Driving with a child in a taxi
Children under the age of 12 months are not permitted to travel in a taxi unless they are secured in an approved child restraint as follows:
Children aged less than 6 months must be secured in a properly fastened rear-facing child restraint.
Children aged between 6 to less than 12 months, must be secured in a properly fastened rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint with a built-in harness.
In taxis, children over 12 months are permitted to travel wearing a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt – but parents or taxi service providers may wish to provide or use a child restraint.
The above requirements should be read in conjunction with the Road Rules.
Driving with a child in a hire vehicle
Children under the age of 12 months are not permitted to travel in a hire vehicle unless they are secured in an approved child restraint as follows:
Children aged less than 6 months must be secured in a properly fastened rear-facing child restraint.
Children aged 6 to less than 12 months, must be secured in a properly fastened rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint with a built-in harness.
Children aged 12 months to less than 4 years are not permitted to travel in a hire vehicle unless they are secured in an approved rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint with a built-in harness.
Children aged 4 years old to less than 7 years old are not permitted to travel in a hire vehicle unless they are secured in an approved forward-facing child restraint with a built-in harness or an approved booster seat.
The above requirements should be read in conjunction with the Road Rules.
Frequently asked questions
Who supplies the child restraint when travelling in a taxi or hire vehicle?
Taxi or hire vehicle drivers are not required to provide a child car seat or booster seat, although some vehicles have them available. If you need a child restraint for your child, you should ask if there is the availability of a suitable restraint when booking a taxi or hire vehicle, or take one with you. All vehicles must be fitted with child restraint anchorage points. In NSW, all wheelchair-accessible taxis and wheelchair-accessible hire vehicles are required to carry an approved child restraint.
What happens if there is no approved child restraint?
Taxis
The driver of a taxi is not able to provide the service and may legally refuse to accept a hiring if one of the intending passengers is under the age of 1 year old and neither the driver of the taxi nor the passenger is carrying an approved child restraint appropriate for the infant’s age.
Hire vehicles (including rideshare)
A driver of a hire vehicle may legally direct a person to leave, or not to enter, the vehicle if one of the intending passengers is under the age of 7 years old and neither the driver of the hire vehicle nor the passenger is carrying an approved child restraint appropriate for the child’s age.
Are there penalties for non-compliance?
Fines and demerit points apply for taxi and hire vehicle drivers who drive with a passenger(s) under the age of 16 not restrained according to the Road Rules.