seat belt laws for older cars nsw

Short version: in NSW, if a seat belt is fitted, you wear it—no ifs, no buts, no "but it’s a classic".

Older cars are generally only required to meet the Australian Design Rules that applied when they were built, so if they originally had no belts, you typically aren’t forced to retrofit them.

However, any seat belts that are fitted must be in good condition and used by every occupant, and it’s illegal to remove or disable them.

Children under 7 must be in an approved child restraint, which effectively means they cannot travel in a vehicle without seat belts.

If you’re adding belts to an older car, use approved components and anchorage points, and get an engineer’s certificate where required.

Fines and demerits apply for every unrestrained occupant, and historic or conditional rego doesn’t grant a free pass; check NSW legislation or Transport for NSW for specifics.