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In the UK, the car seat laws are clear. Children must use a child car seat until they are at least 12 years old or 135 cm tall (whichever comes first). After that, they must always wear a seat belt.
This law is meant to protect children, as car seats are proven to be much safer than just using seat belts. But the rules can be a little different when it comes to taxis and private hire vehicles.
The simple answer is no. Taxis are not required by law to provide car seats. With the recent updates to transport laws and licensing rules for taxis and private hire vehicles, safety standards have tightened in many ways, but when it comes to car seats, the law still gives taxis some exceptions.
If the driver does not provide a car seat, the law allows children to travel without one, but only under these conditions:
If you are travelling with children, here are some simple tips to keep things even safer for them:
Bring your own car seat when possible - Many lightweight travel car seats are easy to carry, especially for airport transfers or long journeys.
Book in advance - Some taxi firms and private hire companies will provide a car seat if you request it ahead of time. This is not always a guarantee, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
Consider ride-hailing apps - Services like Uber and Bolt sometimes allow you to specify special needs. But again, it is not a guarantee that they will provide a car seat. It also depends on the city and the driver.
Short trips vs long trips - For short trips across the city, many parents use the legal taxi exception. For longer motorway rides, bringing your own car seat may be a much safer option.
The law may allow taxis to operate without car seats, but parents still need to make the safest choice for their children. While short trips are usually low risk, accidents can happen anywhere. Having your own car seat or requesting one in advance can give you peace of mind and keep your baby safer.
UK taxis don’t have to provide a car seat, and most don’t. The recent changes in taxi rules focus more on driver and vehicle licensing, not on child car seat requirements. That means the same exceptions still apply, like children can legally travel without a car seat in taxis.
Parents should know that their children’s safety is their own responsibility, especially during longer rides. If you are travelling in the UK with kids and planning to take taxis, make sure you are always prepared.
Carry a lightweight car seat, pre-book with a company that offers them, or decide how far you are willing to travel without one. Preparation is the key.
We are a family of 4 - mother, father and two children. Our aim is to travel the world and review all travel opportunities to help other families.
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