Can my child sit in the front seat?
Yes, your child may sit in the front — but always properly secured, and for a rear-facing seat the airbag must be off. The rule is based on height, not age: a child under 135 cm must always travel in an approved child seat suited to their height and weight, including in the front. If you put a rear-facing seat in the front, the front airbag must be deactivated. Children under 3 may not travel without a suitable seat. From 135 cm a child may use the ordinary belt, front or back. A few exceptions exist (a third child in the back, occasional transport, taxis). Improperly secured? That is a serious offence: a child under 135 cm without a suitable seat costs €191 since 1 July 2026.
📋 The rules
- Child under 135 cm: always an approved child seat suited to height and weight (art. 35 of the road code)
- A child may sit in the front, but a rear-facing seat in the front only with the airbag deactivated
- Children under 3: never without a suitable child seat
- From 135 cm, the ordinary seatbelt is allowed, front or back
- Exceptions: a third child in the back, occasional transport, taxis and buses
- Fine: child < 135 cm without a suitable seat = €191 (since 1 July 2026)
🔓 Exceptions
- Third child: if two seats already occupy the back and there is no more room, a child aged 3+ may sit in the back with the ordinary belt (never in the front)
- Occasional transport of others' children without a seat: children aged 3+ in the back with a belt; children under 3 may not travel then
- Taxi without a child seat: the child may not sit in the front and wears the belt in the back
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Failing to (properly) secure a child under 135 cm is a third-degree offence: since 1 July 2026 an immediate settlement of €191 (+ €10.67). A child of 135 cm or more without a belt is a second-degree offence (€128). A rear-facing seat in the front with an active airbag also falls under €191.
📎 Official sources
- Wegcode.be · how to transport my child →
- VSV / Veilig Verkeer · seatbelt and child seats →
- Mobilit.belgium.be · immediate settlements (1 July 2026) →
❓ Frequently asked
Can my child sit in the front of the car?
Yes, there is no minimum age to sit in the front. A child under 135 cm must be in a suitable child seat, and for a rear-facing seat in the front the airbag must be deactivated.
From what height is the ordinary belt allowed?
From 135 cm. Below that, an approved child seat suited to height and weight is always compulsory, whether in the front or the back.
My baby's seat faces backward — can it go in the front?
Only if you deactivate the front airbag. An active airbag can be lethal in a crash for a rear-facing child.
What if there is no room for a third seat in the back?
A third child aged 3+ may then travel in the back with the ordinary belt. A child under 3 may not travel without a seat in that case.
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