}},{"organism":"PageTags","model":{"tags":[{"name":"Vehicles","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/tag-search.html?tag=vehicles%3A"},{"name":"Drive Well","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/tag-search.html?tag=shell%3Abusiness%2Fbusiness-customers%2Fdrive-well"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_copy_copy/page_tags_copy"},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_copy_copy/text_copy_copy_copy_","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Csub\u003EDisclaimer\u003C/sub\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 9.75px; vertical-align: sub;\"\u003E\u003Csup\u003EViva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.\u003C/sup\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n"}}],"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_copy_copy","model":{}},{"organism":"Container","colspan":4,"children":[{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_996584123_cop/text","model":{"title":"You may also be interested in"}},{"organism":"Author.Info","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_996584123_cop/author_copy_copy_cop","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EBy Shell on March 13, 2025\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","links":[{"name":"A guide to Australia’s best family cars","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/a-guide-to-australias-best-family-cars.html"}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/_jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_996584123_cop/author_copy_copy_cop.shellimg.png/1744686786213/shell-pecten.png","alt":"Shell Pecten","width":2500,"height":1405}}},{"organism":"Author.Info","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_996584123_cop/author_copy_copy_cop_1027702471","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EBy Shell on February 13, 2025\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","links":[{"name":"5 easy tips to keep the family car (actually!) clean","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/five-tips-for-family-car-cleaning.html"}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/_jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_996584123_cop/author_copy_copy_cop_1027702471.shellimg.png/1744686811188/shell-pecten.png","alt":"Shell Pecten","width":2500,"height":1405}}},{"organism":"Author.Info","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_996584123_cop/author_copy_copy_cop_1812694552","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EBy Shell on April. 18, 2024\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","links":[{"name":"Tips for a screen-free family road trip","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/tips-for-a-screen-free-family-road-trip.html"}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/_jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_996584123_cop/author_copy_copy_cop_1812694552.shellimg.png/1744686834290/shell-pecten.png","alt":"Shell Pecten","width":2500,"height":1405}}}],"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_996584123_cop","model":{}}],"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/main/section","model":{}}],"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/main","model":{}},{"organism":"Container.Footer","children":[{"organism":"Breadcrumb.Large","model":{"links":[{"name":"Home","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/"},{"name":"Motorists","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists.html"},{"name":"Go Well Content Hub","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists/go-well-content-hub.html"},{"name":"Your guide to kids’ car seat rules","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules.html"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/footer/breadcrumb"},{"organism":"Container.Raw","ref":"https://www.shell.com.au/_jcr_content/root/footer/inherited.model.json","id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/footer/inherited","model":{}}],"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules/jcr_content/root/footer","model":{}}],"id":"/conf/shell/settings/wcm/templates/base/structure/jcr_content/root","model":{}}],"model":{"title":"Your guide to kids’ car seat rules","text":"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!","date":"2025-04-17T12:30:00Z","links":[{"name":"canonical","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules.html"},{"name":"errorUrl","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/error.html"},{"name":"hierarchy","value":"en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules"},{"name":"homeTitle","value":"Shell Australia"},{"name":"homeUrl","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/"},{"name":"locale","value":"en-AU"},{"name":"title","value":"Your guide to kids’ car seat rules | Shell Australia"},{"name":"textDirection","value":"ltr"},{"name":"template","value":"base"},{"name":"contentPath","value":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/motorists/go-well-content-hub/your-guide-to-kids-car-seat-rules"},{"name":"externalDisclaimerText","value":"Shell plc Legal Disclaimer\r\nYou are now leaving the Shell website.\r\nThe link you have selected will direct you to a website that is not controlled by Shell plc or any member of the Shell Group. 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