Child restraint rules are legal and safety rules, so this guide stays close to the wording of the Queensland Government’s road rules pages and does not simplify them. Each page’s own last-updated date is given in the sentences that rely on it, because several of the pages are old. Penalty amounts are left out; the official child restraints page is the place to check them.
The basic rule
At 10 November 2026, the Queensland Government’s child restraints page, last updated 1 July 2026, says that when driving with children up to 7 years of age, you must ensure they are restrained in a properly fastened and adjusted Australian Standard (AS) approved child restraint. The child restraints page (last updated 1 July 2026) says driving includes when the vehicle is moving or stationary, for example when stopped at traffic lights, but not when parked. It says only child restraints that carry the AS sticker have been tested and approved as meeting standard AS/NZS 1754.
The same page (last updated 1 July 2026) says the rules also apply when driving a rental vehicle in Queensland. It says child restraints purchased overseas must not be used in Queensland unless they comply with AS/NZS 1754.
On the age and condition of a seat, the page (last updated 1 July 2026) recommends using a child restraint that is less than 10 years old. It also says not to use a child restraint that has been in a crash. For a second-hand restraint, it says to get a copy of the manufacturer’s instructions so you understand how to use it safely.
Which restraint, by age
The following comes from the Queensland Government’s types of child restraints page, which shows a last-updated date of 10 May 2023, as read on 10 November 2026.
For babies up to 6 months of age, the types page (last updated 10 May 2023) says they must be in an approved rear-facing restraint that is properly fastened and adjusted. For babies and children from 6 months to 4 years, the types page (last updated 10 May 2023) says they must be in an approved child restraint that is properly fastened and adjusted, which may be rear-facing or forward-facing with a built-in harness. For that age group, the types page (last updated 10 May 2023) recommends staying in a rear-facing restraint for as long as the child’s size allows.
For children aged 4 years and up to 7 years, the types page (last updated 10 May 2023) says the child must be in an approved child restraint that is either forward-facing with a built-in harness that is properly fastened and adjusted, or an approved booster seat secured with an adult lap-sash seatbelt. For children who are 7 years and over, the types page (last updated 10 May 2023) says they may sit in a standard seat with an adult seatbelt, or an approved booster seat secured with an adult lap-sash seatbelt. The same page (last updated 10 May 2023) adds that they may also remain in an approved child restraint that is forward-facing with a built-in harness that is properly fastened and adjusted.
The types page (last updated 10 May 2023) recommends that children stay in their child restraint for as long as their size allows, and not move to an adult seat until they meet all parts of the 5-step test. The same page (last updated 10 May 2023) says that before progressing from a booster seat to a normal car seat, the child should pass all of the questions in that test. A separate page on when to move to the next type of restraint, also last updated 10 May 2023, says you can move your child on when their seated shoulder height is above the top mark on the restraint.
Where children can sit
The where-children-should-sit page (last updated 10 May 2023), for cars with more than 1 row of seats, says babies and children up to 4 years old must not sit in the front seat. The same page (last updated 10 May 2023) says children aged 4 to 6 years can only sit in the front seat if all other seats are occupied by children under 7 years old, and that children 7 years and over can sit in the front seat.
For cars with only 1 row of seats, the where-children-should-sit page (last updated 10 May 2023) says children of any age can sit in the front seat as long as they are properly restrained. The same page (last updated 10 May 2023) also says that if a car has a passenger airbag, a rear-facing child restraint shouldn’t be used in the front seat if the restraint is positioned close to the airbag.
Taxis, rideshare and public transport
The exemptions page (last updated 13 February 2024) says child restraints are not required on buses, trains or personalised transport services such as taxi, limousine and ride-booking services. The same page (last updated 13 February 2024) defines a bus as a motor vehicle that can carry 13 or more people, including the driver. For background on how those services work in the city, see Brisbane Rideshare and Taxi Basics, and for travelling with children by bus or train, see Kids and Public Transport in Brisbane: A Parents Guide.
The exemptions page (last updated 13 February 2024) says that although restraints are not required in personalised transport services, if you give enough notice you may be able to pre-book these services with a child restraint, or you can use your own. The same page (last updated 13 February 2024) says that if a child restraint is in the vehicle, the driver is responsible for ensuring the child is properly restrained.
In the same section, the exemptions page (last updated 13 February 2024) says children less than 1 year old can be held on the lap of someone 16 years or older. The page (last updated 13 February 2024) says children more than 1 year old and less than 7 years old can be restrained using a seat belt, but must not sit in the front seat if the vehicle has 2 or more rows of seats. The page (last updated 13 February 2024) also says child restraint exemptions do not apply to rental vehicles.
Medical exemptions
The exemptions page (last updated 13 February 2024) says a doctor may provide a certificate where a child has a temporary medical condition or physical disability that prevents use of a compliant restraint or seatbelt. The page (last updated 13 February 2024) says this certificate may only be issued for a maximum of 12 months, and that any driver who has the child as a passenger must carry it and give it to the police if asked.
For a long-term condition, the exemptions page (last updated 13 February 2024) says a child who cannot be safely restrained under the Australian Standard may be prescribed a restraint under AS/NZS 4370. The page (last updated 13 February 2024) says the prescriber’s certificate may be issued for up to 7 years, with a 12 month review required.
The exemptions page (last updated 13 February 2024) also covers the front seat. It says that if a child is under 7 years and has a disability or medical condition that prevents them from safely travelling in a rear or middle row of seats, a parent or guardian may obtain an exemption from complying with the road rules by getting a certificate from a health professional. The page (last updated 13 February 2024) says the certificate must have an issue and expiry date and state how the child should travel or be restrained in the vehicle, and that when transporting the child, the driver of the vehicle must carry the certificate and be able to present it to a police officer on request. The same page (last updated 13 February 2024) describes the necessity for a child under 4 to travel in the front seat of a vehicle with 2 or more rows of seats as a very rare occurrence, and says the health professional’s certificate should not be issued until the specific circumstances applying to the child and all other reasonable alternatives have been considered.
Families planning a drive out of town may also want the separate guide Day Trips From Brisbane With Kids.
Frequently asked questions
Do children need a car seat in a taxi or rideshare in Queensland?
At 10 November 2026, the Queensland Government exemptions page (last updated 13 February 2024) says child restraints are not required on personalised transport services such as taxi, limousine and ride-booking services. The exemptions page (last updated 13 February 2024) says that if you give enough notice you may be able to pre-book with a child restraint, or you can use your own.
Can a child under 4 sit in the front seat?
At 10 November 2026, the where-children-should-sit page (last updated 10 May 2023) says that in cars with more than 1 row of seats, babies and children up to 4 years old must not sit in the front seat. For cars with only 1 row of seats, that page (last updated 10 May 2023) says children of any age can sit in the front seat as long as they are properly restrained.
When can a child use an adult seatbelt?
At 10 November 2026, the types page (last updated 10 May 2023) says children who are 7 years and over may sit in a standard seat with an adult seatbelt, and may also remain in an approved forward-facing restraint with a built-in harness. The types page (last updated 10 May 2023) recommends they not move to an adult seat until they meet all parts of the 5-step test.
Do the child restraint rules apply in a rental car?
At 10 November 2026, the child restraints page (last updated 1 July 2026) says the rules also apply when driving a rental vehicle in Queensland. The exemptions page (last updated 13 February 2024) says child restraint exemptions do not apply to rental vehicles.
