Seat belts and child seats in Queensland (2026)
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
In short: Everyone in a vehicle must wear a seatbelt or use an approved child restraint, and the driver is responsible. Children aged 4 to under 7 may use a booster seat, and children under 4 may not sit in the front of a car with more than one row.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Seat belt compulsory in front seatsPassenger cars | Yes [1] |
| Seat belt compulsory in rear seatsPassenger cars | Yes [1] |
| Child restraint required untilPassenger cars | Children up to 7 years must be in an approved restraint: rear-facing up to 6 months; rear-facing or forward-facing with a built-in harness from 6 months to 4 years; forward-facing with a built-in harness or an approved booster seat from 4 to 7 years. Children aged 7 and over may use an adult seatbelt or booster. [2] |
| Children in the front seatPassenger cars | Cars with more than 1 row: babies and children up to 4 must not sit in the front; children aged 4 to 6 only if all other seats are occupied by children under 7. Children 7 and over can sit in the front. Cars with 1 row: children of any age if properly restrained. [3] |
| Rear-facing child seat in front with active airbagPassenger cars | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Fine for not wearing a seat beltPassenger cars | A fine of AUD 1,295 and 4 demerit points for each child not properly restrained in an approved restraint. Double demerit points apply for a second or later offence within 1 year. [4] |
| Booster seat untilPassenger cars | Children aged 4 to under 7 may use an approved booster seat secured with an adult lap-sash seatbelt. Children 7 and over may use one, and are recommended to stay in it until they pass the 5-step test. [2] |
| Can police stop you for this alone?Passenger cars | New mobile phone and seatbelt cameras are rolling out across Queensland to detect drivers and their front seat passengers not wearing seatbelts, and camera-detected seatbelt infringements can be issued [1] |
Notes
- Applies to the driver and all passengers. The page notes it does not apply to bus or motorcycle drivers' passengers, and lists limited exemptions.
- The page says a rear-facing child restraint should not be used in the front seat if it is positioned close to a passenger airbag. Whether this is a legal rule was not checked.
- The page states that fines increased by 3.5% on 1 July 2026. Amount is for child restraint offences; the amount for an adult not wearing a seatbelt was not read.
Sources
- Queensland Government: Seatbelt rules (consulted 13 October 2026) · all sources
- Queensland Government: Types of child restraints (consulted 13 October 2026) · all sources
- Queensland Government: Where children should sit (consulted 13 October 2026) · all sources
- Queensland Government: Child restraints (consulted 13 October 2026) · all sources
National rules that also apply
These rules are set at national level in Australia and apply here too, alongside the rules above. All national rules for Australia
| Child restraint required until | 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. (source: National Transport Commission) |
|---|
More rules in Queensland
- E-scootersUse on public roads: Yes, paths and roads up to 60 km/h · Minimum age: 16 (12-17 if supervised)
- CannabisPossession for personal use: Criminal offence · Growing at home: Banned
- Car speed limitsBuilt-up areas: 50 km/h · Outside built-up areas (single carriageway): 100 km/h (110 km/h where signed)
- Deposit return schemes and plastic bagsNational deposit return scheme in operation: Yes, container refund scheme · Deposit per container: 10c refund
- Minimum age for a car driving licenceMinimum age for a car licence: 17 (P1 licence) · Earliest age to drive a car supervised: 16, with a supervisor
- Driving after drugsApproach to cannabis (THC): Zero tolerance · THC threshold: Any trace of THC
- E-bikes and speed pedelecsLegal class: Bicycle rules plus age and licence · Minimum age: 16 (12-17 if supervised)
- FireworksConsumers may buy and use category F2 fireworks: No (unrestricted only)
- Foreign driving licencesOverseas licence valid for a visitor: Yes, while visiting · Overseas licence after becoming a resident: Citizen or resident visa: Queensland licence after 3 months
- Home educationLegal status of home education: Registration required · Nature of the parental duty: School or registration
- Knives and pepper sprayFolding pocket knives: Offence without reasonable excuse · Locking or one-handed knives: Some one-hand opening knives category M
- MopedsLicence: Class RE or car licence
- Motorcycles: helmets and licencesHelmet required for the rider: Yes · Helmet required for a passenger: Yes
- Paid holidayMinimum paid leave a year (weeks): 4 weeks (5 for some shiftworkers) · Minimum paid leave as the law states it: 4 weeks a year; extra week for some shiftworkers
- Using a mobile phone while drivingHolding a phone while driving banned: Banned · Hands-free use: Open/P2 only; L/P1 under 25: none
- Smoke alarms in homesSmoke alarm legally required in homes: Yes, all homes · Minimum alarms and where: A smoke alarm in each bedroom. For each storey with bedrooms: in the hallway that a bedroom door opens onto (or, if a bedroom has no door to a hallway, in the part of the storey between that bedroom and the rest of the dwelling). For a storey with no bedrooms: on the most likely path of travel to an exit. All alarms must be interconnected.
- Tobacco and nicotine age limitsMinimum age to buy tobacco: 18
- Towing trailers and caravans
- Drinking age and alcohol salesMinimum age to buy beer and wine: 18 · Minimum age to buy spirits: 18
- Drink-driving limitsBlood alcohol limit for ordinary drivers: Under 0.05% · Lower limit for novice or young drivers: 0.00% (zero)
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.