Can I carry my child without a car seat?
No. In a car, every child under 10 must be in an approved restraint (car seat or booster) suited to their height and weight. The obligation generally ends around 10 years or when the child is about 1.35 m tall and can use the seatbelt normally. Infants should travel rear-facing as long as possible. A child must not sit rear-facing in front if the passenger airbag is active. The seatbelt is mandatory for everyone, front and back.
📋 The rules
- Approved restraint mandatory until 10 years
- Suited to the child's height and weight (seat, booster)
- Obligation ends around 10 years or 1.35 m
- Baby rear-facing as long as possible
- No rear-facing seat in front if the airbag is active
🔓 Exceptions
- Taxi: the child can travel in the back with just the belt if no device
- More than 3 children: arrangements possible in some cases
- Certified medical contraindication: exemption possible
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Carrying a child without a suitable restraint is a 4th-class offence: a fixed €135 fine (reduced to €90, raised to €375). It's the driver who's responsible. Beyond the fine, poor installation greatly raises the risk of serious injury in a crash: the device must be approved and correctly fitted.
📎 Official sources
- Service-Public.fr · Child in a car: seat and belt →
- Road safety · Carrying children →
- Légifrance · Article R412-2 of the Highway Code →
❓ Frequently asked
Until what age is a car seat mandatory?
Until 10 years, with an approved device suited to the child's height and weight. The obligation ends in practice around 10 years or when the child reaches about 1.35 m and can use the seatbelt correctly.
Is a booster mandatory?
Yes, as long as the child isn't tall enough (about 1.35 m) for the belt to pass correctly over the shoulder and hips. The booster is the device suited to taller children, up to that height.
What's the fine without a car seat?
€135 (4th-class offence), reduced to €90 and raised to €375. The driver is responsible for the child's proper installation, regardless of who owns the seat.
Can a child sit in front?
It's discouraged before 10, but not banned in all cases. Above all, never put a rear-facing seat in front if the passenger airbag is active: it must be deactivated, or the risk is serious.
And in a taxi?
A child can travel in the back of a taxi with just the belt if no device is available. It's an exception; in your own vehicle, the suitable restraint stays mandatory until 10.
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