child car seat rules vic

In Victoria, child car seat rules are straightforward enough to recite at school pickup, and strict enough to matter.

Under 6 months: rear-facing restraint; 6 months to under 4 years: rear- or forward-facing with in‑built harness; 4 to under 7: forward‑facing with harness or a booster used with a lap‑sash belt; 7 and up: adult seatbelt only if it fits properly (think shoulder belt on the shoulder, not the neck).

Kids under 4 must not travel in the front seat if there are back seats; those 4–7 can only use the front if all rear seats are already taken by under‑7s.

Use an Australian Standard–approved restraint, install it correctly with top‑tether, and size‑by‑height markers trump birthdays if your child is tall or tiny for their age.

Not glamorous, but very effective—like broccoli for road safety.