car seat laws in Victoria
the complete guide to child car seat and restraint laws in Victoria (VIC). covering every age group, fines, demerit points, and exemptions.
VIC penalties at a glance
$397
fine
3 demerit points
penalty
rules by age group
rear-facing (birth – 6 months)
babies must be in a rear-facing restraint from birth until at least 6 months old. keeping children rear-facing as long as the restraint allows is strongly recommended.
forward-facing with harness (6 months – 4 years)
children aged 6 months to under 4 years must use either a rear-facing or forward-facing restraint with an internal harness.
booster seat (4 – 7 years)
children aged 4 to under 7 years must use a forward-facing restraint with harness or an approved booster seat with the vehicle seatbelt.
seatbelt only (7+ years)
children aged 7 and over can use the adult seatbelt alone. Victoria recommends a booster seat until the child is 145cm tall.
front seat rules
children under 4 must not sit in the front row. children aged 4 to under 7 cannot sit in the front unless all back seats are occupied by children younger than 7.
taxis and ride-share
in taxis and ride-share, children under 1 must not travel in the front. children aged 1 and over can travel without a child restraint in a taxi if one is not available, but must use a seatbelt if available.
VIC specific notes
- •VicRoads recommends extended rear-facing until at least 2 years of age where the restraint allows
- •the driver is responsible for ensuring children under 16 are restrained
- •child restraint fitting stations are available across Victoria — check VicRoads for locations
source: this information is based on VicRoads / Transport Victoria. always check the official source for the most current rules.
view all state car seat laws
the complete state-by-state guide
this guide is for informational purposes only. car seat laws are based on publicly available information from VicRoads / Transport Victoria 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.