Advice Centre

Holding Icon Child Seats Law

To improve car safety, new child car seat legislation was introduced in September 2006. Using a child seat helps to keep your child safe and protected in the car. If you do not have a child seat or booster seat for your child then they are at risk
Child Seats Law

Child Seats Law

Understanding The Law

Using a child seat helps to keep your child safe and protected in the car. If you do not have a child seat or booster seat for your child then they are at greater risk of injury should you have an accident.

Did you know?

  • Improved child car seat safety legislation was introduced in September 2006 to help keep children safe in the car
  • Drivers permitting passengers to occupy rear seat without wearing a seatbelt (under 17) or appropriate child restraint (introduced 25 August 2003) will face a fine of €90 (this figure is reduced to €60 if amount paid within 28 days)
  • While current legislation states that a third child can travel unrestrained when two occupied child restrained prevent fitment of a third, from May 2009 new legislation states that the third child MUST be seated with the correct child restraint
Age/Height Category Front seat Rear seat Who is responsible
Child up to 3 Correct child restraint MUST be used The child MUST use adult belt if the correct child restraint is not available in a private taxi Correct child restraint MUST be used The child MUST use adult belt if the correct child restraint is not available in a private taxi
 Driver
Children aged 3 or over and who are under 150cm and less than 36 kg ? (generally up to 12 yrs old) Where safety belts are fitted, the correct child restraint MUST be used when travelling in cars or goods vehicles Where safety belts are fitted, the correct child restraint MUST be used. The child must use adult belt if the correct child restraint is not available as follows:
  • In a private taxi;
  • Two occupied child restraints prevent fitment of a third (N.B. see above for latest legislation dated May 2009)
A child 3 years and over may travel unrestrained in the rear seat of a vehicle if seat belts are not fitted in the rear 		Driver
Children aged 12 or over and who are over 150cm and 36kg Seat belts MUST be worn if available Seat belts MUST be worn if available Driver
Passengers aged 14 years and over Seat belts MUST be worn if available Seat belts MUST be worn if available Driver
Passengers aged 17 and over Seat belts MUST be worn if available Seat belts MUST be worn if available Passenger

N.B.

  • Rear facing child seats must NEVER be used in the front passenger seat of cars with an active air bag.
  • With regards to the issue of short distance travel in an unexpected necessity - although there is no mention of this in Irish legislation, police have discretionary powers

View our range of child car seats

Choose The Right Child Car Seat

Choose your child seats carefully - we can help in-store.

Halfords has campaigned for improvements in child seat safety over the past five years to try and raise awareness and educate people

Read more in the Child Seat Buyer's Guide.

View our range of child car seats

Fitting Advice - Important

Once you buy your child car seat you need to make sure you fit it correctly.

Before you buy a child car seat, make sure you take a careful look at our Child Seat Buyer's Guide.

Or pop into your local Halfords store and our experts will fit your Halfords child seat free of charge or help you to fit it yourself, so you can drive away with complete peace of mind.

Find your nearest store.

View our range of child car seats.

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