Child Car Seats in Taxis: UK Rules and How to Book One

Car seats in taxis confuse a lot of parents. The rules in your own car are strict, then you hear that taxis are exempt, and it is hard to know what that really means at the kerb with a toddler, a pushchair and a flight to catch. This guide sets out what UK law says about child car seats in taxis and minicabs, how the rules change with your child’s age, where a child can sit, and how to book a taxi with the right child and booster seats arranged before your pickup.

Car seats in taxis: the UK rules at a glance

The rules below come from the GOV.UK guidance on child car seats. They apply to licensed taxis and to minicabs, the everyday name for private hire cars like ours. If you are not sure of the difference, our guide to taxi vs private hire explains it.

The rules can change, so check GOV.UK before you travel.

Do you need a car seat in a taxi?

Not always, legally. In your own car, a child under 12 and under 135cm must use the correct child car seat. In a taxi or minicab, a child can travel without one when all three of these apply:

• the vehicle is a licensed taxi or minicab;
• the driver does not provide the correct child car seat;
• the child travels on a rear seat.

The exception exists because a taxi cannot carry the right seat for every age and size of child on every journey. It is not a judgement that travelling without a seat is safe. A child seat that fits your child is the safest way to travel in a taxi, just as it is in your own car, so plan for one rather than relying on the exception.

Can a baby travel in a taxi without a car seat?

Legally, yes, but only on a rear seat and only if the driver does not provide the correct seat. A child under 3 then travels without a seat belt. A baby must never travel in the front of a taxi without the correct child car seat.

Two points matter here. Only one person is allowed in each seat fitted with a seat belt, so never put one belt round yourself and your baby. And young babies are safest facing backwards: height-based seats must stay rear-facing until a child is over 15 months old.

For a newborn or young baby, many parents prefer to bring their own infant carrier, because they know it fits their child and they already know how to fit it. If you plan to do that, tell us when you book and allow a few minutes at pickup to fit it.

Booster seats in taxis for older children

From age 3 until 12 or 135cm, a child can use an adult seat belt on a rear seat if the driver does not provide the correct seat. A booster still helps the adult belt sit properly across a child’s body, which is why it is worth asking for one.

There are two kinds: high-backed booster seats, and booster cushions without a back. Manufacturers can now only make booster cushions approved for group 3, which starts at 22kg. Existing group 2 cushions can still be used.

Which child seat does my child need?

Child car seats are chosen by height or by weight. Check the label: height-based seats show a capital E in a circle and R129, and weight-based seats show a capital E in a circle and ECE R44.

When you book with us, your child’s age is the most useful detail, plus height or weight if they are small or tall for their age. A baby carrier, a toddler seat and a booster are different seats, and the age helps us arrange the right one or tells you whether to bring your own.

Can a child sit in the front seat of a taxi?

Only with the correct child car seat for their height or weight. The taxi exception covers rear seats only, so in the front the normal rules apply. If a rear-facing baby seat is fitted in a front seat, the front airbag must be switched off first.

In practice, children travel in the back, away from the front airbag. If there is no room for a third child seat in the back, a child can sit in the front in the correct child seat, or a child aged 3 or older can sit in the back with an adult belt. For families with two or more children in seats, choosing a vehicle with room for everyone matters: our airport taxi vehicle size guide compares the options.

Who is responsible for children’s seat belts in a taxi?

The driver. Under The Highway Code, drivers must make sure all children under 14 wear seat belts or sit in an approved child restraint where required. That is why a taxi driver may check how your children will travel before setting off. Passengers aged 14 and over are responsible for wearing their own seat belt, and GOV.UK’s seat belt rules have the full details.

How to book a taxi with a child seat

Ask when you book, not on the day. Camberley Cars carries families from Camberley, Frimley, Sandhurst, Yateley and nearby towns around the clock, and these steps make sure the right seats are ready:

1. Tell us how many children and their ages. Add them as a special requirement on the booking form, or mention them on the phone, and we arrange the right child or booster seats for your pickup.
2. Give as much notice as possible. It matters most for early-morning airport runs and for more than one seat.
3. Count every child as a passenger, babies included, so the vehicle has a seat for everyone.
4. Bringing your own seat? Say so. Tell us the type, for example an ISOFIX seat or one fitted with the seat belt, and allow a few minutes at pickup to fit it.
5. Mention pushchairs and spare seats as luggage if they go in the boot, so the vehicle has room for your cases too.

A saloon or MPV takes up to 4 passengers. For bigger families and groups, our 8 and 12-seater minibus taxis also take child and booster seats on request.

Child seats on airport transfers

Airport runs need the most planning. If you bring your own seat for the journey to the airport, it goes on holiday with you, so check your airline’s rules for car seats. If you would rather not carry seats, request child seats for both journeys when you book: your outbound airport transfer and your return pickup. Give us your inbound flight number and we track your flight, so your driver follows the actual landing time.

Our guide to the best taxi for family airport travel has more tips for families flying with children.

Child seats in taxis FAQs

Do you need a car seat in a taxi in the UK?

Not always. In a licensed taxi or minicab, if the driver does not provide the correct child car seat, a child can travel without one on a rear seat: with an adult seat belt from age 3, or without a belt under 3. A correct child seat is still the safest way to travel.

Can a baby travel in a taxi without a car seat?

Legally, yes, but only on a rear seat and only if the driver does not provide the correct seat. A baby must never travel in the front without the correct child car seat, and one seat belt must never be shared. A rear-facing baby seat is the safest option.

Do taxis have car seats?

Taxis and minicabs do not have to carry child seats, so never assume one will be in the car. Some firms provide them on request. With Camberley Cars, child and booster seats are available on request: tell us the number and ages of the children when you book.

Do you need a booster seat in a taxi?

Not legally, if the taxi does not provide one: a child aged 3 or older can use an adult seat belt on a rear seat. A booster helps the adult belt fit a child properly, so it is worth asking for one when you book.

Can a child sit in the front seat of a taxi?

Only in the correct child car seat for their height or weight, because the taxi exception covers rear seats only. If a rear-facing baby seat goes in the front, the front airbag must be switched off.

Can I bring my own car seat in a taxi?

Yes. Bringing your own seat is often the easiest option, especially for babies. Tell us the type of seat when you book and allow a few minutes at pickup to fit it.

Do the same rules apply in a minicab or an app-booked car?

Yes. The GOV.UK exception covers licensed taxis and minicabs, and minicabs are private hire vehicles. Cars booked through ride-sharing apps are usually licensed private hire vehicles too, so the same rules apply.

Who is responsible for a child’s seat belt in a taxi?

The driver must make sure children under 14 wear a seat belt or sit in an approved child restraint where required. Passengers aged 14 and over are responsible for their own seat belt.

Does a taxi driver have to wear a seat belt?

Not while carrying passengers. GOV.UK lists licensed taxi drivers and private hire drivers who are carrying passengers among the exceptions to the seat belt rules. Passengers still need to wear theirs.