Seat belts and child seats in Australia (2026)
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
In short: Seat belt and child restraint rules in Australia come from the road rules of each state and territory, based on the model Australian Road Rules, which are not national law. No single national value could be confirmed, so the detail is not stated for Australia as a whole.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Seat belt compulsory in front seatsPassenger cars | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Seat belt compulsory in rear seatsPassenger cars | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Child restraint required untilPassenger cars | Set by each state and territory. The model Australian Road Rules are not national laws in force across Australia: each state and territory has copied them into its own laws, not every provision exactly, and some matters are left to the states and territories to decide. [1] |
| Children in the front seatPassenger cars | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Rear-facing child seat in front with active airbagPassenger cars | ⚠ Not yet verified |
Notes
- The model Australian Road Rules are copied into each state and territory's own law and not every provision is identical. The rule has not been verified in each of the eight jurisdictions, so no national value is given.
Sources
- National Transport Commission: Australian Road Rules (Internet Archive snapshot of 20 August 2026) (consulted 13 October 2026) · all sources
Related pages
Australia: rules by state or province
| Country | Seat belt compulsory in front seats | Seat belt compulsory in rear seats | Child restraint required until | Children in the front seat | Rear-facing child seat in front with active airbag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Yes | Yes | Under 7: approved restraint by age | Under 4 never (2+ rows); 4 to 6 limited | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Victoria | Yes | Yes | Under 7: approved restraint by age | Under 4 back seat; 5 to 7 limited | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Queensland | Yes | Yes | Under 7: approved restraint by age | Under 4 never (2+ rows); 4 to 6 limited | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Western Australia | Yes | Yes | Under 7: approved restraint by age | Under 4 never (2+ rows); 4 to 6 limited | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| South Australia | Yes | Yes | Under 7: approved restraint by age | Under 4 never (2+ rows); 4 to 6 limited | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Tasmania | Yes | Yes | Under 7: approved restraint by age | Under 4 never (2+ rows); 4 to 6 limited | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Australian Capital Territory | Yes | Yes | Under 7: approved restraint | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Northern Territory | Yes | Yes | Under 7: car seat by age | Under 4 not in front in a taxi; 4+ limited | ⚠ Not yet verified |
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.