Seat belts and child seats in Querétaro (2026)
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026
In short: Drivers must wear a seat belt and make sure all passengers use theirs; the fine is 20 to 30 UMA plus 4 penalty points. Passengers under 12 or under 1.45 m must ride in the rear seat in an approved child restraint or booster seat, with a booster cushion from 5 to 12. They may ride in front only if the vehicle has no rear seat and the airbag is deactivated.
| 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 | Passengers under 12 or under 1.45 m tall must be carried in a child restraint system or booster seat that is correctly fitted, certified and suited to their weight or height. [1] |
| Children in the front seatPassenger cars | Passengers under 12 or under 1.45 m must ride in a rear seat in the row behind the driver or front passenger that has a three-point belt, and under-12s may not ride in the front. They may ride in front only if the vehicle has no rear seat, there is room for a suitable restraint and the airbag system is deactivated. [1] |
| Booster seat untilPassenger cars | Children aged 5 to 12 must use a booster cushion: aged 5 to 7 (16 to 26 kg, 1.10 to 1.45 m) with a backrest, aged 8 to 12 (22 to 26 kg, up to 1.45 m) a backrest is not needed. Taxis and public buses are exempt. [1] |
| Rear-facing child seat in front with active airbagPassenger cars | No [1] |
| Fine for not wearing a seat beltPassenger cars | 20 to 30 UMA and 4 penalty points on the driving licence where the driver does not wear the belt or make sure all passengers wear it correctly. [1] |
Notes
- Article 80 II of the Reglamento obliges drivers of motorised vehicles to make sure all passengers use the belt correctly and to wear their own, except occupants of emergency vehicles. Article 65 III of the Ley de Tránsito also lists use of seat belts and child seats among drivers' obligations. Neither text names front and rear seats separately.
- Article 86 II y) of the Reglamento also requires vehicles carrying children under 5 to have a child seat (silla porta-infante), placed only in the rear seat. Taxis and public transport buses are exempt from the restraint devices for children.
Sources
- Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana del Estado de Querétaro: Reglamento de la Ley de Tránsito para el Estado de Querétaro (última reforma publicada en La Sombra de Arteaga el 23 de diciembre de 2022) (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
National rules that also apply
These rules are set at national level in Mexico and apply here too, alongside the rules above. All national rules for Mexico
| Seat belt compulsory in front seats (Federal roads) | Yes (source: Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación)) |
|---|---|
| Seat belt compulsory in rear seats (Federal roads) | Yes (source: Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación)) |
| Children in the front seat (Federal roads) | In cars and vans (vagonetas), children under 7 must travel in the rear seats. (source: Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación)) |
| Fine for not wearing a seat belt (Federal roads) | 20 to 25 times the daily quota (cuota diaria), which the regulation defines as one UMA. The same fine applies to a child under 7 in a front seat. (source: Diario Oficial de la Federación (Presidencia de la República)) |
More rules in Querétaro
- Minimum age for a car driving licence
- Using a mobile phone while drivingHolding a phone while driving banned: Banned
- Drinking age and alcohol salesMinimum age to buy beer and wine: 18 (entry barred under 18) · Minimum age to buy spirits: 18 (entry barred under 18)
- Drink-driving limitsBlood alcohol limit for ordinary drivers: 0.08% blood (0.2 mg/l breath)
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.