Is it illegal to not wear a seat belt?
Yes. By law, all drivers and passengers in the car must wear seat belts on every trip, whether long or short.
Read on to find out why.
Is it illegal to not wear a seat belt while in a car in Austarlia? Yes. All Australian states and territories require that the driver and all passengers in any vehicle — regardless of the length of trip — are wearing seat belts. The fine for not wearing a selt belt — be it the driver or passengers — can be severe.
What are the rules for wearing a seat belt in Australia?
In Australia, the driver is held responsible and may face heavy fines and the loss of demerit points if they or any of their passengers are not wearing their seat belts and are caught by the police. Disobeying a lawful order from the police is a serious offence and maybe liable for a further substantial fine as well as the loss of demerit points.
Seat belts must be worn at all times.
Seat belts are built to be worn by only one person at a time.
Fastening a seat belt around two people or doubling up may be not only unsafe but illegal as well.
Seat belts must be worn correctly — if the belt has a strap that goes over the shoulder, it must be worn as such.
A broken seat belt is not an excuse for not wearing one.
What are the rules about child seats in Australia?
It is also the driver’s legal responsibility to make sure a child inside a car is properly restrained in an appropriate and government-approved child restraint, even for short trips. While there’s some small variances from one state to another, the following general guidelines outline the rules for those who require a baby capsule, child seat, or booster seat. For further information, please refer to our guide on child car seats.
Under 6 months: Rear-facing child seat with an inbuilt harness. Baby capsules are not available to hire from car rental companies, only rear-facing seats.
6 months to 4 years: Rear-facing child seat or forward-facing child seat with an inbuilt harness.
4 years to 7 years: Forward-facing child seat with an inbuilt harness or a booster seat with a harness.
Over 7 years: Booster seat with a harness. If the child is taller than 145cm, they’re permitted to use a standard seat and adult seatbelt.
Before you request a child seat, you’ll need to advise the age of your child when contacting our customer care team to request a child seat. The age of your child will determine what type of child seat they’ll need. Remember that forward or rear-facing seats cannot be used in 12-seater vehicles because they do not have the anchor point required to secure these types of seats. Booster seats can be used in 12-seater vehicles.
How do I add a child seat to my car rental booking?
If you need to add a rear-facing or forward-facing child seat, or a booster seat to your booking, you can do so during the booking process. If the option for child seats is “on request”, our team will contact you to confirm your request and let you know the updated cost (if the seat is available). If you have already made your booking, you can request a child seat by contacting our customer care team.
In the instance you require more than two child seats, you’ll need to contact our customer care team directly as this will depend on availability and the type of vehicle you’re renting. Remember, it’s the responsibility of the driver to ensure all passengers are secured in the vehicle correctly, and this includes having children in the appropriate restraint.
How much does it cost to add a child seat to my booking?
The daily cost of the child seat will vary depending on your rental provider — some charge per day and others per hire. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions of your selected rental car provider for current pricing.
