Can I carry my child in the car without a car seat?
No — a child under 135 cm may not be carried without a suitable seat. The Road Traffic Rules require children under 135 cm to travel in a restraint matched to their height and weight (a car seat or booster). The key change is that height, not age, now decides: the old reference to 'under 12' is no longer the point, so a short 13-year-old still needs a booster, while a tall child already at 135 cm may use the ordinary belt. Children under 3 may be carried only in a seat — there is no exception for a short trip. A rear-facing seat in the front is banned if the airbag is active. Liability falls on the driver, not the passenger: the fine is €30–90 under ANK 417.
📋 The rules
- Under 135 cm — a suitable seat or booster is required
- Height decides, not age — the 135 cm line matters most
- Under 3 — carried only in a seat, no exceptions
- Front rear-facing seat — only with the airbag switched off
- The driver is liable: fine €30–90 (ANK 417)
🔓 Exceptions
- A child who has reached at least 135 cm may travel wearing the ordinary seat belt without a booster
- A child under 3 may be carried in the front seat only in a suitable seat and only with the front airbag switched off
- A seat in the middle of the rear bench is regarded as the safest spot, and on the rear seat it must be fixed securely
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The fine is small, but liability always sits with the driver. Carrying a child under 135 cm without a suitable restraint is covered by Article 417 of the ANK (breach of passenger-carriage rules) and brings a €30–90 fine, imposed on the driver, not the parents or passenger. The real cost shows in a crash: a child restrained wrongly or not at all suffers far worse injuries, and a front airbag deploying into a baby seat can be fatal. Insurance consequences: if a child is hurt because of improper carriage, the insurer can cut the payout or bring a recovery claim against the driver. Officers also treat this breach strictly, and a repeat offence is logged and taken as an aggravating factor. A proper seat costs incomparably less than one such mistake.
📎 Official sources
- e-seimas · Road Traffic Rules →
- e-seimas · Code of Administrative Offences (Art. 417) →
- Lithuanian Police · safe carriage of children →
❓ Frequently asked
Up to what height does a child need a seat?
A seat or booster is required as long as the child is under 135 cm. Once they reach that height they may use the ordinary seat belt, whatever their age, because it is now height, not age, that decides the requirement.
Can a child ride in the front seat?
Yes, but with conditions. A child under 3 may ride in front only in a suitable seat and only with the front airbag switched off, because a deploying airbag can cause fatal injuries to a small child in a crash.
What changed in the child-carriage rules?
The key change is that the strict age limit was dropped and only the 135 cm height now decides. So a short teenager still has to ride in a booster, while the earlier reference to age 12 is no longer the main criterion.
Who pays the fine — the driver or the parents?
The driver always pays, because it is the driver who is responsible for carrying passengers, especially children, safely. Even if another adult brought the child, legal liability for improper restraint falls on whoever is driving.
How much is the fine for a child without a seat?
Carrying a child without a suitable restraint carries a fine of €30 to €90 under Article 417 of the ANK. The bigger risk lies not in the fine but in the potential injury in a crash and the insurer's recovery claim against the driver.
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