car seat laws in South Australia
the complete guide to child car seat and restraint laws in South Australia (SA). covering every age group, fines, demerit points, and exemptions.
SA penalties at a glance
$402
fine
3 demerit points
penalty
rules by age group
rear-facing (birth – 6 months)
babies must be rear-facing from birth to at least 6 months of age.
forward-facing with harness (6 months – 4 years)
children 6 months to under 4 years must use a rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint with an internal harness.
booster seat (4 – 7 years)
children aged 4 to under 7 must be in a forward-facing restraint with harness or an approved booster seat.
seatbelt only (7+ years)
children 7 years and over can use an adult seatbelt. SA recommends booster seat use until the child is 145cm tall.
front seat rules
children under 4 must not be in the front row. children 4 to under 7 cannot be in the front unless all rear seats are occupied by children under 7.
taxis and ride-share
in taxis, children under 1 must not sit in the front. children over 1 may travel without a child restraint in a taxi or ride-share if one is not fitted.
SA specific notes
- •SA introduced updates to child restraint laws aligning with national guidelines
- •RAA SA provides child restraint fitting and checking services
source: this information is based on Government of South Australia / MySA. always check the official source for the most current rules.
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this guide is for informational purposes only. car seat laws are based on publicly available information from Government of South Australia / MySA and were accurate at the time of writing. fines and rules may change — always check the official source for the latest. mini mode is not affiliated with any government agency.