Baby Car Seat Rules in Taxis, Rideshare and Transfers in NSW

Baby car seat rules in a taxi in NSW

NSW taxis have a partial exemption from the normal child restraint laws. In the rear seat of a taxi:

• Up to 6 months: must be in a suitable, properly fastened approved rear-facing child car seat.
• 6 to 12 months: must be in an approved rear-facing seat or a forward-facing seat with an inbuilt harness (rear-facing is strongly recommended).
• 1 to 7 years: must use an approved booster seat, a suitable child restraint with an inbuilt harness, or a properly fastened and adjusted seatbelt in their own seat. A booster or child restraint is strongly recommended.
• Over 7 years: a properly fastened and adjusted seatbelt.

A taxi driver must not start a trip if a passenger is under 12 months old and nobody has a suitable approved restraint. For a child over 12 months, the taxi can't refuse you simply because no restraint is available, but the seatbelt-only option is the legal minimum, not the safest choice.

Rules for rideshare, hire cars and airport transfers

Rideshare vehicles and hire vehicles, which include pre-booked airport transfers and chauffeur cars like SkyMiles, follow the same rules as a private car. There's no taxi exemption.

• Up to 6 months: approved rear-facing child car seat.
• 6 months to 4 years: approved rear-facing seat or forward-facing seat with inbuilt harness (rear-facing recommended until the child outgrows it, at roughly 30 months).
• 4 to 7 years: forward-facing seat with inbuilt harness, or an approved booster seat.
• Over 7 but under 145 cm: a properly adjusted seatbelt is the minimum, but a booster or harnessed seat is recommended.

The driver of a rideshare or hire vehicle can legally refuse to take a child under 7 if no suitable approved restraint is available. All restraints must meet Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1754.

Front seat rules for children

• Under 4: not allowed in the front seat of a taxi, hire or rideshare vehicle.
• 4 to 7: can't sit in the front of a vehicle with two or more rows unless every rear seat is already taken by other children under 7, or fitted restraints make the remaining seats unusable.

If a 4-to-7-year-old must sit up front, the minimum is a seatbelt in a taxi and an approved booster in a hire or rideshare vehicle. Front seats usually lack top-tether anchor points, so many seats can't be fitted there at all. In practice, the back seat is the answer, and a 7-seater van gives families more room to do that.

Who supplies the car seat?

In NSW, only wheelchair accessible taxis and wheelchair accessible vehicles have to carry a child restraint. Standard taxis, hire cars and rideshare cars don't. So the seat comes from one of three places:

1. Your own seat, which parents can use in any taxi, hire or rideshare vehicle. The driver must make sure it's properly attached to the anchor points, and you should double-check before setting off.
2. A booked service that supplies one. Some services offer seats on request, often for a fee.
3. The taxi rank marshal at the airport, who can help find a taxi with a baby capsule if one is available.

All point to point vehicles built after 1993 must have child restraint anchorage points, so fitting is possible in most cars.

Landing at Sydney Airport with a baby or toddler

Long-haul arrivals with an infant are exactly when you don't want to be hunting for a car seat. Options at the airport:

• Ask the kerbside supervisors at the taxi rank; they can organise taxis with baby capsules when available, but expect a wait.
• Rideshare apps may offer a child seat option in some areas, but supply is limited and drivers can refuse without one.
• Pre-book a transfer with the seat already installed and the driver waiting at arrivals.

With SkyMiles you choose a baby capsule, forward-facing seat or booster for A$10 per seat when you book in advance. Your chauffeur fits it before you arrive, tracks your flight and helps with prams and bags. Our travelling with kids at Sydney Airport guide has more tips, and the family transfers page covers larger vehicles.

Penalties and responsibilities

Under the NSW Road Rules, drivers, including taxi, hire and rideshare drivers, face fines and demerit points if a passenger under 16 isn't restrained correctly. That's why a responsible driver will ask about your child's age and check the seat before moving. As a parent, make sure the harness is snug, the seat is the right type for your child's age and size, and any top tether is clipped in.

If you're booking with SkyMiles, tell us each child's age (and roughly their size) when you book online or call 0434 663 034, and we'll bring the right seat.

Frequently asked questions