When driving with children, safety is paramount. In Australia, the law requires children to be secured in an appropriate car seat or booster seat based on their age, weight, and height. Each state and territory follows these national guidelines with some local variations, and these rules extend to vehicles like 4WDs.
If you are hiring a 4WD in Perth, Broome or Darwin, whether it be for camping 4WD hire or caravan hire, you should check with your hirer that they can provide the right seating for your child.
Below is a detailed guide to understanding the car seat requirements across Australia.
National Car Seat Rules for Children in Australia
In Australia, the law mandates that all children under the age of 7 must use an appropriate car restraint. The car seat requirements are based on a child’s age, height, and weight. The goal is to ensure that children are properly restrained in the safest possible way as they grow.
Infants (Birth to 6 Months)
For infants under 6 months, a rearward-facing child restraint is required. These seats provide the best protection for a newborn’s fragile body in the event of a crash. The child must remain in a rearward-facing car seat until they reach the weight limit specified by the car seat manufacturer, typically around 9 kilograms.
Age: Birth to 6 months
Height and Weight: Must fit within the limits of the rearward-facing car seat, typically up to 9 kg (check car seat manufacturer’s guidelines).
Toddlers (6 Months to 4 Years)
From 6 months to 4 years, children must be in either a rearward-facing or forward-facing child seat with an internal harness system. A forward-facing seat is typically used when the child outgrows the rearward-facing seat, but the harness system should continue to be used for optimal safety.
Age: 6 months to 4 years
Height and Weight: Rearward-facing seats can be used until the child exceeds 9 kg and 70 cm. Forward-facing seats are used once a child exceeds these limits but should continue to use the internal harness system until around 18 kg or 4 years of age.
Preschoolers (4 to 7 Years)
For children aged 4 to 7, a forward-facing car seat with a harness or a booster seat is required. A forward-facing seat should be used until the child exceeds the weight or height limits of the seat (usually around 18 kg). If they have outgrown the harnessed car seat, a booster seat should be used.
Age: 4 to 7 years
Height and Weight: Forward-facing harnessed seats are used up until around 18 kg or 105 cm. After that, a booster seat is required until the child reaches 145 cm.
Booster Seats for Children (7 to 16 Years)
Children aged 7 years and older but under 16 years must use a booster seat if they are under 145 cm in height. This helps to ensure that the car’s seatbelt fits properly over the child’s lap and shoulder. If the child reaches 145 cm, they can use the regular adult seatbelt.
Age: 7 to 16 years (until 145 cm)
Height and Weight: A child must be under 145 cm to use a booster seat. Once they reach 145 cm, they can switch to an adult seatbelt.
State-Specific Car Seat Requirements
While the national guidelines apply across Australia, each state may have slight variations in enforcement and penalties. For example, in WA, children must remain in a car seat until they are 7 years old, while some other states allow children to transition to a booster seat earlier if they meet the height and weight requirements.
4WD Car Seat Requirements
When travelling in a 4WD vehicle, the car seat laws remain the same, but additional safety considerations apply. 4WD vehicles often have different configurations, such as higher seats, third-row seating, or no anchorage points for car seats. It’s crucial to ensure the seat is installed correctly, especially for rearward-facing seats. Always check that the seat meets Australian Standards (AS/NZS 1754) and is suitable for your 4WD model.
Crikey Camperhire 4WD vehicles can accommodate up to 3 Australian standard-compliant child seats. Right-Child_Right-Restraint_Right_Time.pdf
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Failure to use the correct child restraint can result in significant fines and demerit points across all Australian states. For example, in WA, the penalty is $550 and four demerit points. Furthermore, using the wrong car seat compromises a child’s safety, increasing the risk of injury or death in an accident.
Hire from a Reputable Provider
Reputable 4×4 camper hire providers, such as Crikey Camper Hire, should always have suitable car seats and booster seats available. All 4WD camper hire and caravan hire rentals from Crikey come with the option to add a Child Seat, Infant Capsule or Booster Seat for just $40 per hire.
Don’t let children stop you from travelling our great state, and hire a camper or caravan with a legally compliant booster or infant seat for your next escape from Crikey today!
